Hi,
Mij E150 of '93 has a problem with a shudder during dring in any gear; it is more severe when more power is applied, so the more throttle, the more vibrations.
It shifts fine and smooth and on time.
I have finally dropped the transmission pan and drained the fluid; the converter has no drainplug.
Installed a new filter, cleaned out the sump, which has some dark deposit in the bottom, a film of sludge one could call it; the fluid was darkish red, but not transparent as new.
The magnet had some metal dust collected, but no chips or slivers or anything like that, just dust.
Filled the transmission, and disconnected the cooler lines, since the converter has no drain.
Started the engine and flushed the coolers and TC this way.
In total I had removed about 5 quarts of fluid, and refilled , then topped off an extra 4 quarts, so total of about 9 quarts.
Believe the transmission system holds about 11 quarts, so some 80% of the fluid has been changed.

results during test drive: nil, same shudder as before.
Must add that I have some small leak from the TC housing, and think it is Trans. fluid, as it is thin and the front of the flywheel is dry.

QUESTION: is all the above a sure indication that the TC is shot and needs to be replaced? Or what.
If so, what should you recommend; access to parts here or even tech help is limited.
Thanks for any response,
Cor

 

First item, AOD transmissions do not have a converter clutch, they are only 100% direct drive in 3rd gear, there is a small amount of slip in OD (4th). If you are getting shudder in any gear, I would take a real hard look at my U joints. Also, on an AOD, the converter has a drain plug on the front side, you have to look for it, it is a small hex head plug that sticks through a hole in the flywheel. The leak may be front seal, and does require removal of the transmission to repair. Other than the stator clutch going bad, the ony other failures of AOD converters is either "balooning" or the cushion springs on the 3rd clutch input breaking causing a loss of 3rd and 4th gears.

 

Yes, I did think about that and verified that before going to the tranny, the U joints are perfect, there is no play whatsoever. Are you saying, that in 3rd gear the converter in not in circuit at all? Hence converterfailure is not an option, if I have vibrations in 3rd gear?I did seriously look for a plug; Also, I have been told by a Ford garage, that the AOD certainly has no drainplug, that started only with the E4OD. However, on the Ford CD, which I have, it does refer to removing the plug, but in 1993 this van has been made with both the AOD and the E4OD which a friend has! So what is wise? You refer here to the pump seal? The CD gives this as a reason, but also the front bolt to case of the pump housing or a cracked converter weld. What is most likely; have read several times about cracking welds in the converter, but difficult to see in situ.I have all gears so the last is no option. What are the effects of a converter ballooning and what causes this? excessive stal conditions?
Are you in fact saying, that shudder is never caused by the torque converter, apart from, what I thought, a partilally slipping stator clutch; but then why would this not fail altogether?
Thanks for further comments.
Cor

 

Cor, a 93 model would have either the AODE or E4OD transmission. The AODE may not have the exact same configuration as the earlier AOD. If you have the CD from Ford, it should, hopefully, give a list of which components are applied in each gear. I would look for a common item that is engaged in all forward gears. One other item to check, my son's 99 Mustang has the 4R70W which is the latest variation of the AOD, had a terrible driveline shudder such as you describe. His problem turned out to be a worn out bushing in the extension housing. After replacing the bushing, and the resulting destroyed transmission mount the problem went away. Earlier Ford transmissions such as the C4, C6 and FMX could shudder in forward gears if the forward clutch was slipping since it was used in all forward gears. Good luck with it.

 

What does the "E" in AODE stand for?.Some electronic control , I thought.
But there are no electronics on this box at all, just the 2 wires for the neutral start switch.....
Re. the driveline rear end bearing in the housing extension, I will look into that once more.
Cor

 

Finally had the chance to look into the earlier suggestions;

Also, I had another hard look into the availability of a converter drainplug; I am really P.O. to find that it indeed appears to have one, despite what the shopforeman assured me, that it had not one.
Also he told me not to get 11 quarts of fluid, but 6, as there was no way I could get this in; no room for misunderstanding here!
Yet after your positive suggestion I found this:

And that must be the plug, right?

Regarding the possibility of driveshaft joints: there is no play whatsoever, nor is there any noticable play on the tranny output; the seal is also absolutely dry.
Remains your suggetion of a slipping forward clutch: how do I check?
And don't you think that the slippage would be worse in higher gears?
Is that also a possibility in 3rd, which is a direct drive , as you put before?
Thanks for any further suggestions.
Cor

 

Yea, that's the converter drain plug.