I have a 1997 F150 4.6 V8 automatic that is having an acceleration problem that feels like a transmission malfunction. So I brought it to aamco for a diagnosis and they described it as a"3-4 flare." They offered to drop the pan and do a flush but I am a little skeptical about that. It's fluid and filter have probably never been changed since 1997. The fluid also appears to be a little too high on the dipstick. What can I do to correct this Problem?

Thanks in advance!

 

Drop the pan and add new fluid yourself. Put In a new filter and 5 quarts of the appropriate fluid. Dont let aamco flush anything.

 

If you have very little metal chunks in the pan, just silt, a fluid change might help it.
If you have a lot of debris, it probably wont and your on borrowed time.

 

What would you guys suggest doing?

 

What the last 2 posts say.

 

I would drop pan, clean pan and change fluid and filter, and gauge the condition by the amount of debris you find. Cross fingers and hope it helps.

Then you got two options, call a local scrapyard and let them locate you a used one, or find a reputable local shop to evaluate it, preferable one that does fleet service on lots and lots of trucks.

I would stay away from any and all chain transmission places. When I want to know who to go to, I call a large local scrapyard and ask them who is the best transmission place, who to get to install engine. Scrapyards actually are about the best place I know to call and ask for opinions of who is the best engine or transmission shops around. Many local scrapyards today install engines and transmissions too, and know who does good work at good prices.

 

I've had several high mileage F150's.. About 250,000 seems to be the life of welds on the clutch hubs. I'd recommend a used trannny over rebuilding a high mileage unit. Last one I bought was a couple of years ago. $800 for a trans with 80,000 miles. After install, that can be cheaper than a rebuild.