This might be really dumb, but have you had your alignment checked??? (can these trucks really go out of alignment???) It might also need a tune up (bad plugs, wires?) About warrenty, unless Ford sends you a recall, you're up the creek and you better have your wallet (unless you happen to have an extended warrenty???)

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

Dear Marky_Mark,

Check with your dealer *immediately*! This has been the subject of numerous TSB's (technical service bulletins) from Ford, in many of their vehicles. This shudder you describe is probably what Ford calls "torque converter shudder", which is why you only feel it in 3rd and 4th gears, and usually on light throttle. In that case, it is due to overheated transmission fluid, and the only way to cure it is to have both your transmission *and* the torque conveter completely drained of all fluid, including the transmission lines themselves, and replace the fluid. I would also recommend that if this is what is diagnosed, you should immediately install an auxilliary transmission oil cvooler to prevent this from happening in the future. On some vehicles, Ford retrofits them free of charge! This affects all '94 & later Ford Thunderbirds, and all Lincoln Mark 8's, for example, among many other Fords. It usually happens in city driving, because the tranny fluid is cooled by the radiator, and there isn't enough cooling capacity.

If this is allowed to continue, it can take out the entire transmission, I don't mean to alarm you, but it can easily lead to serious repairs, so get it taken care of now. Your Ford dealer can tell you if this is the problem or not pretty quickly.

Good luck, and let us know what happens, ok?

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

I have a '97 F150 XLT 4x4 4.6L/Auto Supercab with 49K miles and have started to notice a transmission "shudder".

This occurs between 30 and 40 mph and is more noticeable when I'm driving with overdrive turned off (button switch on shift lever).

Before taking it to the shop I'd like to find out what could be causing it and if it's occuring on other F150's of the same age. Also, would this type of service still be under warranty? Thanks for any help.

Mark D.
Rochester, NY

 

Thank you for the info. I called my local Ford service dept. and they are not aware of any TSBs regarding a transmission shudder with the A4LD transmission. But they did recommend a transmission fluid replacement and torque converter drain for $84.

 

Mark: I take my truck in to a oil/lube (Exxon) place to change my oil and they also do transmissions. Had to do that today and was asking them about when I should change the transmission fluid, 60k they told me. Since 60k is right around the corner for me I was checking on the price. $20 Didn't think to ask about that torque converter drain thing but it can't be a much as Ford!!! Check out other places before going w/Ford.

 

I was experiencing the same slip and lock-unlock you are all talking about. WARNING... last weekend I was towing a light alluminum boat at highway speeds for 150 miles. 4.6,4r70w tranny, 97 4x4. I had the OD off because the trans was hunting. Everythinghad been going fine untill I csme to a stop on the offramp. From a stop, the trans doen't seem to engage. The engine just revs and only acelerates about like if you let your foot off the brake at idle. I was able to limp home at about 5 mph. It's at the dealer now... Reverse is just like normal (not the torque converter) Anybody got any ideas???? It's only got 26,500 miles and I am not satisfied with the power, milage, and the tranny. I'llpost the results of my trip to the dealer. HELP!!!!

 

Walt: this past weekend a friend of mine was telling me what just happened w/his F250 Crewcab 6speed diesel. He said that while driving on interstate it just seemed to pop out of gear. He put it back into gear. A few miles later it did the same thing. Now he can't seem to get it into gear. Kept playing with it and got it going again. Then a few more miles and it's out of gear again. This time he said he could take the gear shift and just run it around in a circle. NO GEARS. He had to have it towed to the nearest Ford dealer. He thinks it's the part that puts it into either 2wheel or 4wheel drive. synchronizer???
Good luck with your truck though.

 

Tina: Thanks for the advice. I get the oil changed at Valvoline and they also do transmission fluid. Had it done yesterday and so far haven't noticed any shudder between 30 and 40 mph like it was doing. I like Valvoline, it was a little bit more than Monroe Muffler next door, but it only took 20 minutes and I could stay in my truck and watch and talk to the mechanics.

Mark

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'97 F150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab 4.6L/Auto K&N Filter

 

thanks for the info tina. your friend has a different tranny and a different problem. My update is a blown seal. this seal is used to apply pressure to the forward clutch discs. they were all toast... I saw the seal and it was destroyed...my warrenty timed out 45 days earlier so Ford says they can't help. the overdrive band was also burnt and cracked. the soft rebuild cost me $1200. any body want to buy a ford???

 

Walt: that's terrible. I really think Ford should have, at the least, since you were still under 35k, shouldered half the bill I hope you're able to get your truck up and running soon. Something that might help some of the other's here: If you could tell us if there was anything we could keep a check on under the hood, like where that seal was. Any, dripping or anything that someone can look for if they are experiencing the same syptoms as your truck displayed. Again, sorry about your truck.

 

This is the converter locking and unlocking. It is normal.

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97 4.6 F150, 1/4 = 17.48 @ 82.2 mph, 88 5.0 Mustang 1/8 = 7.409 @ 93.72 mph

 

I've had this problem twice. Both times I changed the trans fluid which got rid of the shudder both times.

I have very high mileage requirements, so my trans fluid was changed at 40k and at 80k, or when the trans sh sh sh sh shruddered.

 

Walt46 stop right there! you have given in to soon. demand to talk to the ford rep. Talk to the dealer service rep.get the service rep to work for you, Explain that a trans should last 100,000 miles + not 26000. I've been out of warranty and ford have covered it. ie my windstar had a coolant leak at 30,000 miles 60 days past warranty. Bill was $1300, I paid $100 after pissing and moaning about it.

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97, 4.6, 3.55LS, Dk red 265/75/16, Leer cap, Rhino bed, rose wood dash, CD player,

 

Hello, I'm a new member, So here we go. I have a 2006 F150 Super Crew 4X4. When I first purchased the truck new and drove it awayI felt vibrations throughout the truck. Dealer said that tires had flat spots. So I drove it for awhile and carried it back. New tires, road force balance and who knows what else. Finally, some satisfaction.
Now my truck has 129000 miles on it and I recently had plugs,transmission flush, rearend fluid change, new brakes and rotors, new tires and radiator flush. After the tires were installed I noticed a vibration. Ford road force balanced and found one out-of-round(replaced). Still had what I call a wobble. Rebalanced and rotated. When I warm up my truck from cold, there is a wobble in cycles. Not too bad. When I drive the wobble seams to be around 1400rpms to2100rpms. All gears. If you take off fast, like to get on the interstate, the wobble is much more noticeable. My thoughts are that the torque converter has been bad since day one. Why it got better after I raised cane with Ford, I think I know. Now I'm on my own and love my truck and want to keep it. Does anyone have a simular problem or know if it's time to rebuild? Also had alignment to make sure fontend was not loose.

 

You should start your on thread. probably get more responses that way.