2000 Ranger 4wd 3.0V 85500 miles

3 days ago I noticed the transmission was shifting kind of hard. Next day it was doing that but the shifting got worse and right when it warmed up (7 miles in the city) it felt like it was slipping when starting from a stop. Felt to me like I was towing a heavy trailer kind of from a stop. When warm, the shifting happens at a slightly higher RPM and a bit harder and it seems like, not for sure, like it slips a little when driving. I've talked to two people and they said it would be worth it to change the fluid, filter and add some Lucas additive to the fluid. With the above problems, what are the opinions on doing the fluid/filter change?

Sad thing is I planned on doing this anyways next month with other items in a major tune up. Before this the transmission hasn't been touched but the fluid was checked every 1k miles. If I have to pull this transmission out and take it to a shop, I don't want to waste the money on the fluid/filter/additive just to have to pay for it again.

I've already started asking in another thread on the fluid/filter thing.

 

Did you see this thread in the Ranger forum? https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...lick-here.html

 

Didn't see that but read it, thanks. I don't have the tools or garage to do what they did with the valve body.

 

So all my options are gone. How hard is it to remove a transmission from one of these trucks. I have a jack with a transmission attatchment for it available.

 

Do you have to get a new trans? I have an automatic in the Ranger I have now but have never taken it out. I did a manual trans in a Ranger I had before this one and it really wasn't that bad of a job. Be sure to flush the trans cooler and lines before putting in a new trans.

 

I changed the fluid and filter and the problem persists. The bad things I did notice was the fluid was darker than it should be, and the pan had a lot of "soot" covering the bottom. I suspect the bands are burning up as I was told by a few people.

I don't have a garage or a nice tool setup so doing the valve body walkthrough is more effort and time than I have available. At the moment the problem is the truck shifts from 1st into 2nd at about 3500-4500rpm with any type of acceleration. If you let off the gas it will stay in first and this is hot or cold. When warm it will take a lot of acceleration to start from a stop. It acts like your riding the clutch too much or towing a very heavy trailer. Adding to the above, it will shift hard into various gears at random times with no pattern. Downshifting is still the same. Before all this happened, there would be a pause then a slight jerk (normal) when shifting into reverse. Now it's sudden and a big jolt into reverse which can be easily heard in the cab.

Basicly it's out of the range of what I can do now. I've been told by several locals that a flush is more trouble than it's worth so I never did one. How bad is it hurting this truck driving back and forth to work? I am driving my F350 but the gas on that thing is killing me. Also what I am looking at in repairing this unit?