Rough shift & check trans warning

[Daveskis]

Hey all,
I have a 2004 Limited v-8. 103000 miles. It is my tow vehicle for a monster pop up which weighs 3400 lbs. Anyway months ago it started shifting weird. It will wait too long and then shift rough and the check trans light comes on once or twice a week. When I restart it, it may not come on for days. Seems worse now that I don't drive it as much and maybe because of the cold. Am I looking at a total rebuild or just a solenoid and what is a reasonable cost. I am in Maryland near Annapolis. I have been using mostly my dealer, Apple ford in Columbia So far they have been great and reasonable with costs
Thanks
Dave

 

[EasyRhino]

You might want to post this query in the tranny section. You'll get responses that may be less immediate than this section, but likely far more technical.

However, hard questions asked by those that really know these trannies are exactly what is needed to offer advice from a distance.

First questions you will likely get asked, and quite frankly need to know:

What is the service history of your tranny? (i.e., how often has the fluid been changed/flushed, etc.)

How is it being used (answered in part)?

What codes are being thrown when you get the check tranny light?

Are you getting a flashing "OD Off" light?

How are you resetting the codes, or are they clearing by themselves?

Be aware that continuing to operate one of these after the warning lights come on may mean that you are going into the limp home mode, which greatly increases the chance of requiring a complete rebuild if it remains in use prior to remediating the underlying problem. These are not cheap to repair once they grenade.