Transmission Shudder

k9t8m

k9t8m

Rollin' Twankies
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Well I took the car into the dealership today to have my shop forman look at the drivetrain vibration and hard shifting into overdrive. Turns out there is a TSB for the trans shudder and it says to reflash the PCM and flush the fluid with Mercon V (which is already in the car). He reflashed the PCM and it helped out tremendiously. It even fixed the rough OD shift. But the shudder is still there, and my custom tune was not. We decided to reflash my PCM again with my tuner to see if the TSB fix would sick. It didnt, so the shudder is back.

I just fluded the fluid and put in Mercon 5 and a new filter maybe 2500 miles ago. What the heck is the deal?

Should I have it flushed again with Mercon 5 to see if it fixes the shudder?
 
The shudder was 90% gone when they reflashed the pcm with the updated software, which was for a trans shudder issue, so i dont think its a driveshaft or rear end vibration.
 
Change the fluid again and see what happens, my truck shuddered until I flushed 3 times hasn’t happed since (about 15,000 miles now)
 
i have the same problem except i flushed it myself yesterday at my shop and it fixed it. i drove it today and it shuddered going into 4th gear. so what the tsb says besides flashing the pcm it says the transcooler is not working properly so its breaking down the fluid way to fast. it says get a new trans cooler which is in the radiator and flush it again and you will be good to go
 
I used Lucas transmission Fix and that stopped mine after 10 mins. Jamie97lsc used Dr Tranny with same result. Mercon V alone didn't solve the shudder. Just something to Keep in mind, if all else fails.
 
96lincolnmarkwhat! said:
i have the same problem except i flushed it myself yesterday at my shop and it fixed it. i drove it today and it shuddered going into 4th gear. so what the tsb says besides flashing the pcm it says the transcooler is not working properly so its breaking down the fluid way to fast. it says get a new trans cooler which is in the radiator and flush it again and you will be good to go
Click to expand...

The radiator is brand new, plus I have an auxiliry transmission cooler. I think Im going to try the Lucus Oil Trans fix. Ill let you guys know how it works.
 
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I just got done adding the Lucus Oil Transmission fix and drove it around town, and on the highway for about an hour. Nothing has changed. Does anyone have any ideas?
 
Ummmm... sorry to say but the issue is actually TC shudder and a change and Lucas didn't fix it you might be looking at a new converter....

This is what happens when you never drive a car, they stop working...
 
If the reflash cured the issues, but came back with your programming, you need to have your tune fixed! Odds are a new converter will do the same?
 
True torque converter shudder is relevant to the tuning because of the lockup schedule commanding the pulse width modulation of the torque converter solenoid which varies the speed and application pressure of the TCC. If the clutch linings are contaminated or damaged, a torque converter replacement is the only cure. Which is why the TSB says to replace the torque converter if a change in the PCM and fluid does not cure the problems.

The first task is to accurately diagnose the problem to the torque converter, which it sounds like you have done. If the programming and fluid change and/or treatment does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, only then should a replacement be necessitated.

There are several avenues to proceed on from there. You can replace it with a stock OEM or a slight upgrade to a Maurauder torque converter. There are several vendors which offer varying degrees of performance lockup converters. I would recommend BOC for consideration even though I have a PI triple-disc 3500 stall now in the '96 as well as a DD 3800 stall converter in the '93. Interestingly enough, no other vendors I contacted besides DD and BOC recommend any higher than a 3000 stall converter.

As you have experienced, the tuning is an essential component of any lockup converter. I would recommend your tuning be modified for the converter of choice.
 
My converter locks HARD, just the way it should :)

If you want to get the real deal go for a Circle D, but for a good replacement you can't beat the Marauder remans from Ford.
 
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