I've owned my f150 since 1998 and I have never changed or added auto tranny fluid to my f150. Everytime I check the fluid it always shows well above the full mark. It does not smell burnt and is still red as when it was new. Yes, I know that the tranny has to be hot and all that to check properly. I noticed that the tranny sometimes hard shifts and delays shifting but only when the tranny is hot. Could the shifting problems be due to an overfilled tranny? If not what problems should I look for? I've changed tranny fluid before, but I really don't want to do this, especially because of the mess.

 

I can't answer your question with any certainty but I have heard the over filling an auto tranny is not good. So I would drain some of the fluid and see what happens.

You also say you've owned the truck since 98. Has this problem been there from the day one or did it just start? Has the truck been serviced any where lately?

 

To tell you the truth, I don't remember the first time I experienced it. It had to be years ago, but it has not gotten worse. I'm the only one who does the maintenance, or any tune-up or rebuilding. The problem is how do you dump a little and not all of it and still get the gasket to seal, or is there another way to empty a little fluid? Most of the time it shifts perfectly. It only acts up if I accelerate a little, let off, then accelerate again, it will slam into gear Could it be something in the electronic shift control?

 

There may be a drain plug in the torque converter. I agree it sounds like something else is causing the hard shift.

 

if it is an aod you probably need to adjust your tv cable fast or your tranny won't be around for long. are you checking the fluid with the engine on. it has to be on when you check it. if it is overfilled it can push out the seals. but you can just disconnect the top tranny line at the from the radiator and put a hose on it to a bucket and then crank the truck up. it will pump the extra fluid out fast so you better turn it off fast depending on how much it is overfilled.

 

What is the TV cable? How do you adjust it?

I agree - I would go with the cooler line to drain some fluid. Just find one of the hose connections and unscrew it. Use a tie to point it into a bucket and start the truck for a few seconds, then see how you are doing.

If you choose to drain it out of the Torque converter here's how you do it:

Take the plastic/rubber hole cover (about the size of a 50 cent piece, or a bit bigger) out with a screw driver.

Turn the TC until the drain bolt points down. Pull the dipstick to help it drain easier.

To turn the TC I used a screw driver b/c mine was very hard to turn.

Undo the bolt and look out - gallons of fluid will flow....

 

Pull out the dipstick and insert a clear rubber hose until it bottoms out and suck out some.

 

If you have never adjusted a TV cable then take it to the shop and have them do it for you. This controls the shift points of the tranny but I think you mentioned having sensors on yours and I am not sure if AOD trannys where still used or when then even stopped using them but a 98 I would guess will be an electronic trans.

 

You said it happens when u accelerate(i am assuming you mean gettin on it a little) my ranger if i accelerate hard, left off for a second, and give it hard gas again it shifts hard, i've never given it another thought and if thats all ur talkin about and its been there for a cuople of years, i would assume that there is no problem at all

1999 3.0 XLT Flowmaster K&N

 

zman764, it happens then but it also happens during normal driving. The shift point seems to be extended, not hitting the same point as usual. It happens probably everyother time I drive the truck. Another thing is that it usually takes 3-4 seconds for reverse to kick in regardless of engine/tranny temp.
F100guy, of couse I check it when the engine is on. Right before I check it, I run through all the gears from 1 to P. The tranny has been hot everytime I check it.
What and where is the TV cable?

Thanks for all your help...

 

if it is an aod the cable is with the throttle cable. it controls the pressure in the tranny. it is also a kickdown cable. if the adjustment is out of wack it will shift to early or to late and hard. and if it messed up for a while it will make it slip.

 

so what year is this truck anyway

 

This may sound like a silly question but when you drain the torque converter how do you fill it back up or does it just do it when you start the truck up and then the tranny pumps it back full. Does it hurt the converter to start it dry with no fluid. Thanks for answering my silly question.
Thanks Michael

 

when you first put a tranny in you are supposed to put a quart in the convertor and then fill the tranny when you are finished with the install. there is no way to fill a convertor unless you have it off, it fills itself

 

It's a 1993 f150 that's listed in my sig. It has a EFI 302, 123500 miles and runs like a champ.