Should I, or should I not exchange fluids with my tranny?

[98EXPY 5-0]

Catchy title huh.

I got my Expedition in 2009. I drove it for a while with the exhaust manifold leak. Then came inspection time (December), and I took it to my friend's house. We were going to work on it at his house. It was a third vehicle, so it wasn't a big deal.

Twice in 2009 I felt what seemed like rumble strips while driving. I asked around and determined that it was probably torq convertor shudder.

Well time got away from us and the truck sat until almost October. Not driven or started at all.

Then in October, we finally started working on it. I did all the stuff that was required for inspection, except the exhaust. My buddy had his mechanic friend look at it and he determined that the catalytic convertor was leaking, not the manifold. A trip on the smoke machine said the same thing. Smoke poured from the cat. He plugged it with a rag, and no more smoke leak. So he took it to another mechanic to get the leaking cat fixed. After fixing it and doing the inspection, he realized that there was still a leak at the manifold. It was inspected already, so I took it back. I figure I have a year to get it taken care of.

Unfortunately, the shudder is much much worse. If I am under 2000rpms in 3rd or over-drive, it shakes bad. 1st and 2nd gears work fine.

Would sitting for so long have done something to make the shudder worse? I can't imagine how, but its hard to tell.

I am contemplating a true fluid exchange, but I am concerned that it will kill the tranny.

Any thoughts on my tranny issue?

 

[tmajikman]

I had a shudder that was between 3rd and 4th shit at 45-55 mph, it ended up being the butterfly in the throttle body, also check your tps and make sure it is at .98 to .99 volts at idle, key on engine off. The tps can greatly effect how the trans shift and numerous other items.

 

[98EXPY 5-0]

I had a shudder that was between 3rd and 4th shit at 45-55 mph, it ended up being the butterfly in the throttle body, also check your tps and make sure it is at .98 to .99 volts at idle, key on engine off. The tps can greatly effect how the trans shift and numerous other items.

So does this mean that you don't think it coould have gotten this bad just from sitting?

 

[tmajikman]

i would only think the fuel could be bad from sitting so long, but you maf sensor could be dirty as well, it could be several things and that is why they say the worst thing you could do is let a car just sit, i would fix and clean the cheapest stuff first, and also check you vacuum hoses as well.

 

[98EXPY 5-0]

Instead of being a Torque convertor issue, I am wondering if it could be something else. Since it got 10 times worse, while just sitting behind my friend's garage for a year.

When I first got the Expedition, the first time I drove it in the rain, I had all sorts of weird things going on. Thats when I found the windshield leak, and learned about the GEM unit and fuse panel issues associated with it.

The leak is sealed now, as far as I can tell. But could there be damage to my GEM or Fuse panel that would cause my tourque convertor like shuttering issues?

Another issue I am having is that my check engine light sometimes comes on for a while but goes out. Sometimes it flashes and sometimes it's steady, but once I come to a stop, it goes away. The guys at the parts store said they can't scan it unless it is on when they do it.

 

[NemesisNJ]

Flashing Check Engine Light

I haven't experienced the shutter, but the Check Engine light response you got from the guys is BS. Most Actron code readers will still read a code even if it isn't apparent. It will show up as "code pending" when it's read, unless the battery's been disconnected, which would wipe the code. But I'm thinking this may be an ignition coil. Does the check engine light come on under load, as in towing, or goin up hill, hitting a certain RPM? Those are signs of a bad coil or possible plug, maybe even fuel injector. Take it to Advanced, AutoZone or Napa,have them scan it or if worse comes to worse rent a scan tool for a few bucks. And get it scanned.