N80
Super Member
My old truck is starting to show its age. It has 124k miles on it. 5.4 V8, 4x4 Supercrew. For about a year it has some symptoms which I think are due to the transmission but they are intermittent and hard to pin down. It is almost a surging, shuddering sensation but it does not change gears. No change in engine RPMs. It almost feels like it is losing drive from the engine, almost as if you depressed a clutch pedal for a microsecond and then engaged it just as quickly. (Of course this is an automatic trans). The typical scenario is this: usually going about 40-55 mph with neutral or light throttle input. Almost always in overdrive but it will do it to a much lesser extent with OD off. It never happens under acceleration or braking. It never happens with a loaded trailer. No evidence of overheating. It seemed to get a little better following a recent change of transmission fluid but I'm not sure if they changed the filter or not. There have been no check-engine lights so I don't think it is the engine.
I'm pretty sure this is something I can't fix. The reason I'm posting is that I know nothing about automatic transmissions. I don't even know how to guess what is wrong or even how to describe it to a mechanic. It does not happen regularly enough to expect it to happen if they test drive it. But, when it does happen it is noticeable, even to passengers and now I'm too nervous to use it to trailer my car to the track or take any long trips in it.
Any thoughts or similar experiences would be much appreciated. Really hoping a transmission filter change might help.
I'm pretty sure this is something I can't fix. The reason I'm posting is that I know nothing about automatic transmissions. I don't even know how to guess what is wrong or even how to describe it to a mechanic. It does not happen regularly enough to expect it to happen if they test drive it. But, when it does happen it is noticeable, even to passengers and now I'm too nervous to use it to trailer my car to the track or take any long trips in it.
Any thoughts or similar experiences would be much appreciated. Really hoping a transmission filter change might help.