I recently notcied the past couple of weeks that the transmission on my 03 Expy would slip on acceleration and then catch with a clunk and drive normally. The problem is VERY intermittent. Intermittent to the point that I know if I took it into Ford they probably would never duplicate the complaint. Driving the truck some more I realized most of the slips came after making a quick turn .... Finally a lightbulb went off in my thick cranium and said "Hmm, maybe I should check the tranny fluid level" ... Duh ...

Low and behold pulled the stick and it is BONE dry .... I added a half quart of Mercon V drove it aboput 45 miles ... No more slipping ... Checked it HOT and was BONE dry again ... Okay .... Added another QUART ... Now it is right in the middle of "HOT" on the stick .... Drove out to the parents house this morning ... about 40 miles ... Checked it again ... BONE DRY .... No visible leaks under the truck ... WHERE the heck is the tranny hiding the fluid???? Im not familiar at all with how an automatic tranny works internally ... But i know it does not CONSUME fluid. Im perplexed on this one???

Thanks for the help in advance!

 

Keep adding fluid (about 1/2 qt at a time) until it maintains the right level. Sounds like you'd added about 1 1/2 qts so far. It's capacity is much more than that.

 

it holds 13 qts

 

OK ... will add more ...... Where could it all have went?? Thanks!

 

As you continue to incrementally add fluid, just keep a close eye on the underbody and look for leaks.

 

If it's a 4x4 it could have gone into the transfer case. There is a seal on the rear of the transmission that could have failed.