I recently bought a clean looking 98 F150 2 WD 4.6 with 150K for my son. The truck recently started getting the shudders at around 40 - 60 MPH. After a few hours scanning the internet for similar glitches it appeared the problem was TCS. The overall recommendation was to first have the fluid/filter changed (including draining the converter) & adding Mercon 5. I had this done at a local Transmission shop & I had to insist the 5 version be used. The shop guy wanted to use the 3 version with a dura lube additive. The shudders have really been reduced after about 400 miles of driving until --- (below).

I now have another issue with the engine that I will probably be posting in the engine section, if I don't get it resolved. I was headed back to the Dallas area from OKC & picked up a flashing check engine light while going up a lengthy hill in the Turner Falls area (had a Gold Wing in the bed). Code is calling out a misfire of # 5 & believe # 8 cylinder. It now feels like the shudders have returned & a very noticable miss in the engine. Hope a coil pack change fixes this problem (wires & plugs are 1 yeal old).

T

 

The type of tranny fluid you use depends on the tranny you have. If you have the 4R70W (i suspect you do) then the MerconV is the correct lube. If you have a 4R100 then you can only use Mercon with no additives. Do not ever let a shop use Mercon with additives in place of MerconV. You made the right call by making them use MerconV.

TCS usually occurs during the 3-4 shift. If its bad, you can have it on other sifts also. Was this what you were getting? I ask because you are comparing the shudder you feel in the engine with the shudder you felt previously as a tranny issue.

Replacing the coil pack and new wires should help your engine problems and make your shudder go away.

 

The initial shudders only appeared in the 3 - 4 gear areas. The recent engine glitch feels like the TCS shudders & more, but hoping the Coil packs cures all. Felt good after the Mercon change & not having to pay a 1500 + repair for a change out/rebuild. My son is headed back to A & M Saturday & I have a time crunch on getting it road worthy. UPS is delivering the coil packs today. Always fearful of all shops doing unecessary repairs at the owners expense. Thanks for you comments.

T

 

Changed out the coils today. Sounded ok, drove ok & after about 10 - 15 minutes of driving a slight missing/stumble was noticed. Got on the highway & after a few more minutes the check engine light started flashing. Code call out # 5 cylinder missing. The missing continued to get worse. Pulled the # 5 plug & it didn't look that bad. Maintenance records show a tune up was performed at Midas back in 5/04. Plug wires, plugs, fuel injection cleaning & fuel filter were performed, per the paperwork. Looks like I'm off to the Ford dealer to find out what the problem is ($$$$$$$$). I need to move this info to the engine side topics.

 

Have you run it yet at night to see if you are getting arching around the wires on the #5? Could be that you need to replace the wires. I would look into the wires before you spent the money at the dealer for a diagnosis (~$80 for the diagnosis, $20-$50 for wires). I know you said you replaced them, but how long ago was that? Where the good brand wires, etc, etc.

 

Buy OEM wires only, even the expensive aftermarket wires suck. There is also the possibility of a sticking egr.
Alan

 

I thought I was tranny trouble also.Took the truck to a mech.He put the truck in drive stepped on the brake and gave it the gas you could feel the miss.Ended up Ineeded cop#6 and after a 142000, changed the plugs Drove it to wark today with no problems.The problem with the coil pack was that it failed because of oil either from the vavle cover gasket or maybe some oil was left from a messy oil change

 

Just bought a 1997 F150 4.6 with overdrive I had the shudder also took it to a nearby Ford dealer who did a transmission flush which gets all the fluid out with an additive that helps the flush process then filled with mercon 5 with wynns shuddergaurd additive and it fixed it completely..I wouldnt trust a tranny shop as far as I could throw the building...if he didnt do a power flush you can still have trhat done and it will more than likely fix your tranny...

 

4r70w (trans code U on door jam) NEEDS Mercon V.

E4OD/4R100 (trans code E) NEEDS Mercon/Dexron III, and CAN'T have Mercon V.

Adrianspeeder