Alrighty, I've got the dreaded converter shudder. I've got an '04 SCREW 4x4 w/ the 5.4L. It only happens in OD, low RPMs, and when I lightly accelerate OR in OD, low RPMs, and go up a small hill. (like when I'm going about 40 and lightly accelerate to 45) My tranny has 80,000 miles. I've seen people say not to flush the tranny because it will blow because the metal inside kept the friction which kept it going, other say that it fixed their shudder. I'm doubting that it was ever changed before I had it (got it @ 69K miles) because I believe the tranny service interval in the manual says something like 100,000 miles, right??

Well, anyway, I didn't realize what it was when it first started shuddering, it did it every once in a while (maybe 2-3 times a week), now it does it at least a 2-3 times a day. Am I too far along in the death of my tranny to change the fluid and expect it to go away?

Should I have the fluid FULL flushed or just change the fluid myself? What are your opinions @ 80K miles?

Thanks All, sorry for the long post

 

ive been wondering the same thing but my truck has 123K on the tranny nothing to bad just a shudder at final down shift at 10MPH i have people on both sides some say i need to leave it bc of the metal. while others said its fixed there probs. if i do it im gonna drain fluid out of pan and converter and replace the filter but i want to know for sure to do this before i mess up my tranny.

 

You have to determine if it really is converter shudder or whether it's a low grade misfire. If it's a low grade misfire, a set of plugs and cops will take care of that.

 

But at 80,000 miles this trans is WAY overdue for a fluid change. I believe the owner's manual says 30,000 miles.

The fluid exchange machines do a good job of changing the fluid. If you are even a little bit handy you can do the same job yourself. Here's how I do mine:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/i...nsmission.html

 

I just looked up the schedule for 04's. Recommended tranny service is every 30k for 4R100 only. Everything else is 150k.

30K is recommended for "special use" - when it's PRIMARILY operated under any of the following conditions:

-Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier
-Extensive idling and/or low speed driving for long distances as in heavy commercial use such as delivery, taxi, patrol car or livery
-Operating in dusty conditions such as unpaved or dusty roads
-Off-road operation
-Class A motorhome

OCCASIONAL operation under these conditions does not require the more frequent service.

Interpret this as you wish.

 

I'd really like to do it myself and thats a great write up, but I'm probably going to have it done at a shop since I'd like to get it done before wednesday as I will be driving 300 miles for the holidays.

I knew the "suggested maintenance" interval for the 4R75E was around 150K...

Now, I'm still on the fence...80K miles is under the "suggested maintenance" interval so do I change the fluid/filter or flush the fluid/new filter?

 

i just replaced the spark plugs not very long ago and the wires have less than 15K on them the plugs have only maybe 5K on them if that. im going to do a fluid and filter chage and the fluid lvl in the book includes the converter right? so i have to drain that to. i plan on doing that maybe this weekend. if i have the money for a complete chage *for the frist 80-90K of this trucks life it was on a Tree farm *not sure if it was used for hauling or not*

 

It would not hurt to at least drop the pan and change the filter at 80k.

 

just talked to my technician... (my girls uncle) he said were gonna look at it this weekend while were in GA. I'll let you all know the outcome.

 

I have never heard a Mechanic say "theres the problem, you are changing your oil too much and all your fluids look too clean..." I personally work my truck real hard and I like to change my oil every 3k. I used to stick with the 30k interval tranny flush... but now Im thinking I will just do a pan drain and filter change maybe every other oil change (since I just put the Mag hytech tranny pan on... bumped up to over 22qts). Its just my 2 cents. I do realize that my cost isn't the same as some other people's but... how much is the truck worth to ya? How much does a tranny flush cost? $120? Then you have fresh clean fluid and don't have to worry. then you can start doing just the pan and filter on a more regular basis and you'll know what your working with. Just an idea...