Hey so I bought a 1997 f150 with 160l miles on it. It is a 4x4 with the 5.4 v automatic. While I'm drive and in 4th and 5th gear, the tranny shakes the whole truck and then shifts hard! I check the fluid and it's still good and red but looks like there is to much. I'm planning on removing some and adding some lucus additive in it. Any ideas on what could cause this???

 

Find the misfire. sounds like a COP. tranmissions doesnt cause shaking.

 

The automatic transmission in a 1997 F150 only had 4 forward gears unless it has been changed out for a different transmission.

 

Don't put additives in there! Fix the misfire and all will be fine.

And you only have a four speed, not a five speed transmission.

 

Thanks for the advise. My mistake on the tranny. i changed out the tranny fluid without the additives and it seems to help a little bit but not much. i havent had the truck long but it seems like it is low on power as well. could that be caused by the COP also? im planning to change the COP tomorrow. Also there are no check engine lights on and I have not scanned for any codes yet. Ill keep you guys posted on the results!

 

If the COP is going bad, it may not trip the CEL, but will cause the symptoms you describe (low power, shifting issues between 3 and OD). You can check if you have a diagnostic tool (not just a code reader) that has Mode 6 to monitor each plugs coil to see how well it is firing.

As for the transmission, it is a 4 speed, but sometimes you feel the torque converter locking up once in OD, so it may feel like a 5th gear.

 

GOOD AFTERNOON ALL. I AM JUMPING IN ON THIS THREAD AS THIS FITS THE CONDITION I HAVE WITH MY F150 I JUST PURCHASED.
1997 2 WHEEL DRIVE AUTO TRANS. 190,000 MILES. TRUCK WAS RUNNING PERFECT AND SHIFTING PERFECT ONE DAY IT STARTED TO MISS AND NOT SHIFT RIGHT. I CHANGED OUT THE TRANSMISSION SCREEN AND GASKET AND ADDED NEW TRANNY OIL. THE OIL LOOKS LIKE IT WAS NEVER CHANGED, WITH LOTS OF DIRT AND STEEL FILLINGS STUCK TO THE MAGNET. OIL CHANGE SEEMED TO HELP A LITTLE BUT IT STILL SHIFTS VERY ROUGH, EVEN WHEN I TRY TO SHIFT IT WITH THE THROTTLE. I AM NOT UP ON SOME OF THE TERMS ABOVE. I GOOGLED COP AND IT SAID COIL ON PLUG. I ASSUME THATS THE COIL RIGHT ? I ALSO GOOGLED CEL AND IT SAYS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. BACK IN MY DAYS I WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE MODULATOR AND THE VACCUME HOSE GOING TO THE ENGINE. ANY IDES WHAT TO CHECK OR LOOK AT. NO LIGHTS ARE ON. GUY AT ADVANCE SAID SHIFT SOLENOID, I DONT THINK MY TRUCK HAS ONE. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *****

 

The 4.6L motors up to 2000 used two coils for 8 cylinders.
The 5.4L used 8 coils over plugs for all years.
The misfire issue is a faulty coil with shorted turns.
They normally don't set a code to ID the cylinder causing the misfires.
The reason is the coil is not a hard fault but clears when the trans downshifts and EGR closes.
When this happens the PCM cancels the misfire record memory that would normally cause the CEL and code to be set but a record is still kept in another memory location.
You need to use a Scanner to look in Mode 6, at test 53.
There you will find the misfire records for all 8 cylinders one at a time.
The cylinder with the misfire counts out of limits is the one causing the misfires.
This condition occurs when the computer shifts the trans into overdrive under light throttle.
At that point the EGR opens, pulls back fuel and advances the ignition timing.
Its at this point the misfires begin due to very lean mixtures that occur by design when the EGR is in effect..
The offending coil does not have high enough voltage to fire the Lean mixture so misfire results.
Some times the misfire can get so bad it causes the PCM to stop processing and has the same effect as shutting off/on the ignition key rapidly.
This effect can feel very violent at times.
When this happens the PCM actually stops processing any control functions then restarts again in very rapid succession.
Good luck.

 

MY TRUCK IS A 6 CYLINDER. I CALLED ADVANCE AUTO AND A COIL IS ONLY 22 BUCKS SO I AM GOING TO CHANGE IT OUT. I WONT GET TO IT TILL THIS WEEKEND. I WILL REPORT BACK SO I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO TRY TO LOOK AT IT IN THE DARK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY SPARKS AT NIGHT THAT I CAN SEE. I ONCE HAD A COIL WITH A CRACKED CASE THAT WAS VISABLE IN THE DAYLIGHT.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.