I have a 90 f150 that has an automatic 4 speed in it. O/D off button on dash. Im pretty sure its a E4OD but I havent looked at the trans pan yet to verify. All of that is just background noise. This truck slips in second and third if you get on it to much. first and fourth are strong. The trans fluid is black and barely smells like trans fluid. I think I used to know what burned fluid smelled like, but this stuff just doesnt smell as strong as I thought it should. Other than the slipping it has a small hesitation before engauging gears when you move the shifter. It shifts fine going down the road and doesnt slam gears. Ok that all being said. I was going to just change the fluid, pan gasket, and filter. I am worried that I'm throwing 70+ dollars at something that won't help.

 

Depends on your budget. $70 for something that might possibly help or just skip over that idea and go straight to the $2000 rebuilt.

 

I get what you are saying, but if the 70 is money wasted Id like to know. I can throw money at it all day without asking for opinions, but thats not my intent. I want to know if in yours or others personal experience that a trans at this point with the symptoms and fluid described what you or others may have done. If you went straight to rebuild/replace then say it. I'm not looking for ways to fix this, I'm looking for advice as to which I should do. Maybe this will make things clearer.

 

Might be too late but might not, I'd say it's worth a try. Use Mercon V and install a drain on trans pan. Also install a magnet in the pan or use a magnetic drain plug.

 

I think im gonna drill and tap the stock pan while I have it out. Once thats done I'll put in a magnetic drain plug. A guy at work explained them to me, and man thats a pretty badass plug. Bout how big should I make the plug? And if I do end up changing the tranny out or having it rebuilt, Im gonna keep my modified pan.

 

On second thought..... Is the stock pan gonna be able to hold up to being drilled? and if that works is the bolt going to have to be super short to keep it from interfering with the filter and whatnot? I'm sure trial and error will prove me right or wrong.

 

There is a spot in the pan that will clear the new pan bolt, spot weld a .200 or .25 piece of flat stock and drill it and tap for your new pan drain. The trans is going to leave you with a tow bill and a trans rebuild if you don't repair it now. The burned oil is because the bands are slipping all the time and you don't notice but it is causing a lot of heat. after rebuild put on a cooler and the trans will last three times as long.

 

I cant tell if its burned though. This fluid is black and has almost no smell except for the slight hint that it was once trans fluid. I am going to move forward with the fluid change and I'll report back with what I discover. Its not a huge deal. I like this truck and I'll rebuild a trans if needed. Its the motor I wanted in the first place

 

You'll also want to drain your convertor and blow out the cooling lines. Get as much of that old crap out as you can.

 

I have neglected this post for a long time. Sorry, my denial of the situation made me hesitate, but I do have new findings. I did do a fluid change and it did not change the way the transmission acted during driving. It still slips. However, I am still not convinced that the transmission is the issue. The fluid was a bit black, but it was not burned. I put new fluid in and a filter and no change. I decided that the transmission replacement was the best way to go..........until today. It doesnt feel like the trans is slipping to me (an unexperienced auto trans troubleshooter). It feels more like the trans is just unsure of what gear to go into and what not. Its like the trans (when in second) wants to just shift back to first at the slightest sign of strain. I decided to unhook a lifeline, the TPS sensor. The trans quickly (or more quickly) engauged reverse, and took less time to go from reverse to drive and then back again. Using foot on brake and throttle methods, I took it for a drive and the trans did not slip at stops while in drive like it had before. I also noticed that when I gave it a lot of gas that it only hesitated to select a gear for a moment before locking in and going. I'm hoping that a new TPS and cleaning the electrical connectors will produce more results. If anyone has any useful info I would greatly appreciate it. The truck still runs and drives and this issue has been present since I bought it back in december. I daily drove this truck until the second week of march and the trans did not get any worse. A trans replacement may still be the ultimate solution, but then again, maybe the electronics are just trying to screw me.