2007 Stutter issue question

[IndyExpo]

Hi All,



New to the site, read many a thread and want to throw my personal situation to you all.



I've had the stutter issue in the past with great success with the spark plug, COP fix. After the fix, the wife ran through a rather large puddle, depositing water in the #1 cylinder port causing the same stutter issue. Pulled the COP and dried both the COP and port around the plug, problem fixed.



Now with 20K additional miles and a move cross country (no trailer), the stutter is back. Zero codes have been thrown. I've replaced the plugs (Motorcraft SP515) and COPS (Accel), Cleaned MAFS, replaced MAFS, cleaned throttle body and swore profusely when the results did not change.


Fast forward to today. I dropped it off with a well-respected garage that services private vehicles as well as fleets. He's packed which is a great sign of a good shop. I received a call stating the test drive went well as they could replicate the stutter. They ran it with the scanner attached to read the real time ignition issue should there be any. There was not. He did, however, see the Torque Converter stuttering in and out. Could this still be an electrical symptom not being seen on the scanner?


Long story short, transmission swap for $4750 to fix it.


With the many threads I've read, no one has had success with a trans swap or fluid change to end the stutter/shudder/shake/rubble strips. Can someone give me some solid guidance with their experience on this issue?


I'm at a total loss as to what to do.............Thx

 

[JExpedition07]

That’s seems like an expensive price for a tranny swap. I’m not much of a help when it comes to that issue.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Welcome to the forum. I'm in Fort Wayne. Is that a new Ford transmission or is that a rebuilt transmission? If the torque converter is going bad, why replace the entire transmission? How many miles on your truck?

I have to agree with JExpedition07 that seems very expensive without knowing what transmission they are using.

 

[stamp11127]

They were probably using a SnapOn scanner and monitoring the torque converter clutch engagement. If the transmission control module was commanding the clutch to engage and it wasn't staying engaged it could be from a worn torque converter clutch or low hydraulic pressure in the system.

Depending on the mileage on the vehicle (transmission) it may be prudent to swap in a reman unit with torque converter and not look back. Should you swap in another unit I suggest replacing the radiator also. It contains a heat exchanger inside one of the tanks that is used to help cool the trans fluid. If that fails you take out your new trans in the process. Had it happen to me right after a rebuild.

Check Monster transmission for prices that you can use for ballpark figures. Ford reman is another alternative. They have great warranty if installed by a pro.

 

[bobmbx]

Mine was cleared up by a tranny fluid change. Over time, the fluid simply wears out (specifically the friction modifier) and causes the TC clutch to slip. The controller detects that, and begins to assert/remove the TC lock signal rapidly. Thats what the shudder is.

I argued with "my" mechanic and told him all I wanted was a fluid change...he argued I needed a tranny. I won, and the problem is still solved 3 years later. The tranny had just over 100k on it at the time.

That was on a 2008 Mountaineer Premier.

 

[JExpedition07]

The fluid is very easy to change in the 6R75 whether they do it or you I’d give it a go first. Don’t slap down thousands for what might be solved by a crisp 100 dollar bill.

 

[IndyExpo]

Thanks all. The quote is for a Ford Reman. The vehicle has 112K. The rub is this Expo is a 2WD in a 4WD world. Being from the west coast, there was no need. I doubt i could get 5-6K in a trade in situation or even on the used market. I think at this point, it may be worth the fluid change and see what happens. If no change, then we take the fork in the road. What's the going rate for a full fluid flush?

 

[JExpedition07]

If your expy is not 4WD that makes that quote ridiculously expensive. Less work to change out on a 2WD system. There is no forward driveline or transfer case to deal with.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

It might be time to consider a trade-in on a newer vehicle or an outright sale and a newer or new vehicle. I was in a similar boat with my 05. It needed cam phasers, timing chains, tensioners, and guides, plus it had a lot of rust on the rocker panels and radiator supports.

