Tranny ? Am I F'ed
 

I was changing the tranny filter and oil today. When I took the pan off I could see that the magnet has caught some shavings. But what worried me is how much shaving there was. The magnet doubled in size with all the shavings. Can anyone tell me what would cause that much metal shavings? I found a yellow plug with a rubber gasket in the pan. I was not able to figure out where it goes. I asked a friend and he said it was from the factory when the truck is new. He said that I did not need it to just forget about it. It that true about the yellow plug? Is it ok if I donyt use it? Also if I do need to have some tranny work done does anyone recamend(SP)AAMCO? The truck is a 99 f150 auto 4.2 w/ 138,000 miles. Flushed at 70,000no filter change. This is the first time the filter was going to be changed. I know it a long post But I need some info/help. Thanks Ben

I dont know much about those shaving accept im sure its never any good when theres an excessive amount of shavings. I do know that what your friend said is true because ive read it in here. I dont exactly remember what that plug was for but it is from the factory and is not needed.

The yellow plug can be discarded. It is installed during the tranny mfg. to keep stuff out. As far as the "shavings" go, if thery are just very minute, almost like powdered graphite, this is normal for a tranny.

Powdered praphite is a perfect way to discribe it. That is what it looks like. I guess that what happens when the pan does not get dropped in
138,xxx miles. I found some post about the plug it was put back. I closed the everything up and added a quart of LUCAS TRANS OIL just incase. Ill keep a close on who it working. Ill drop the pan in a other 10,000 to see if everything check out. Thanks For your help. Ben

The plug was in your dipstick tube hole. They put the tube in without taking the plug out when they put your truck together, just pushed it through. some people think it is actually a roll over valve to keep tranny fluid in if you roll the truck over.It is normal to find it in the tranny on the first fluid change, throw it away.

tranny service is recommended every 40k i belive. I did mine at 50k and boy did it need it! The fine stuff is okay as long as you dont have any chunks of metal. anything bigger then a ballpoint pen bearing i would be worried about.

The plug is to keep bugs and debris out of the tranny before they get mated to the truck. Then the dipstick is shoved in and pushes the plug to the bottom of the pan
-Patrick

he clearly said 138,000 not 380,000 :confused:

I feel bad cause I have neglected mine as long as I have and it has 91,000 on it without anything being done, I would shoot myself going 138,000 without doing it!!

138,000 is a lot, but I have seen these transmissions live a LOT longer than that if properly serviced.

My advice is to do what you have done and change the fluid and filter again at regular intervals and ride it until it quits.

If you need help or it fails on you come back and talk about your options more then. I think there are better options available to you than AAMCO, but that is obviously just my opinion :)

Darrin

Well guys good new I took the truck to work today 30 miles. Its running like a totally differnt truck. It even stop making that humming whinning noise it had been for 3 month now. I could not belive how big the magnet looked with all metal dust. I will be changing the oil in 10,000 miles to make sure everything is ok. I will be changing trans pan to one with a drain plug. I was so scared I thought I was f'ed for sure. I will not let it go pass 30k miles ever again. Thanks for all your help and info guys. Ben