Hard Shift After Fluid/Filter Change

**Chadgervais** · 11-15-2013

For about a year now, Ive had intermittent hard shifts, perhaps once a month, a little more on the blistering summer days. Once it starts doing it, i pull over and shut it off, wait a few seconds, restart and it goes away. As mentioned in my thread from the other day, I went and had my fluid and filter changed. I told the shop NOT to flush, the mechanic agreed with me that the best thing for it would be a pan drop, F&F and a bottle of Lucas Transfix.

This was done on Wednesday. It seems to be shifting fine, but I have now gotten the hard shifts every day since, even when the transmission is below 150*. Im wondering if this killed my transmission. I know the recommendation for p1811 is a shift kit, but I just find it odd that its happening more since I had the F&F done. Is the transmission "relearning" everything, or will this be permanent, and if I did indeed wreck the trans, how many more miles can I expect out of it before it fails altogether?

Thanks

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 11-15-2013

I wouldnt say it wrecked the trans, I'd just say that any damage that was done, has been done and you realy couldnt fix it.

I would have done the same thing you did, drop the pan and do the filter with some lucas.

Its too hard to say whats going on, but I'd just keep driving it untill it dies because there really isnt anything else you can do.

**dsmuts** · 11-15-2013

Recheck your fluid level

**jbamonte** · 11-20-2013

Read my post/thread started 4 years ago in this section-"4T65E Hard Shift-Solution"-all of it. Changing the fluid and filter will NOT solve a P1811 Hard shift issue alone. You must install a shift kit which replaces the shims and springs in the trans accumulator-accessed by dropping the trans fluid pan. I recommend a Transgo shift kit which is what I used. Also, you need to install a tranny cooler of some sort to reduce the fluid temps. I use 2 Long Double stack 18,000 GVW each coolers that cool the fluid outside of the radiator. Have not had a hard shift issue in 60,000 miles since the changes. You can comment on the thread 4T65E Hard shift-Solution or PM if you need more info.

**Chadgervais** · 11-21-2013

I know that doing a F&F does not cure hard shift. I posted this because I went from one to two incidents a month to once almost daily. I wanted to know if I had damaged the trans. Someday I will do a shift kit, if I don't sell the car first.

My daily commute is about 15 rural miles, on those trips it never shifts hard. City driving is what the trans doesn't like, which I can take steps to reduce.

**BillBoost37** · 11-21-2013

You didn't damage the trans. The change of fluid merely intensified an ongoing issue you have.

**Chadgervais** · 12-06-2013

Dsmuts:

I checked my fluid Sunday while it was acting up and was hot enough to get a good reading 190*, after an hour of mixed city/hwy driving. It was just below the crosshatch, added half a quart, and it has not happened since. Fingers crossed.

**Below Average Joe** · 12-06-2013

You will still want to add a shift kit. It will probably happen again. I had this same issue, but before I could get the kit installed the trans started to slip so it needed replaced.

**Chadgervais** · 12-06-2013

I plan on trading it in next spring, so even if it starts slipping, if it will hold on for 6 months then I'm happy

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