First Transmission service

[Chard]

So as the the tittle states this is my first time doing the transmission fluid service on my MM, and its quite possible it may be the first time the vehicle has had one (odo reads 75k, purchased it at 74k).

I have the Wix gasket/filter kit and Dorman pan ready to go. Stopping today after work to get 5-6 qrts of fluid thinking maybe Royal purple or Mobil 1.

my only concern currently is i cant seem to find the trans fluid dip anywhere under the hood. I'm searching on the passenger side of the vehicle with no luck. does anyone have a picture showing the exact location of the dip stick.

[loud2004marquis]

Look on passenger side, waaaaaaay in the back under wiper cowl. Yellow top.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Trans needs Mercon V fluid
trans dipstick i believe is left side way back by rear of head

[Chard]

Great thank you! i wasn't really looking all the way back in there i was expecting something close to the firewall on top. ill go take a look under the hood later today. Just placed a order for 6 qrts of Ford Mercon V fluid.

[RubberCtyRauder]

You do know to check trans fluid on level surface after it is warmed the fluid up while idling. Also if in bottom of pan once removed is a yellow plastic lolly pop item, no worry, means pan was never dropped. it is part of tbe assembly process of motor/trans. it was pushed into pan when factory installed dipstick. you can leave it out now.

[sailsmen]

Reminds me when I did the first Trans Fluid chg on my Mark IV Lincoln.
The change caused the seals to leak resulting in rebuilding the trans.:(

Good Luck.

[Fastbob]

Properly check the fluid level before you start and if it is okay just measure what you drain out and put the same amount back in.

[Zack]

DO NOT use any gasket other than stock. It is reuseable.

[fastblackmerc]

DO NOT use any gasket other than stock. It is reuseable.

+1

Make sure the old o-ring comes out with the old filter.

Make sure the new filter is seated all the way.

[Chard]

You do know to check trans fluid on level surface after it is warmed the fluid up while idling. Also if in bottom of pan once removed is a yellow plastic lolly pop item, no worry, means pan was never dropped. it is part of tbe assembly process of motor/trans. it was pushed into pan when factory installed dipstick. you can leave it out now.

Yes Sir.. Thank you for that added information.

[Chard]

Reminds me when I did the first Trans Fluid chg on my Mark IV Lincoln.
The change caused the seals to leak resulting in rebuilding the trans.:(

Good Luck.

Not going to lie, so am i. Fingers crossed.

[tbone]

New trans fluid is a great solvent which loosens crud in the trans and then causes problems if you flush it all at one time. That's why you should change it by dropping the pan and change the filter, not flush it all at once. If you flush it every 30k, then you should be ok.

[RF Overlord]

DO NOT use any gasket other than stock. It is reuseable.Agreed.

I've used the WIX transmission filters before with no issue, but unless someone prior to you changed the fluid and replaced the OEM gasket, don't use theirs.

[BAD MERC]

Mercon V has friction modifier which does wear out regardless of fluid appearance on paper towel. My '06 Taurus had 83K miles when the torque converter started to shudder under light acceleration and drop overdrive. Long story short a transmission shop I trust suggested a full fluid exchange before I drop 2K on the trans. After that it alleviated the issue. That was four years and 50K miles ago. It's getting changed again approaching 140K miles.

[fastblackmerc]

Since you'll be in there do the J-Mod.

The tranny will love you for it.

[Chard]

Since you'll be in there do the J-Mod.

The tranny will love you for it.


FYI guys I found the trans dipstick tube! But no dipstick.. So god know how long this has been like this.. I’m correct that i can use any trans dip stick from a 2003 and up CV or GM correct I may need to make a trip to the local junk yards

I would like to do the j mod but I will maybe wait to get a tune from
Marty first and see how the trans reacts to the new fluid..
but I could just do the 1-2 upgrade for now..

[BAD MERC]

Since you'll be in there do the J-Mod.

The tranny will love you for it.


I have a question about the JMod that just came up. With my programmer and control arms the stock transmission upshifts are extremely firm and chirp the tires under aggressive acceleration with 4.10 gears. Would the JMod make a bigger difference in that my shift mapping can be detuned? Or would it make it uncomfortable on the upshifts? There's just a few mods I have yet to do but I would like to educate myself on the pros / cons before moving forward.

[Chard]

So at the junkyard Which is the correct dipstick:

3w7p-7a020-AA. 3w7p-7a020-ac Or F8ap-7a020-BA

[fastblackmerc]

I have a question about the JMod that just came up. With my programmer and control arms the stock transmission upshifts are extremely firm and chirp the tires under aggressive acceleration with 4.10 gears. Would the JMod make a bigger difference in that my shift mapping can be detuned? Or would it make it uncomfortable on the unshifts? There's just a few mods I have yet to do but I would like to educate myself on the pros / cons before moving forward.

Since your tranny is behaving the same as if a J-Mod has been done I'd assume your crisper shifts are accomplished by increasing the shift pressure.

IMHO... having higher pressure is not a good thing for any tranny.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable about the tranny than I will chime in.

[loud2004marquis]

DO NOT use any gasket other than stock. It is reuseable.





+1

Make sure the old o-ring comes out with the old filter.

Make sure the new filter is seated all the way.


Also if in bottom of pan once removed is a yellow plastic lolly pop item, no worry, means pan was never dropped. it is part of tbe assembly process of motor/trans. it was pushed into pan when factory installed dipstick. you can leave it out now.

^^^WHAT THEY ALL SAID^^^


Here's a picture of the part number on my marauder's dipstick, hope this helps:

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1125864/fullsize/marauder-trans-dipstick.jpg