I have a 1997 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 automatic transmission 4.6L V8. I dont know what transmission I have, I believe it is the 4R70W, but I don't know, can anyone confirm this? If not please tell me how to find out what I have.

Anyway, when I am going about 45 mph, when it shifts from third to fourth gear, the transmission stutters, it goes back and fourth through the gears excessively, I don't know how to explain it, its a fast conversion, definitely not something you could do in a manual transmission. Sorry its confusing, its hard to explain.

I took the transmission to Dana'a transmission, they said they would have to rebuild the whole transmission, they want to charge me 1750 for parts and another 2000 for labor. I do not think the entire transmission need to be rebuilt (if it turns out to be something like the torque converter or somthing, I would), so I am asking for other opinions on this problem.

 

I would suggest you take it to a shop that has a machine that can do a complete fluid exchange of the transmission. Use MerconV fluid, approx. 14 qts. I would go somewhere besides Dana's.

 

You do have a 4R70W transmission and like JCR suggested, go to a different shop and get a transmission service done first.

 

Are you sure it's not a low grade misfire? It may just be time for new spark plugs and wires.

You don't need a machine to do a complete fluid exchange, the torque converter has a drain plug.

 

Its difinatly not the spark plugs, I hope lol, I replaced those about 1k miles ago

 

What about plug wires? What brand plugs did you use and did you torque them to 28 ft/lb?

 

I dont know what all they did, I got a completely new wiring harness, along with the spark plugs and a couple other things. I dont know what brand they put it, any way to tell?

 

Maybe you should take it back to whoever did the work, I think you have a misfire.

 

I do not believe it is a misfire just because it does not happen all the time, it seems going about 45 mph up hill provokes it, but sometimes you can be going down hill or on a flat surface and it will still stutter, sometimes between second and third gear, but that hasn't happened in a while.

 

Still sounds like a misfire.

Take it to someone who can properly diagnose it. They need to look for high misfire counts in Mode $06, TID $51 or $53, to see if it's a misfire condition.

 

That sounds like misfire to me.

 

If it sounds like your driving over a cattle guard and the transmission fluid is about due to be changed then have it done and see if it helps. If not a misfire, it could be fluid breakdown causing the shutter. It could also be the tranny starting to go out. But if changing the fluid helps at all then you know it is probably tranny related rather than a misfire. This has been my experience at least.

 

Sounds like a misfire to me