My transmission issues...need suggestions

[Heuster]

I have a 97 5.0 AWD - the tranny shifts good except when shifting into overdrive. It delays a tad, during the shift, isn't terribly crisp. If I cruise along at 70 and push the excelerator maybe 1 inch, it downshifts out of overdrive it seems, but if I hit the OFF button for overdrive after this last "shift", it will shift into 3rd. This I do not understand. It is like I am running 5 gears almost. This isn't really bothersome, only the fact that when it comes out of this "5th" gear, it shutters bigtime. Feels like I just ran over a cattleguard. - exactly like a cattleguard. Nothing leaks, everything shifts and downshifts, no problems sitting at idle, shifting into reverse or drive...sometimes though, it will seem to downshift to far and put me at about 5 1/2k RPM for about 2 seconds, then shift to 3rd where it should be when I hammer it.

Any ideas and thoughts on this before I decide if I can fix it or if I need to take it somewhere.

 

[cjbarron5]

how many miles on the truck and how ofter have you serviced the tranny? could be a simple lock up solinoid or it could be a hard parts problem has your od light ever flashed at you?

 

[TPLYNCH]

Isn't the tranny with the 5.0 a 4 speed? The initial "shift" when you press the gas is probably your torque converter locking. Hitting OD Off will shift you to 3rd, from OD (4th). If you're getting a shudder with that initial "shift", then your torque converter is most likely crapping out.

 

[Heuster]

There are 74k miles on it - as far as I know, the tranny has never been serviced. I bought it with 69k on it, and have been getting done the basics that I can do to get the maintenance caught up on it.

 

[Heuster]

It sounds weird, but when I accelerate about 1/4 while on the freeway, it shifts out of a "gear", but the RPM's do not increase a lot. After this initial downshift, I can hit the OD button and it will downshift into a "real" 3rd gear and the RPM's hit the 4K range like they should at 75mph. Come on guys, I know there are some tranny wizards in this forum!!!

 

[cjbarron5]

i would start basic change the fluid and filter and note what the pan looks like on the inside chunks of stuff is BAD but some grey stuff in the pan is normal to a point check the valve body bolts and make sure they are tight too

 

[Bill Kemp]

Sounds like you just need to change the trans filter. I bet that alone will cure the slow shift.