Question on transmission service

[03explorerL]

As of the past two weeks or so, the transmission on the EX has been acting up. With only 66k miles, I am rather upset. I know it is common for issues, but damn. What's happening is, I get a shimmy or vibration going from fourth to overdrive, and then the same when the torque convertor goes into lockup. I swapped cars with my grandmother to see if it does it all the time, and indeed it does. I talked to Ford, and they want $246.78 for a damn fluid and filter change and tried to sell me on a flush. I told him to pack sand and that I couldn't afford that. Called my local mechanic who works on the other cars we have and she said don't touch it. That since you are changing it because you are starting to have an issue, you will make it worse. Due to the dirty fluid probably holding something together. Now hearing what a nightmare these are to rebuild, I want to be proactive here and do something, but what? Locally, a rebuild goes for about $2500. So what does the Explorians think?
Thanks in advance!

 

[DAT05EXPLODER]

i would drop the pan and change the fluid and filter. go to autozone and see if you may have a tranny codes (CEL doesn't need to be on to have codes).

 

[RyanMc]

Does it feel like a "Bump"?

 

[03explorerL]

A little... More of a shutter.
Bump! Any more ideas???

 

[deaconblues]

I would definitely do a fluid change (make sure new fluid is Mercon V, not some other type treated with an additive) and add a bottle of Lubegard platinum.

I think these transmissions like clean (Mercon V) fluid. Lubegard seems also seems to help the torque converters.

 

[J_Train]

its needs to be flushed. the 3rd gens have a valve in them the flush machine needs to have a pump on it to flush it properly. that's why most places say flush hurt it because they don't get flushed right all the time. we sell them all the time at the dealership i work at and it doesn't hurt the transmission. Now some of the 3rd gen do have problems with valve bodies and or solenoids. I'd check into that too. a filter change wouldn't hurt either.