Transmission Detail

[Snooze]

For a long time now my truck has had a slight jerk while driving down moderatly sloped hills. I could never pin point what it was and sometimes passengers couldnt really feel it. It was most noticable while driving because of the jerk and because the gas pedal would move up and down almost like the computer was confused. It was very very wierd. I took it into Ford two days ago and went for a test drive with one of the shop guys. I got the truck to jerk a couple of times and he was puzzled on what it could be. He test drove it and felt the same response from the gas pedal and definetly felt the jerk.

The jerk feels like the truck is driving over some really sharp bumps on the road and really close to an engine miss. Ford has been going in circles trying to figure it out running diagnostics while driving it and switching out parts so they are doing a good job. The tech guy says its the torque converter that is having a hard time opening and closing. What they recommend is changing the fluid out due to unhealthy looking color issues and they think it will help the torque converter open and close properly.



What do you guys think? Should I have them flush the fluid? Or should I take this oportunity to take my truck to a transmission specialist to have a larger pan installed and the EPC valve turned a bit?

 

[Todd Z]

Well we did just have a member have the Torque converter solenoid cause issues with the truck jerking...

But the moving gas pedal?? Thats weird, the only thing that can do that is if the throttle plate is sticking or the cruse control is pulling on the cable... You can disconnect the cruise cable and drive the truck, also spray some cleaner on the throttle plate and maybe clean the IAC motor if they did not replace it...



As far as the fluid goes, IT is allways a good thing to change the fluid. But taking the pan down and stuff, you may just want to replace the Torque converter solenoid while your in there... Second, Most dealers will NOT up the EPC pressure, you have to do it your self or have a separate shop do it..

Todd Z

 

[Todd Cloutier]

Back when the DPFE sensor failed on my 95 Explorer (and on my 01 Trac), it would jerk almost like a miss when traveling at 35-40mph under light throttle. It really felt like a transmission problem, and caused no fluctuations in the engine rpm. It was more pronounced in the Explorer, but I could feel it in my 01 Trac as well. In both cases it threw a diagnostic code and the check engine light came on.