I've scoured this forum for anything similar and keep coming up short. It's hard to describe so it makes it hard to find anything near what i'm experiencing. I could test everything i've read but it seems like most of those aren't quite what i'm experiencing.
About Greta Fordberg:
2000 XLT 4x4 5.4 E40D Transmission 270k Miles. She was a fleet truck and routinely serviced and repaired for all of her 21 years of service.

Recent service:
Trans and transfer case fluid was done less than 1000 miles ago. There was very little shavings on the magnet and the the color was orange/brownish but not red, dark or grey.
I noted the fluid level on the dipstick was just a smidge above the "warm" line while it was warm.
Break pads replaced, rotors machined.

The symptoms:
ABS light is on but could not get codes from OBD2 Breaks definitely stink and front driver side has excess break dust. (figure this might help since ABS and VSS seem to work together)
First thing i noticed after fluid change was a weird "vibration". Sort of like driving over a cattle guard. Very brief, definitely at a gear change but transition was smooth. I tried to recreate it by matching the speed and RPMS but couldn't "force" it to happen. I checked trans fluid and it was still at the "warm" level. No hard shifts unless I was driving rough. Wouldn't happen every time i drove it.
Pretty much all of a sudden the transmission started that vibration more frequently several time in the span of 5 - 10 miles. The RPMS spiked and instantly lost torque. It seems to slide in and out of gear but wont stay engaged.
On startup, it takes longer for the PRMs to drop. When shifting into R N & D the RPMS jump to around 2-3k and then come back down. 2nd & 1st don't spike but still don't have enough power. Truck moves and can get up to speed when the gears engage but as soon as I slow down or stop it slips back.
The part I worry about most is is the fluid level is now higher. Even cold it's into the "don't add" It also seems less viscous. How would coolant get into the transmission? Where would I look for that? What would coolant in the trans fluid look like? Is there a smell or a feel to look for?
I appreciate any help or feedback. Thank you.

 

1998 was the last year that the E4OD was produced. Did you swap in E4OD in place of the 4R100 that should be in the truck?

What fluid did you install?
It looks pink instead of red and is usually foamy.

 

E40D is confirmed by Vin and 20 bolt pattern on the pan.
I used STP Mercon V
There were bubbles on the stick but I wouldn't say it was foamy or pink.

 

The transmission type is not in the VIN.

The 4R100 uses the same pan as the E4OD. The last year of the E4OD was 1998. How did you get a 1998 transmission in a 2000 model year truck? And how did you get an E4OD to work with a PCM that is looking for turbine speed and output speed sensors? The E4OD doesn't have either one of these.

When you checked the fluid level was the trans warmed up, in park, with the engine idling?

Did you change the filter when you changed the fluid? Did you use a filter for a 4x4 or a 4x2? DId you make sure to remove the o-ring from the old filter before installing the new filter?

 

The door plate not the VIN TR is marked with a "E" Which after digging is the same for the 4r100 Sooooo, I guess I have that one.

I checked it cold first. Had been sitting for a day. Level was above the "don't add". Tested it again after running for about 15 minutes, Cycled through all gears for a few seconds each. Tested while idling level and color was the same. This is where I noticed some bubbles at the top of the dipstick.

O.O 4x4 transmission filter. Confirmed. As for the O-ring, I'm 90% sure it came out with the old filter. That was about 3 months ago though and now that 90% is rapidly dropping. The new filter went in without issue or excess resistance.

 

Before going into the trans I'd fix whatever is wrong with the brakes. That could be causing the problem.

 

15 minutes running is NOT long enough to get a good fluid level on automatic transmissions

 

ABS code came back with the ABS modulator assembly. Does that communicate with the transmission sensors in any way that would cause the trans to slip like that?
no codes came back on the transmission or engine.

 

No, the trans doesn't communicate with the ABS module.

 

Seems like this is just a done transmission. Went out with almost no warning. The wife and I canceled a planned 500mi road trip and planned a different vacation. It’s a damn good thing we did or we would have been stranded.
I drained out a bit of the fluid because it seemed strange for the level to be so high up even when it was cold. It was dark, red/brown and smelled like tar. And that’s less than 1000 miles since the fluid and filter swap.
did a Lucas transmission additive just to be “safe” ran it for about 30 minutes. Pulled it out of the parking lot and just full slip. RPMs go up with 0 traction from the transmission. Double checked fluid, levels were exactly where it should be.
I guess my options at this point are a “Pull Your Part” and rebuild or swap, or buy a rebuilt, or start saving again for a shop to do the work.
@Mark Kovalsky , you seem to be the transmission guy. What sort of $damage might I be looking at???

 

Most likely a burnt clutch, probably the forward and maybe some others, too.

 

I appreciate your help

 

The filter recommended by the parts store and Duralast was not the right part. Strange thing is the picture on 3 diff ent sites for 3 different brands were right and matched with the box part numbers.
but the part was not correct. Finally found the right part at NAPA. Had some grooves on it that fit snug and kept the filter up higher.
Added some fluid and moved through the gears. Checked the levels and put her in drive; felt the lurch of a horse waking up from the ground. She LIVES! No hard shift, torque has returned, no slipping.
although as I’m writing this I’m worried I may have gotten the wrong one with too long a suction valve.
I guess I’ll find out this weekend.