J Mod Questions (scroll down to bottom plz)

[Wes8398]

For the last 6 months or so I've noticed a bit of a vibration in the car when I'm driving it cold. It feels like a wheel out of balance, but I'm sure that's not what it is. The vibration seems to subside as things warm up.
Reason why I'm posting about it now is because I noticed it the most the other day. It's not often that I'm on the highway when the car isn't already at full temperature; but the other day I was. The temp gauge was just starting to climb when I got on the highway, and once I got into 4th gear, there was a definite shudder. It lasted about 5 minutes I'd say, then it subsided and everything was fine. It wasn't bad, but I noticed it (I notice EVERY little thing when it comes to my car). Again, it felt as if a wheel was out of balance or something. Is this the trans having trouble "locking up"? If so, what's the cause and how is it repaired? Cost involved in repair?

To add to this a bit, since I've owned the car it's always given a bit of a squeal on WOT or heavy-throttle shifts. I have a squeaky serp. belt sometimes, but I'm 97% sure that this isn't the serp. belt squealing. It's just a little "chirp" (unfortunately not the tires either lol) just as the trans shifts. Is this part and parcel of whatever problem is causing the shudder? Something different? Or is it normal and "ok" (wishful thinking lol)?

Lastly, just to make sure you've got ALL the info, the car has always seemed to take it's sweet time "locking up" (in 3rd especially). It's almost like it's got 5 gears sometimes. It depends on what I'm doing with the throttle, obviously. It'll hang out in what I like to call 2nd-and-a-half for up to 3-5 seconds sometimes, then finally drop down to 3rd. Maybe this is normal, but I wanted to make sure you had all the info.

Thanks for any advice guys and girls.

 

[justinschmidt1]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttl

I get the squeel sometimes...I was told it was a serpentine belt but I dont think it is either.

 

[Nater]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

I am glad I am not alone in the squeal....I used to have the shudder too when mine was cold. I finally got rid of it when the car got tuned. If you can get under the car and check for play on the tailshaft. That was my biggest problem. I could not keep a bushing in there longer than 3 months.

 

[nyuk98gt]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

Wes8398:

The delay in 3rd gear lock-up is controlled by the PCM and it is adjustable in the tune. Have you done the J-mod (sorry, I forgot to look at your sig before hitting the reply button)? How is the fluid level? How is the fluid quality (bright red, "good" ATF aroma, not burnt smelling, etc.)? Zip over to TCCoA.com and find "Transmissions 101" in the Tech Articles/Transmissions section. The pre-98's have accumulator pistons that can stick, lose pieces of rubber, etc. and should be upgraded. One of them could be sitting cockeyed in the bore and squeaking a little. Changing the accumulators isn't hard but it's a little messy since there can be ATF dripping as you work. The J-mod will get fluid to move quicker (so, less friction) so the shifts quicken without being harsh. The squeak you hear could be high pressure fluid moving through a restriction. The j-mod should clear that up once and for all. Last thing: don't ever do WOT 3-4 shifts or you will burn up the OD band. And a WOT 4-3 shift isn't too good either.

For easy stuff (but not cheap), I would look hard at the serpentine belt. Clean every pulley groove -- brush and brake cleaner (and don't get the brake cleaner near the paint!) and a fresh belt ($45?).

***edit: Forgot to mention that you can have complete control over shift and lock/unlock schedules if you opt for SCT's Advantage program (and an XCal2) or you can get a tune from a reputable tuner (who knows automatics) and get e-mail updates, as needed.
***end of edit

HTH,

Chris

 

[Wes8398]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

Thanks to all so far ... especially you Chris, you're always a fountain of knowledge. I am having a set of 3.73's installed soon, and soon after that I plan on doing the J-Mod. So Maybe I'll wait til after I do that stuff to see if I still have the squeal and shudder problems. The gears are being installed by a mechanic friend, but he's not a trans specialist by any means. I have another friend who is a trans specialist and he said he'd do the Jmod for me while he checked out the trans for wear, etc. So I guess I'll kill a few birds with one stone there. If he sees something while he's doing the Jmod, then we'll take the necessary steps to fix it. Good plan?

 

[Nater]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

Whatever you do do not forget to do the tailshaft mod either if you go with gears....It will save you a lot of time, money, and headaches later on down the road....trust me on this....

 

[Wes8398]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

Whatever you do do not forget to do the tailshaft mod either if you go with gears....It will save you a lot of time, money, and headaches later on down the road....trust me on this....

I've read and asked a lot about gear install, and I've never come across anyone mentioning the "tailshaft mod"... what is it and what does it do for you?

 

[Goldmember]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

Get a Gatorback serp belt... not the cheapest option but they won't squeak under WOT shifts.

 

[Wayne]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttl

I had the shudder in the 3.8 I drain the pan, converter and transmission cooler put in the Merc V It was like I put a new transmission in the car. shifts perfect now. :thumb:

 

[Nater]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttl

Look on the TCCoA.com website...That is where I saw it.

 

[Wes8398]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

Gold - I'm positive that it's not the serp belt squealing on the shifts. The serp does squeal 1st thing in the morning or when the car is cold, but I'm sure the shifting squeal is something else...

