Tranny shudder

Modular97LSC

Modular97LSC

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Im getting a tranny shudder while taking off from a dead stop...usually happens after an hour of driving. The tranny shifts really good any suggestions? It has new filter with Mercon V in it. Its a 97 transmission I havent done the 1-2 accumulators on it yet.
 
Go to Napa or AZ and find some Dr. Tranny and give that a try. If you do not have your 1-2 & 2-3 updated accumulators, then I would suggest getting them, especially the 1-2 and if your springs are not broke, then no need to waste the money on new ones. Just the accumulator upgrade will make things better or at least help anyway.

Bottom right hand corner is where the 1-2 is. Press it in with a screwdriver handle or the like, remove the C-clip and then let the accumulator drop down slowly. It is spring loaded and fluid will come out of the hole so keep the face back out of the way. Replace with new one and springs, your option and most do get new springs but they ain't cheap. One is purple and one is blue. Put them back where they go and get the accumulator in place and press it up in the hole and then put your clip back in. Done deal.

98tranny001.jpg
 
im going to try this out...hopefully it will prelong the life of this tranny long enough to get a rebuilt or a good used one.
 
Instead of the screwdriver method of pushing in the 1-2, a medium to large sized C-clamp works perfect. It will give you two hands to use while cetting the c-clip out. When that thing gets loose, it can sometimes shoot off so fast, you'll never even see it or where it went. I learned to keep my hand up there when it is about to come out and that way you can catch it before it flies away.

Here are the part numbers and estimated prices you're looking at for the 1-2 and if you have a broke spring, it's usually the bottom one and you would be feeling a firm 2nd gear normally.


F7AZ-7F251-AA updated 1-2 accumulator piston $12.00

F75Z-7F284-AA upper/top (light blue) spring $3.25

F7AZ-7F284-BA lower/bottom (purple) spring $32.50
 
Cobra97LSC said:
im going to try this out...hopefully it will prelong the life of this tranny long enough to get a rebuilt or a good used one.
Click to expand...

My car had a shudder around 50-60 mph and I put some Dr. Tranny in it and it fixed it within minutes of driving the car.
 
DT cured my 45mph~ shudder as well. It's been fine for around 7k.
 
If you haven't done the accumulator yet you need to do it. If you let it go to long it can trash the transmission.
 
Don's right and whatever you do, do not manually shift that car. Turning OD off and on is ok but any manual shifting is asking for it to shut down on you. You might crank it up one day and back out and put it in drive and go no where. Pre 98's don't stand for the manual shift for long, especially if shudder has started.

I let my 94 go too long before updating the accumulators and before I knew it, it wouldn't even upshift from drive, back to 1st on it's own. I was having to help it but I did change them, it was just too late. I ended up getting a 98 trans and trashing the 94 with the upgraded parts. :rolleyes: Wasn't thinking at the time or I would have pulled them out and sent them to someone on here. I had the two springs and accumulator. The 95 has been done already, 1-2 and 2-3 and no shudder since I've owned it (Jan 2010)
 
i just got the accumulator online for 12 bucks pretty cheap and free shipping 2....should i get the springs 2 or what?
 
Cobra97LSC said:
i just got the accumulator online for 12 bucks pretty cheap and free shipping 2....should i get the springs 2 or what?
Click to expand...

If you have the cash to blow, go for it and that way, you'll know it was done right. But... If you ever decide to j-mod the trans, the bottom spring is normally left out completely for the extra firm shift. Some people leave them in after a j-mod and some leave it out.
 
Not to thread jack (I didnt want to create a new one just for some quick clarification), but I just got my 94 Mark 8 and I doubt the accumulators have been updated at all.

If I update the accumulators (and springs), and jmod it, will it be a good idea? My car has around 230k, and I doubt the trans is original. The trans works ok, but sometimes the 1-2 shift lags a bit, and the motor rpms will be higher than I would like before it shifts up (when Im feathering the gas and accelerating slowly)- it goes away when its warm.

Will these upgraded springs, and a jmod together make a huge difference in performance and reliability? I also have a trans cooler I was going to install on the car as well, and I will bypass the one on the radiator.
 
MN12hybrid said:
If I update the accumulators (and springs), and jmod it, will it be a good idea?
Click to expand...

i did that.


MN12hybrid said:
The trans works ok, but sometimes the 1-2 shift lags a bit, and the motor rpms will be higher than I would like before it shifts up (when Im feathering the gas and accelerating slowly)- it goes away when its warm.
Click to expand...

mine did that, and then died a few thousand miles later. :(

MN12hybrid said:
Will these upgraded springs, and a jmod together make a huge difference in performance and reliability? I also have a trans cooler I was going to install on the car as well, and I will bypass the one on the radiator.
Click to expand...


i would think so. jmod, upgraded accumulator and cooler are all good things to do to get more life out of these transmissions. almost mandatory for longevity i would say.
 
Hmmmm...I had actually forgotten about the 1-2 accumulator! I did the upgrade on my '96 when I first got it, but I haven't even thought about doing the '97 yet! The tranny shifts okay, but it does sometimes "clunk" a little hard into 4th. When I first changed the fluid, the dipstick plug was still in the pan:eek: But the fluid looked good. That was at 175k miles. I've changed the fluid and filter several times since then. Every time the tranny starts shifting funny, I change the fluid/filter and it fixes it right up:) I do need to do the accumulator though. Since the pan had not been down before I got the car, I'm sure it has not been done. Oh well, yet another project...
 
drove it around my house took it to fill up the tank and to get it washed and it didnt shudder at all...but lets see when I take it on the highway on the way to your house.
 
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