Transmission Shudder after Transmission Service at Dealer

[WiscoGus]

Last week, I had my transmission serviced at the Ford Quicklane. They dropped the pan, exchanged fluid and replaced the transmission filter. Now after getting a hundred or so miles on it, the trans has developed a shudder that feels like running over rumble strips.

From research online, this issue appears to be linked to plugs/coils or the torque converter. The vehicle did not have this shudder prior so I have trouble believing its ignition related. So my question is how should I go about resolving this?

If anyone else has had this issue before I am all ears to hear what you have done.

 

[16plati]

Last week, I had my transmission serviced at the Ford Quicklane. They dropped the pan, exchanged fluid and replaced the transmission filter. Now after getting a hundred or so miles on it, the trans has developed a shudder that feels like running over rumble strips.

From research online, this issue appears to be linked to plugs/coils or the torque converter. The vehicle did not have this shudder prior so I have trouble believing its ignition related. So my question is how should I go about resolving this?

If anyone else has had this issue before I am all ears to hear what you have done.

Rumble strips is classic example of failing clutch packs in rear diff. Just had mine replaced on my 16 three months ago. They upgraded them to carbon fiber. As for rumble strips from transmission, may just be the new fluid is working itself in there, it’s only been 100 miles. What year expedition is it?

 

[WiscoGus]

Expy is a 2008 with 220k miles on it. Its headed back to Ford tomorrow AM. They wanted to make sure that they did their work right and put the right amt of fluid in.

 

[richs fishes]

My guess would be they didnt add enough fluid back in. Does the shudder happen around 45-50 mph right about when shifting into OD? Try turning OD off and see if it goes away.

 

[WiscoGus]

Havent tried OD yet. Shudder seems to happen after cruising and then the trans trying to downshift to accelerate. I'll have to watch and see if it happens at a certain speed, its difficult to tell whats vehicle vs Wisconsin roads.

 

[bobmbx]

Last week, I had my transmission serviced at the Ford Quicklane. They dropped the pan, exchanged fluid and replaced the transmission filter. Now after getting a hundred or so miles on it, the trans has developed a shudder that feels like running over rumble strips.

From research online, this issue appears to be linked to plugs/coils or the torque converter. The vehicle did not have this shudder prior so I have trouble believing its ignition related. So my question is how should I go about resolving this?

If anyone else has had this issue before I am all ears to hear what you have done.

With the timing involved between "Service" and "rumble", I'd suspect they put the wrong type of tranny fluid in.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

With the timing involved between "Service" and "rumble", I'd suspect they put the wrong type of tranny fluid in.

Twice, the “Factory Trained Technicians” at my Ford dealership installed 5W20 oil in the engine on my 2015 Expedition Limited, instead of the required 5W30.

Once, the “Factory Trained Technicians” at my Ford dealership installed eight quarts of 5W30 oil in the engine on my 2015 Expedition Limited, instead of the required six.

I no more trust the Ford dealership technicians to service my Ford correctly anymore than I trust the 18-year olds at the local quick-lube places.

Good luck - I hope the dealership did not screw up your transmission.

 

[WiscoGus]

@bobmbx you may be right. I was looking at the receipt and it stated that they installed Mercon LV. If I had to make an educated guess, my Expy had Mercon SP in it (as per the 2008 Owner's Manual) which would not be compatible with Mercon LV.

Now if that was the case, I am unsure of how it would affect the transmission long term.

 

[mjp2]

Mercon LV is the newer stuff and is what's recommended in my 2010's owner's manual with the same transmission. They likely just didn't add enough.

 

[WiscoGus]

The repair receipt stated that they added 7 quarts when the specification is 11. My assumption is that they added whatever came out when they dropped the pan. So I suppose there are two possiblities: mixing incompatible fluids or filling the transmission 4 quarts low.

This is what the bottle of Mercon LV says regarding compatiblity:

• Not for use in applications where MERCON V, MERCON SP, Continuously Variable Chain Type Transmission Fluid, Motorcraft Premium Automatic Transmission Fluid, FNR5 Automatic Transmission Fluid or Type F Automatic Transmission Fluid is recommended

I do Product Support for a large agricultural equipment company and I have seen the negative side effects of mixed transmission or mixed hydraulic fluids. I wish I would have thought to specify Mercon SP. Although, one would hope that the dealer would know.

