Shuttering when trying to shift

[dbates77]

As I am traveling at approx. 42mph...My eexplorer shutters for a few seconds...and then stops....It feels as if it is trying to determine if it should up shift or down shift...is this a common situation...if not what do i need the mechanics to look at...

Is it possible that this is happening because the sensor thinks that the rear axle is going fast than the front so it is distrubuting the power to all four wheels...or is it just a shifting problem..

Get back to me asap...thanks...

 

[Triton46]

I would take it back to the person who installed your new transfer case, possibly forgot to bolt something or left a sensor off.

 

[imq707s]

Shuddering Problem

dbates77, I have a 97 AWD V-8 explorer and mine has just started to do the exact same thing. It just started a month ago, and it sounds like the same thing you are talking about. When I'm cruising about town between 40-44mph, you can feel random shuddering coming from the transmission. If I hit the O/D off button, or speed up to around 50mph the shuddering goes away. I've been doing a bunch or research on the internet trying to find out what causes this problem, apparently it's pretty common. Go to this site
http://www.autotransinc.com
and check out there "shudder fix" device they sell. It's supposed to cure this problem. The sire also explains what causes this problem. I've also heard that if you change your tranny fluid, about 80% of the time the shuddering will go away. I'm thinking about trying one of B&M's shiftplus units, it firms up shifts by increasing line pressure. I think this should cure the shuddering problem also. Hope I helped a little and didn't confuse you to much. Feel free to e-mail me at iquinn@lorencook.com for more info.

 

[dbates77]

sounds exactly the same

Thanks....i will go look at that sight...i am think i am going to take it back and have them look at it again...

I will let you know if they find anything...

A few questions for you...how long have you had your explorer and what are the miles on it....I just got mine a month ago and it has 70K....

everything else with it is great....i just want this to get fixed before i take a trip to colorado in JAn....

 

[dbates77]

Computer problem

It stated on the site that is more of a computer problem....would disconnecting the battery and such...reset the computer of the computer...i know i have read before that this might do it but i am unsure...

yes that fix sounds as if it might work...for someone you knows how to put it in...i am just a owner with VERY little automotive skills...I guess you can say i am a very recreation driver...i know to check and change oile and other things but that is about all...

thanks again for you input...

 

[imq707s]

My Explorer is a 97 and just hit 53,000 miles on it. Over the weekend I installed one of those B&M ShiftPlus electronic shift improvers. I thought that it might cure the shuddering problem, but it didn't. I does firm up the shifts a bunch, and I would recomend one for anyone who is planning on doing a bunch of towing. I'll probably go ahead and change the tranny fluid next and see if that help. If that doesn't fix the problem I'll order one of those shudder fix modules and see if that fixes it. They say that it's supposed to eliminate the shuddering problem, so hopfully it will do the trick.

 

[lightning31]

I took my 97 in to the trnny shop for the same shudder and they recommended I purchase 4 bottles of GM posi trac additive from the local chevy dealer and add it to the transmission after a fluid change!!!! NO MORE SHUDDER!!!!
It's amazing what you can learn from some of the "Old Timers"

 

[Sdiego]

Originally posted by imq707s
My Explorer is a 97 and just hit 53,000 miles on it. Over the weekend I installed one of those B&M ShiftPlus electronic shift improvers. I thought that it might cure the shuddering problem, but it didn't. I does firm up the shifts a bunch, and I would recomend one for anyone who is planning on doing a bunch of towing. I'll probably go ahead and change the tranny fluid next and see if that help. If that doesn't fix the problem I'll order one of those shudder fix modules and see if that fixes it. They say that it's supposed to eliminate the shuddering problem, so hopfully it will do the trick.

Did it make it shift any quicker, sooner? I hate waiting till around 2500 rpm before it changes to second gear ect.

Ron

 

[imq707s]

B&M SHIFT PLUS

The B&M shift plus didn't raise or lower the rpm that the transmission shifts, it just firms up the shifts. It has three settings , stock, firm, really firm. The firm setting is shifts just firm enought so you can tell that is has shifted gears, not like the super soft stock setting. The really firm setting shifts pretty quick and snappy, it's a little to firm for driving around town, but for towing it should work great.

 

[n5xmt]

That is torque converter shudder... Very common in the V8 explorers. Change the Trans fluid and filter, and use Mercon V fluid. Shudder will go away. It's the Torque converter clutch slipping (which will overheat the trans and burn it up if allowed to continue!)

Originally posted by dbates77
As I am traveling at approx. 42mph...My eexplorer shutters for a few seconds...and then stops....It feels as if it is trying to determine if it should up shift or down shift...is this a common situation...if not what do i need the mechanics to look at...

