I have a 2002 5.4 4X4. with 90,000 miles and fluid and filtter changed every 30K. When the tranny shifts into overdrive there is an occasional shudder or chatter noise for about a half second. Kind of sounds and feels like the noise when you drive over a rumble strip on the highway. But it only happens once in a while, very intermittantly.

My local repair guy says it's the clutch plates in the Tourque Converter and he says it should be replaced.

Since it's so intermittent, are there any good fluid additives that I could add to make the problem go away??? I added a bottle of a product that said it gets rid of shudder and shifting problems but it still continues. Can't remember the name of the stuff.

 

You have 90k, so either you need to change the fluid again (based on your 30k intervals) or you just changed the fluid. If you just changed it, did the right fluid go back in? If you did change it and the right fluid is in it, then there is a anti-shudder additive you can add. If you have not changed it, then maybe you should go ahead and do it. I would try the fluid exchange first before you pull it and replace parts. Most of the time a fluid exchange will solve the problem.

 

I recently changed fluid with correct product, but the shudder was there both before and after the change. Is there a recomended product to reduce or eliminate the shudder?

 

Most auto parts stores will carry a product. Just out of curiosity, what type of fluid did you put in it? Also, I assume you have a 4R100?

 

I put Mercon/DexIII in but I purchased the bulk product from FleetFarm and kind of wondered if there is a difference in quality from brand to brand??

I talked to a friend yesterday that works at a Ford Dealership and she told me that there is an additive that Ford makes that seems to help, so she was going to bring me some to try.

To be honest, I'm not sure what tranny I have to answer your last question.

 

Well not knowing what tranny you have and using Mercon could be bad. I will assume you have the 4R100, as most if not all 5.4's came with the bigger tranny. That being said, you should use Mercon in a 4R100. If by chance you have a 4R70W, then you should have used MeconV.

I have always been skepticle of "off" brand products. Not to say that they will not work, I just do not think they will last near as long as quality brands.

Find out what tranny you have. (you can look on the door sticker and run a search for the codes here, or what you need to look for. I do not remember) Once you know your tranny, then you will know if you have the right fluid in the tranny. If you have the right fluid, then add the modifier. If not then change the fluid to the right stuff.

BTW, if you still have you window sticker, it will tell you what tranny on there.

 

I put Mercon in because that's what the dip stick said, and the manual said to use what ever the dip stick says to put in. I'm looking at the window sticker and all it says is "Electronic 4-spd Auto O/D" No reference anywhere to a number??? It's listed as a $1,095 upgrade in the optional equipment section of the sticker. So I'm guessing it's a 4R100. Does that make sense, was the 4R100 an upgrade option in 2002?

My friend from the dealer said the stuff I should try to put in is a Ford product called LX3. I guess I'll try that and see what happens.

 

Hmm, my window sticker for my 99 shows 4R100. Since you have an 02 and your dip stick says Mercon, then you have the 4R100 (by 02 the 4R70W was converted to MerconV and the dip stick reflected this). Add the stuff, and see if it works. If not, you might want to flush it with a better quality fluid.

 

More info from you from another post.

So, hold off on the modifier according to this. Not sure what the modifier will do to the 4R100, but I would not use it just yet. Another fluid exchange might be in your future.

 

The E4OD and 4R100 are the two ford trannys designed have no friction modifiers in them. This comes directly from a ford powertrain engineer that designed them. I forget the reasons he gave, but I'll trust him with my several thousand dollar tranny.

Adrianspeeder

 

Thanks to all of you for the info. I really appriciate it.

Rick

 

I'd look into having the entire system flushed. Trans, cooler, lines, with a powerflush setup that hooks inline of the trans lines and forces the old out and new in. Also be advised, what feels like transmission shudders can be an ignition coil breaking down at times.

 

Yep, I've had coil packs go out on Crown Vics and my Screw and you would swear it was torque converter shudder.

 

[QUOTE=01SILVERGT] I will assume you have the 4R100, as most if not all 5.4's came with the bigger tranny. QUOTE]

Most 5.4's came with the 4R70W. That's what I had in my 2000. You could get the 4R100 if you had the 7700 payload package or a California Emissions truck. Of course the Lightings and Expeditions had the 4R100.

 

My 98 has the E4OD E code in the door