 

[WiscoGus]

So the dealer called me back and said that they could not see any issue with my transmission. It looks like I may need to convince my dealer they mixed two incompatible fluids. They claim that their computer says the car can use both SP and LV (which I believe), but I am 99% positive they mixed incompatible fluids in my vehicle.

I pulled 4 years of owners manuals from 2007 to 2010. The 07/08 owners manuals call for Mercon SP and the 09/10 manuals call for Mercon LV.

To my knowledge, the trans fluid has not been changed. Pretty confident they mixed fluids. I also made note of the Motorcraft website that states the uses for each fluid. As per Ford's documentation, one is not compatible with the other.

If anyone is curious:
https://www.motorcraft.com/us/en_us...icals-and-lubricants/transmission-fluids.html

 

[WiscoGus]

To keep the saga going:

I drove the Service Manager around and I was able to get the transmission to act up. We took it back to the shop where the Service Manager talked to the transmission specialist and claimed they have mixed fluid in the past with no issues. They claim that my issue is most likely a misfire (even though there are no codes).

So next week I they are going to do a power balance test on the motor to see if a misfire can be detected. If no misfire, they actually found a couple cases of SP back in their parts storage and will exchange the fluid in the trans for SP.

Thanks everyone for all your input so far!

 

[bobmbx]

In answer to the poll question, the real answer is "nothing goes in the tranny except what the owners manual specifies for your specific vehicle". NOTHING.

 

[WiscoGus]

In answer to the poll question, the real answer is "nothing goes in the tranny except what the owners manual specifies for your specific vehicle". NOTHING.

Hindsight is 20/20. I wish I would have specified for them to use what the manual says. But hey, I guess now I know I cant trust this dealer.

 

[bobmbx]

Hindsight is 20/20. I wish I would have specified for them to use what the manual says. But hey, I guess now I know I cant trust this dealer.

Its not the dealer. Its the guy who did it (which is still just a theory, btw). It'll be interesting to see how this works out. These trannies are terribly expensive.

You shouldn't have to specify what the correct materials for your vehicle are, especially at a factory service department. That, my friend, is your ticket for a free fix.

 

[WiscoGus]

Its not the dealer. Its the guy who did it (which is still just a theory, btw). It'll be interesting to see how this works out. These trannies are terribly expensive.

You shouldn't have to specify what the correct materials for your vehicle are, especially at a factory service department. That, my friend, is your ticket for a free fix.

^this

Thank you again bobmbx, I will certainly keep everyone posted.

 

[762mm]

Watching Ford Tech Makuloco on YouTube, I have learned that Ford was planning on actually switching the recommended fluid to LV for those older transmissions "in the near future", but has not done it yet at the time the video was recorded. I believe he talks about it in the fluid change video.

So, it's possible that Ford actually did change the recommended ATF type for older trannies from SP to LV not long ago... (?)

Also, changing fluid on an old and beat up transmission can wreck havoc on it shifting correctly, if the clutch plates are worn. The old fluid helps worn plates to engage because of all the contamination in it, whereas new fluid doesn't. This is why some guys will keep their old fluid, just in case they need to put it back in. If that is the case though, it means your tranny was already on its way out.

 

[Texas Dave]

Also, changing fluid on an old and beat up transmission can wreck havoc on it shifting correctly, if the clutch plates are worn. The old fluid helps worn plates to engage because of all the contamination in it, whereas new fluid doesn't. This is why some guys will keep their old fluid, just in case they need to put it back in. If that is the case though, it means your tranny was already on its way out.[/QUOTE]

So, since my 2007 with 225,000 miles is not experiencing any transmission issues, I might do well to not change the fluid. Is this correct?

 

[Alex Lopez]

I may be late to this party but when coil packs go bad can cause a shudder in overdrive at about 40-50 mph under load like driving up hill or accelerating but not enough to shift gears. won't throw a code until it happens a lot had an 05 do it and my 08 is doing it right now... won't do it with overdrive off. get abluetooth code reader and the free torque app and you can see realtime misfires and which cylinder. what color and smell was fluid that was removed?

 

[CaptOchs]

I'd try to get an outsider opinion before you proceed further. Give Brian From BND Automotive a call. He's a chemist who specializes in performance automotive fluids. He helped me with my transmission woes in my Charger. He created a special fluid for my specific transmission model. I ended up replacing the transmission and I used his fluid along with the high flow transmission filter. The older transmission was never that smooth (even when brand new.) This guy really knows his transmissions.

440-821-9040