I have an 03 FX4 with 5.4 and Auto Tranny. I bought it with around 125000 miles and it currently has 137000 miles. When driving around town/ city streets its seems fine. However when on the highway, and mainly when under hard acceleration such has when passing, the tranny seems a little hesitant to down shift. Its like when driving a standard you hold the clutch for about a second or two before shifting into gear. doesnt make any noises and it feels smooth. could it be just needing a filter/fluid change?

On a side note i was asking the guy that changes my oil if he could change the tranny fluid/filter and he told me that if i have never changed it before, that once its changed it could possiby lock up the tranny. i have never heard of that but wouldnt that make it impossible to maintain the tranny?

 

ya your best bet is to get the trans flushed and replace the filter. at the very least just change the filter and fluid your self if u cant afford the flush. and tell buddy who told you not to sevice your trans that he's an idiot! lol

 

Flushing is the worst thing you can do unless you have changed your fluid like you should/ as in you have kept up on it..

 

Huh ya if you have never changed it don't change your fluid.. Just leave it. I know that sounds dumb but it's true...

 

i just dont understand how changing the transmission fluid can harm the transmission.....

 

It's not if it's been done regularly. If your fluid is brown or smells burnt don't do it. The clutches are smoked and the brown color is your clutch fibers that smoked off you clutch plates. Once you add fresh fluid you have no fiber because it was all in your fluid. It usually dies a quick death. Flushing is good if you have clean fluid and wan't to change it because the friction modifier is worn down in your fluid but if it's dirty something will probally get stuck in a passage someplace.

 

O ok that does make sense. but since i have no record of any servicing done before i owned the truck, is it safest to not change it? or check the fluid at the dip stick for color?

 

check your fluid and see how it looks. and not servicing your trans because your scared your trans will quit is something a 16 year old kid would do! i keep my trucks services up to date and when i buy a used truck i do a full service on it so i can start fresh and know when it needs done again. but some guys run there truck into the ground and thats fine for them but not the way i work.

 

If the fluid is good I would change it. If it's dirty or smells burnt it can't do to much harm because it probally needs rebuilt anyway. I've seen tranny's last forever that I thought were gonna die any day and seen ones die that I thought had no problems.

 

Ok thanks alot! i will probly just take it up to AAMCO and let them fool with it