 

[dmm5157]

Mine was cleared up by a tranny fluid change. Over time, the fluid simply wears out (specifically the friction modifier) and causes the TC clutch to slip. The controller detects that, and begins to assert/remove the TC lock signal rapidly. Thats what the shudder is.

I argued with "my" mechanic and told him all I wanted was a fluid change...he argued I needed a tranny. I won, and the problem is still solved 3 years later. The tranny had just over 100k on it at the time.

That was on a 2008 Mountaineer Premier.

I second this. Try the transmission fluid swap (simple drain and replace, not a flush). That did the trick for me. Swapped out fluid in mine about 18 months ago when I was having problems, haven't had a single issue since. No more stuttering, truck still drives smooth as silk now about 17,000 miles later. My truck is a 2007 2WD and had about 145,000 miles on it when the stuttering was happening. Actually was like that when I bought the truck but it took me a while to figure out the fix was the fluid.

If tranny fluid doesn't do the trick, then go the other routes mentioned above.

 

[myamoto1]

Fluid and filter swap cleared up our issue. Ours is a 4x4, not 2wd, but small investment to see if it works compared to a trans swap.

 

[IndyExpo]

Update:
Just picked the Expo up after deciding to do just the Fluid Flush. Paid the man and drove home.

Verdict: Butter

Thank you to all that gave their input. This thing drives fantastic. I highly recommend the fluid option prior to laying the cash down for an entire transmission. It's a great bet.

Listen to your gut........

 

[bobmbx]

And how much did you save by seeking advice from the forum? Personally, I've probably saved well over $10k (most of that a tranny replacement) by using boards like this.

 

[JExpedition07]

Great to see you got it fixed, I had a feeling! As well as many others here. Great to see when something simple is the fix. Like bob said this is why the forum is great, second opinions are huge. This website has saved me gobs as well.

 

[IndyExpo]

I agree. The estimate of $4750 was trumped for a total of $334 for diag and fluid flush.

Too many times, advice is asked for but rarely followed up with real world fixes. I hope this will help the next guy.

I do have a brand new set of Accel COP's that have 100 miles on them for sale. Seeing that this was not the fix, I'll put the OEM's back in that I replaced two years ago. If nothing else, they look ******* whlie providing a splash of color in an otherwise colorless world.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Update:
Just picked the Expo up after deciding to do just the Fluid Flush. Paid the man and drove home.

Verdict: Butter

Thank you to all that gave their input. This thing drives fantastic. I highly recommend the fluid option prior to laying the cash down for an entire transmission. It's a great bet.

Listen to your gut........

I'm glad to hear that it was a simple fix. I never experienced that issue with my 05, but I had all of the fluids changed when I purchased it. It had 119K on it at the time.

 

[JExpedition07]

I agree. The estimate of $4750 was trumped for a total of $334 for diag and fluid flush.

Too many times, advice is asked for but rarely followed up with real world fixes. I hope this will help the next guy.

I do have a brand new set of Accel COP's that have 100 miles on them for sale. Seeing that this was not the fix, I'll put the OEM's back in that I replaced two years ago. If nothing else, they look ******* whlie providing a splash of color in an otherwise colorless world.

Did your truck stutter at idle as well as when accelerating in gear? As of today my trucks doing this. I can hear the Torque converter clutch going in and out.

 

[bobmbx]

Did your truck stutter at idle as well as when accelerating in gear? As of today my trucks doing this. I can hear the Torque converter clutch going in and out.

Your symptoms are different from the "rumble strip" TC issue. The TC should never be commanded to lock at idle. If it did, the engine would stop running since it would be directly connected to the drive wheels....which aren't turning. Your issue sounds electrical (bad connector, short, etc..) or a control issue (your computer has lost its mind).

 

[JExpedition07]

Disregard tranny is shot they are putting in new ford reman unit.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Disregard tranny is shot they are putting in new ford reman unit.

Sorry to hear that. What are they charging for that?