Tranny Worries

[Funmart6]

Well, my car has 118,000 miles logged, and lately I have noticed some jerky shifting. Our transmissions are four speeds right, with the fourth gear being overdrive, right? If this is true, then my car shifts first gear to second gear fine, then from second to third and from third to overdrive it is kinda jerky feeling. Tell me the bad news now, is it time for a rebuild, or would a flush and filter change help maybe?
Note, I just had the filter and fluid changed last July, and that hasn't been too many miles ago . I had this done at the local Ford stealership, told them I wanted synthetic put back in there, they told me after the fact that they couldn't locate any synthetic trans fluid so they put the regular fluid back in. Funny, you can find synthetic fluids most anywhere, yet they couldn't find any??? Hmmmm, my car will never go back to Ford again. They probably didn't even change anything and charged me for it anyway.
This car is my daily driver so I have to keep it in top shape always, so if I am looking at a rebuild, then so be it, it will have to be done.
Is this the end of my transmission???? :cry:

 

[Ian Macoomb]

You don't want Ford putting in synthetic (in a '97 anyway). It was designed for Mercon not Mercon V (a synthetic). If you want a synthetic go with Amsoil ATF as it meets the mercon spec and it's probably the best you can buy. I'm running it in mine. But it might be a bit expensive if you suspect your tranny is shot. I'd change the filter and put in some fresh non-synthetic fluid and see if it helps. It would suck to spend a bunch of money on synthetic fluid just before the tranny goes.

In any event, you're in prime time tranny rebuilding area. I'd plan on that expense soon.

 

[Funmart6]

Thanks, I figured I would flush it and replace with conventional fluid and go from there. If this doesn't solve the problem then I will look into a rebuild and will ask more questions about that topic when the time comes.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Actually, Ford now recommends using Mercon V in earlier transmissions that specify regular Mercon (or Dexron III) as a remedy to torque converter shudder. Oh, and Mercon V isn't technically a synthetic. The friction modifier which differentiates regular Mercon from Mercon V is synthetic. In fact, you can actually buy the additive and add it to regular Mercon to make the fluid meet Mercon V specs.

I switched over to Mercon V in my '97 for about 5000 miles before I went to the Amsoil, and it really made a marked difference in the overall smoothness of the tranny, which has remained even after the switch to Amsoil. At 125K+ on the original tranny, I know that I'm already on borrowed time, but right now it shifts as good as any V8 SHO I've driven with a low-mileage or rebuilt tranny.

Where you're on relatively fresh fluid and a recent filter, it's time to start thinking tranny work. You might try to find a real tranny shop (not a chain) that has a rinsing agent (about $45 for a bottle -- the name escapes me at the moment) that they'll have you run for a couple hundred miles before doing another flush and filter. I've seen that approach extend a tranny anywhere from 5000-20000 miles more than it probably would have otherwise lasted. We've also seen Lucas extend the life for a couple of customers who could barely afford gas nevermind a tranny rebuild.

 

[Funmart6]

Funny thing, I didn't have any problems before the fluid was changed, so what would that mean.

So do you think I should try the flush and filter change and possibly add something like Lucas?