I was driving to work last Thursday and noticed my truck was “sluggish” taking off. I would put it into drive and wait a second or two for my trans to engage then when I would take off it would rev up and finally THUNK into gear. This would also happen any time I had to stop for a stoplight or make a slow turn or something like that.

Then on the way home things got worse. The truck would rev up to some ware around 2k rpm and finally go into gear. Once the truck got up to speed there were no issues.

I got it home and checked the trans fluid and it wasn’t even on the dipstick. I refilled it a little bit that night and then again in the morning. A few days later it has plenty of trans fluid but the problem hasn’t gone away. I drove it around on the back roads thinking that the fluid just needs to work its way back into the system but I haven’t had any luck.

Is there something I am not doing right?
Does it take time for trans fluid to get back into the system?
Or did I just destroy my transmission by running it with low fluid?

Any info on this is helpful.

Thanks,
Zach

 

And the truck is a 2002 Super Cab FX4, 5.4L.

Again ANY help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Zach

 

Here is my limited opinion, change the fluid and filter first and add a good tranny additive. If that is of no help, there are a few shift servo's on the side of the tranny that I have heard give trouble from time to time. How much fluid did you have to add?