Nate - I'll check that out when I print off the Jmod instructions. Thanks!

Wayne - When I do the Jmod (after the gears are in) I'll obviously be changing all the fluid, so hopefully between the 2, the problems will be gone.

 

[nyuk98gt]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

Wes8398:

Glad to chip in on the advice end if I can.

I think the tailshaft mod is in the "Building a Bulletproof 4R70W". It sends ATF to the tip of the tailshaft for better lubrication and cooling.

Print off the two how-to articles by A-Train (Anthony Frusco). He did an excellent job of documenting the whole process. The updated parts list might be a little out of date now but they are a place to start with your Ford parts guy (or, Randy Stinchcomb).

Chris

 

[Wes8398]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttl

Right on. I just printed off chapters 13 and 14 from the "transmission 101" section which are "modifying the main control, part 1 and part 2". I also printed off the "Modifying Valve Body to Jerry's Specifications" article by A-Train, but I didn't print off the "A-Train's shift kit install" one. I noticed a few discrepancies between the how-to's from Jerry's "modifying the main control" parts 1 and 2, and the A-Train article. I can't remember them off the top of my head (it was late last night when I was reading), but on of them has to do with the markings A-Train had on his separator plate. He had an extra hole marked ... see below ... Jerry's picture does not show this hole marked off. A-Train has it marked off as #4, but #4 in Jerry's article is the one right above # 5 (which A-Train has circled, but not numbered) .... ?
A Train's Picture (my green arrows)

Jerry's Picture

 

[nyuk98gt]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttle sh

Wes8398:

Jerry's plate is a '98 and his marks are correct (as if there could be any doubt, lol). A-Train has "4" marked above "5" but he also has a third hole circled near 9 and 11. Do not touch the third mystery hole. 4 and 5 are circled in green in your mark-up of A-Train's plate picture. You can use A-Train's plate to find "8" on your plate because his plate is earlier than a '98 and, conveniently, "8" is marked on his plate. Your plate ought to look very similar to the '98 plate in Transmissions 101. Don't drill bigger holes than necessary or the shifts will be harsh. This is a case for bigger is not always better.

HTH,

Chris

 

[Whitepony]

Re: AODE questions - Diagnosis anyone? (slight shudder & squeals on high throttl

i get that squeek also when i shift under heavy throttle.....its chill no worries.

 

[Wes8398]

Hope some people are still watching this thread (Chris? lol)

Jerry's thesis has a quick one-line blurb at the end of the "2-3 shifts" section that concerned me. Referring to "hole 6" which is the "direct clutch exhaust" hole, he says "the larger direct clutch exhaust hole is only recommended for transmissions with the mechanical diode intermediate one-way clutch. The larger exhaust puts more stress on the one-way clutch and may cause premature failure." But just before this blurb he says "if the transmission does not have a mechanical diode..., open this hole to .125". If it does have a mechanical diode, open it to a slot." So which is it? Open the hole up, or not? I know I don't have the mechanical diode, so I know the "slot" is outta the question, but do I open the hole at all? Am I reading it wrong? Any ideas?

Also, is it necessary to replace accumulators? I'm guessing this is a "you might as well because you're in there already" mod, right? I'll play it safe and replace 'em I suppose.

Lastly, Chris, you mentioned "hole #8" in your previous post ... from what I understand that's only for '95 and older ... ?

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Open the direct hole to 1/8 (.125)

If your accumulators are alluminum, ditch them for rubber.

You still have hole 8, it may be an inch lower than the pic though.

 

[Wes8398]

You still have hole 8, it may be an inch lower than the pic though.

But Jerry's write-up states: "if you have a 1996 or newer 4r70w you do NOT need to modify your forward clutch exhaust orifice .... hole #8." I'm driving a '97. So leave 'er alone, right?

 

[nyuk98gt]

Wes8398:

Sorry for the tardy reply but I've been on the road for a bit.

Your transmission (pre-'98) does NOT have a mechanical diode so open the hole to 1/8", as J.R. said.

From A-Train's write-up, you should get the following parts:

1-2 accumulator piston, F7AZ-7F251-AA
2-3 accumulator piston, F7AZ-7H292-BA
Separator plate gasket, F7AZ-7C155-AA
Separator plate gasket, XW7Z-7D100-AA

Optional:
1-2 top spring, F75Z-7F284-AA
1-2 bottom spring, F75Z-7F284-BA

HTH,

Chris

 

[Wes8398]

Thanks Chris and JR. I've got this little voice in the back of my head telling me NOT to do this. I'm not sure why, but I'm feeling very leery about it for some reason. The guy that's going to do it for me is a transmission specialist, so I have no worries there - but I just feel like something's gonna get messed up. I think it's cause of all the reading up I'm doing on the mod. I'm reading some people's likes and dislikes, then reading others that are totally contrary. Some people have done the mod one way, some have done it another. Some just open the holes and don't do any springs/accumulators; some do all of it. Some suggest NOT to do the hole for the reverse shift, some say it's fine. Some people are telling me to open hole #8, some people (including Jerry's article) are telling me not to. lol All I wanted to do was make sure I was getting things right, but now I'm doubting the mod all together. lol

Regardless, thanks for your help guys.