Jerky transmission on old Ford Van

[Stromper]

My transmission on my 2001 E150 130K miles seem to have trouble

when the torque converter locks up

I have tried the additive but still have the problem, she is an old girl and I wont be
throwing a tranny in her, even a rebuilt in your hand is like 1500

ANy who one of the treatments is to purge and replace the fluid to have the
transmission drained through the cooler hose

You continually add new fluid while its running until the fluid coming out runs
clear pink, and then top it off

Anybody do this? did it help anything?

Using "good" mercon-V it probably will cost near a 100

[TheIglu]

-throwing a dead transvestite into a van joke-

Ok, now that's out of the way....

I'd do a flush/fill. Shop might be able to do it as cheap as you can since they have a machine that can do it for you. Is there a filter/screen on it under the pan or externally? Is the cooler allowing fluid to pass freely?

Have you smelled the fluid? (not from the dead tranny, the actual transmission) Does is smell burnt? If so, it might be a lost cause from my experience with auto's.

[joshk1025]

My parents had a similarly aged E350. It needed the transmission rebuilt at just a little higher miles. They tried the transmission flush and it went from bad to not working.

[breakdirt916]

Maybe you can just find another 01 used with a working transmission...then throw a dead tramsvestite into it

Jk jk

How about a transmission swap for a 4R100 from a junkyard

[Chippertheripper]

Maybe it has dirty fluid, or your just a jerky old driver and there's nothing wrong. Bugs are good.

millenials.

[aldend123]

ANy who one of the treatments is to purge and replace the fluid to have the
transmission drained through the cooler hose

You continually add new fluid while its running until the fluid coming out runs
clear pink, and then top it off

Anybody do this? did it help anything?

That's not really a special 'treatment'. It's a standard method changing of the ATF. You want to do this once the ATF has oxidized and is shifting in color from red to brown.

If the fluid is old, that's usually step number 1. Exactly what are your symptoms? Check engine light for failure to engage or disengage the lock-up solenoid? Stalling when you stop?

[Stromper]

Around the lock up speed which seem to be 35 to 45, changes with throttle position It feels that the lock up hits hard ..
like popping a clutch

You have to really research F'n Ford tranny fluid apparently the only safe thing
for a 2001 is to replace with Mercon-V ($100) which is compatible/superior with Mercon but not Mercon-LV

anything else and you could kill the transmission

They sell friction modifiers 2oz miracle you pour in , it had an effect but not a cure


My current plan is to simply replace it hopefully with a 2014 E150XLT I loath the newer ones (ick) which should have a
life time guarantee as I am almost 71, but if I can get another couple of years all to the good. I like the old girl now
I threw in a steering box and that cured a terrible front end vibration

I have seen that the transmission hoses are on a cooler right in front of the condenser so should be easy

Like the Octogenarian said to the minister, if she dies, she dies

[stoinkythepig]

Any chance you bent/dented/crimped a transmission fluid cooler line recently? Restricted flow will make it operate oddly. Could be a really cheap fix...

[Tricky Mike]

I'd also pull the valve body and look at the gasket before I trashed it. A shot valve body/gasket will also produce what you're describing.
It's a messy but easy job.

[Stromper]

I thought of the flush first because most of the internet (F150) said old fluid

I would have jumped on a standard drop filter but said it only drains like 1 of 3 1/2 gallons

Also don't trust most flush and fill , who would just do dextron III which is almost Mercon but way worse than Mercon V

I do like your suggestion of the valve body and may make it step 2 , my spirit guide tells me
I would be having it towed to the wreckers

[e30addict]

Have you never changed the fluid before in this van

[aldend123]

Have you never changed the fluid before in this van

Sounding that way.

If the fluid's well past due, I don't see any reason to do anything other than change it first. See where that takes you. Unfortunately if it looks like motor oil, it might be too late. But I don't think there's any way to know that until you try.

Some people do the drain-n-fill several times in a row. Some remove a trans line and let it pump out. Either way works. I've heard some people theorize that it's safer to drain-n-fill since it doesn't introduce a drastic change. I never really bought in to that though.

Pulling a trans line and letting it pump the fluid out on it's own is different from a 'power flush' where an external machine pumps the fluid in for you.

[e30addict]

Some people do the drain-n-fill several times in a row. Some remove a trans line and let it pump out. Either way works. I've heard some people theorize that it's safer to drain-n-fill since it doesn't introduce a drastic change. I never really bought in to that though.

.

I buy into the shocking part if it's an older/neglected transmission. Regular maintenance not so much.

If this van has never been touched for 130K, I'd try the drain and fill vs straight flush if it were mine. I'd also be prepared that it's a hail mary that may not work and the thing is done.

I'd also be doing this myself but that doesn't seem too feasible for the OP at this point.

Rock and hard place if this is lack of maintenance.

[Stromper]

The fluid was changed at like 75 so it has 50 on it now

The pump itself method looks wasteful but easy, the video has him pumping out a couple of gallons
then start feeding the new stuff unitl it runs pink then top it off


I have athoriity that the torque converter has a drain hole but choose to let that sleeping dog lie.

[TheIglu]

I'd get a couple quotes on having a shop do the power flush. I've had it done on the wife's rides a couple times, and it was never more than $150 or so using the proper machine. And if the trans dies completely from their actions, that could be something they would be responsible for.

[aldend123]

The pump itself method looks wasteful but easy, the video has him pumping out a couple of gallons
then start feeding the new stuff unitl it runs pink then top it off

You might be surprised by the total ATF in the trans. Been a little while since I've looked at specs, but I think 9-12L is relatively common. 12L is 3.1gallons.

[e30addict]

The fluid was changed at like 75 so it has 50 on it now

The pump itself method looks wasteful but easy, the video has him pumping out a couple of gallons
then start feeding the new stuff unitl it runs pink then top it off


I have athoriity that the torque converter has a drain hole but choose to let that sleeping dog lie.

Pump mehtod isn't really too wasteful. You can always look up how much it's supposed to hold and dump that amount in while pumping out at the same time. That will get you pretty close to complete change. You just need to make sure whatever you are draining from is as far away from the fresh supply side as you can.

[Stromper]

I am committed as I found qts of bogus Walmart Mercon-V for 4.72
I cleaned them out (8) so 1/2 way there

Will hit a different Walmart as I want at least 4 gallons

[Stromper]

Well

First fortunate as Van has front transmission cooler right infront of condenser held on by worm clamps
Probably included in the towing package

Easy peazy lines were in a bucket started it up and it pumped out about 2 gals then slowed of somewhat brown
Put in 2 gallons of Mercon V
Drained another estimated 2 gallons of blood red stuff

Topped it up with 1 gal of Mercon V and some Seafoam transmission snake oil


Definitely improved only a couple of jerks in about 40 miles so improved , might heal
as there was the occasional lumpy stuff that drained

All in ALL if you can get at coolant lines/hoses I recommend it