Is it possible that this is happening because the sensor thinks that the rear axle is going fast than the front so it is distrubuting the power to all four wheels...or is it just a shifting problem..

Get back to me asap...thanks...

 

[01EB5.0]

SHuddering or just not shifting

My truck sometimes shudders when shifting near 40 -45 MPH or it will just go into a neutral start and rev way up and than pop into gear. WHat might this be? It has been doing it for about 8,000 miles now, but I don't have th emoney ot have the tranny rebuilt so I was waiting until it totally died, but if it is something small I'd like to get it fixed. Please let me know what it may be! It only does it sometimes.

 

[n5xmt]

Re: SHuddering or just not shifting

Travis,
Have the fluid and filter changed first... With 92K on it, if the filter and fluid have never been changed, it could be caused by a plugged filter... If not, then seals etc inside are the cause and it will need rebuilt.

Originally posted by 95XLT
My truck sometimes shudders when shifting near 40 -45 MPH or it will just go into a neutral start and rev way up and than pop into gear. WHat might this be? It has been doing it for about 8,000 miles now, but I don't have th emoney ot have the tranny rebuilt so I was waiting until it totally died, but if it is something small I'd like to get it fixed. Please let me know what it may be! It only does it sometimes.

 

[01EB5.0]

The previuos owner replaced the fluid at 53K with red line synthetic ATF. He did not show in the record that the filter was changed. i have a new filter downstairs and I am planning on installing it next week. The truck takes a LONG time ti engauge into reverse and drive also, so I assume it is also maybe the filter.

 

[n5xmt]

The long engagement time is definitely a sign of fluid starvation... Low line pressure and/or weak seals in the clutches. If the filter doesn't fix it, it will be time for a rebuild... things will be worn pretty bad from the slippage as well.

Originally posted by 95XLT
The previuos owner replaced the fluid at 53K with red line synthetic ATF. He did not show in the record that the filter was changed. i have a new filter downstairs and I am planning on installing it next week. The truck takes a LONG time ti engauge into reverse and drive also, so I assume it is also maybe the filter.

 

[imq707s]

Fixed Tranny Shuddering

Well I finally changed the fluid and filter in my 97 explorer. I drained the converter and pan and refilled it with 13 quarts of Dextron V senthetic blend transmission fluid. While I had the pan off I also checked the torque on the valve body bolts and noticed that none of them were up to specs, so I tightened all of them up. I have put 60 miles on my explorer so far and the shuddering problem that I was getting at around 40-44mph has completely gone away. I'm not sure if it was changing the fluid/filter, or tightening the VB bolts, or maybe a little of both. Hopefully the tranny will work great for many more thousands of miles. Thanks again for everyones help.

 

[dbates77]

Thanks for the info

n5xmt--

Thanks for info...i will get this done soon...at least before i go to CO....

Not being very knowledgable under the hood...how hard is it to change the tran. fluid....easy/ hard....should have the shop do it....i mean i change oil and such but what about this...?

 

[n5xmt]

Re: Thanks for the info

Well, You have to remove the rubber inspection plug on the bellhousing, rotate the engine over until the drain plug is visible and remove it... You also need to buy a nbew drain plug from Ford... I think they have a thread locker of sorts on them to keep them in during use.

Then pull the trans pan... 10mm socket... be careful without a drain plug in the pan, it's easy to take a red shower! A shop only charges about $50.00, so it may not be worth it to you to do it yourself...

Originally posted by dbates77
n5xmt--

Thanks for info...i will get this done soon...at least before i go to CO....

Not being very knowledgable under the hood...how hard is it to change the tran. fluid....easy/ hard....should have the shop do it....i mean i change oil and such but what about this...?

 

[imq707s]

Changing Tranny Fluid

Well, changing the fluid is not really that tough, just a little messy. All you do is loosen the bolts that hold the transmisison pan on and drain the fluid out. Then to drain the converter just remove the rubber plug in the cover that surrounds the flywheel and then get someone to crank the motor over until the converter drain plug is lined up with the hole in the case. Undo the plug in the converter and the fluid will all drain out. Then just refill the transmission with around 12 quarts of Mercon V fluid and your set. You'll probably have to put about 6 quarts in and then start the motor for a second and then shut it off. This will pump the new fluid into the empty converter. You may need to do this fill/start motor operation a few times. Then after you've put in around 12-13 quarts you'll want to drive around a while and get the tranny warmed up and then check the fluid level again.

 

[dbates77]

Shuddering is GONE!!

I had the transmission fluid changed this weekend...and they added an additive to the fluid...$30/quart....but the shuddering is gone...

This is a common problem I take it...from what you have all said and at the dealer...they had a service bulletin out stating what to do...so it is taken care of and ready for the trip to CO.....thanks again..