98' EB with tranny chatter

[BigDadys93x]

I have a 98' EB v8 AWD it has 199,000 miles on it and for about the last year or so it has developed a bad transmission chatter when shifting in and out of overdrive. This mostly happens when accelerating up inclines or when going out to pass another car. As soon as I try to acclerate from cruising speed (55-65mph) and it kicks down out of overdrive it will chatter and shutter real bad its has accually gotten so bad that when it happens it causes my cd player to skip. For the last few months when I get into these driving situations I shut the overdrive off (which for some reason doesnt cause the chatter) and then i turn it back on when Im back to cruising speed. Any Ideas? Thanks in advance

 

[66427]

Not sure if it is the same problem just due to the mileage but I had an issue with my '01 EB that whenit shifted into OD ot seemed like I was running over some rumble strips. 1-2 and 2-3 shifts were a bit of a slam also but nothing to cause a panic. My mileage was about 80k. I called the stealership expecting a quote for $3000 for a new tranny and a whole line of malarky, but low and behold he said filter change and fluid exchange. I was doubtful as I had had the fluid changed at 35k and 65-70k. He told me they had to do the filter and fluid. It worked. Been shifting great ever since. He told me that he had seen a bunch of F-150's and Expiditions do this but only a handfull of Explorers. Hope that helps.

 

[Turdle]

From the way you described it--it sounds like the torque converter is slipping--you are feeling it "unlock",( this is why you don't feel a difference with OD off I think) maybe the TCC solenoid is hanging up???
I would try having the system flushed, and a new filter first thing.

The torque converter locks, after all upshifting is completed, and cruising speed is attained. Give it a little gas, and it will unlock--is this when you fell the shuddering?

 

[Vinniety]

I have a 98' EB v8 AWD it has 199,000 miles on it and for about the last year or so it has developed a bad transmission chatter when shifting in and out of overdrive. This mostly happens when accelerating up inclines or when going out to pass another car. As soon as I try to acclerate from cruising speed (55-65mph) and it kicks down out of overdrive it will chatter and shutter real bad its has accually gotten so bad that when it happens it causes my cd player to skip. For the last few months when I get into these driving situations I shut the overdrive off (which for some reason doesnt cause the chatter) and then i turn it back on when Im back to cruising speed. Any Ideas? Thanks in advance

Just curious did you ever have the tranny fluid changed? The cheapest way would be just like the others stated change your tranny fluid first cheapest test at least in my oppinion.

 

[moparornocar_08]

From the way you described it--it sounds like the torque converter is slipping--you are feeling it "unlock",( this is why you don't feel a difference with OD off I think) maybe the TCC solenoid is hanging up???
I would try having the system flushed, and a new filter first thing.

The torque converter locks, after all upshifting is completed, and cruising speed is attained. Give it a little gas, and it will unlock--is this when you fell the shuddering?

I have a '98 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 OHV with a similar problem. It has 154XXX miles on it; the fluid is still in good shape and it still shifts pretty smooth, but depending on how much throttle I'm giving it and how long I've been driving it, it feels like it shudders a bit when going into overdrive in fourth and/or fifth (although not always consecutively), and if I have to pass somebody, when it unlocks. Very occasionally, I also believe it does it at higher rpms (around 4500-5000), too. Could these be possible solutions?

 

[rlp71068]

Not sure if this will help you or not. I did the shade tree mechanic fluid exchange, changed the trans filter it the microfelt one. I added the lube gaurd trans fluid conditioner or modifier (not suire what it was called exactly). THis was added to the mercon v. It got rid of about 95% of the torque converter shutter when going in and out of O/D. I then installed the remote transfluid filter for good measure. To Get rid of the remaining shudder i added about half the tube of Dr trannys instant shudder fix. Shifts perfect now. Hope this helps someone.

 

[moparornocar_08]

Thanks, it sounds like it's certainly worth a try.