My Ole' '95 Truck

**Jamesdean** · 12-17-2025, 01:36 AM

Well, MS Joyce wants to put it out to pasture, and I'm not really wanting to yet...A couple years back we had a real hard, really low temp winter. Living on a hill, I generally use the all wheel drive Jeep when it gets slick and Snow packed ice, not the 2 wheel drive truck. Well come spring thaw, the tranny started acting up and not wanting to shift from 2nd to 3rd. So it got parked for a long while. Ms Joyce was recovering from her knee replacement, then I had mine replaced, and nothing was happening with the truck.
Well getting the pontoon given to us, I need to get it running soon, as the boats too big for the Jeep to really handle. I read a while back that not to change the trans fluid and filter on high milage vehicle because of some reason I don't remember any more...Then today, on a Ford forum I read to go ahead and change them, as it won't hurt them. So, I'm turning to the transmission guru's here for opinions on this. Will changing the trans filter, and fluid help my problem in shifting from second to third? could the shift solenoid be the problem or something else. It is a 4R70W trans that was replaced around 10 yrs ago. I really need some help here...Thank you in Advance. Eric.

**Slab** · 12-17-2025, 05:17 AM

Now I'm no expert, at all, I just tinker. And I only work my own stuff for good reason (don't want to break someone else's stuff). But first thing I'd ask, does it shift to third if you change gears manually? And then I'd ask, was it slipping at all, or would it just not shift? Lastly, you got nothing to loose if you do change the oil and filter as you ain't driving it now anywho. And hey, maybe just get a used low mileage one from junk yard. Those old trucks are better than new ones these days.

**Jamesdean** · 12-17-2025, 06:23 AM

Morning Slab. As for the manual shifting, I never tried it, I will later today...No it wasn't slipping, just would not shift. In the trailer park, speeds 10mph and under, everything good. when I got out to the main road and put some gas to it, it would not shift...I was shopping around for another tranny already when I came across the Ford Forum and they were talking about the fluid and filter. Actually, the guys were discussing an engine swap from a 5.0 to a 5.8w which caught my attention any way. and in their discussion the trans came up...and I agree on the better trucks being older ones. Once I get this trans issue figured out, the 5.8W will be done next...

**Rojo** · 12-17-2025, 07:38 AM

Does the 4R70 use a modulator valve? Too old for electric shift. Vacuum line may be off the Modulator either at the transmission or under the hood. Also mice like to chew the hose. It's old enough the hose is dry rotted most likely if never replaced.

**Jamesdean** · 12-17-2025, 07:49 AM

According to the Trans shop around the corner, ACE Transmission, this is an electronic shift Transmission. Donno...

**Jamesdean** · 12-17-2025, 07:51 AM

I do know the fluid pan has 14 bolts and there is an electronic plug going into the trans.

**Jamesdean** · 12-17-2025, 08:32 AM

Hmmm, I stand corrected, thew 4R70W is NOT an electronic shift transmission...Thank you John.

**Jamesdean** · 12-17-2025, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Rojo

Does the 4R70 use a modulator valve? Too old for electric shift. Vacuum line may be off the Modulator either at the transmission or under the hood. Also mice like to chew the hose. It's old enough the hose is dry rotted most likely if never replaced.

I will be looking into this a bit latter today as it's supposed to be real nice today...

**BuckeyeCrappie** · 12-17-2025, 08:56 AM

I agree with Slab. You can’t go wrong changing the filter and fluid. It could be that your transmission valve body is just simply worn out and needs replaced. I would inspect all the wires and hoses carefully especially the hoses for dry rot or cracks as previously mentioned.

**Jamesdean** · 12-17-2025, 05:47 PM

Alrighty then...I went out and went over things in the truck. Didn't find any loose vacuum lines, but did find where rge vacuum line to the air distribution modulator for the cab is missing...which controls the vent door for heat/ac distribution in the cab. Gonna have to see where it stopped at, prolly in one of the wire looms right near there. checked fluid levels, replaced rubber nipple on second spigot at radiator, right under overflow nipple to bucket, why two. Radiator replaced by same shop who did transmission replacement, hmmm. Wrong radiator, wrong transmission??? donno.
warmed truck up and off I went. Right a way noticed a sort of whining noise, helped to have window down. through park everything normal. went out to two lane rd in front of park. gassed it. whining stayed the same volume wise/ pitch wise. truck did shift into 3rd on it's own. At big 4 lane blvd, about 4 blocks away I turned around. Coming back, I did the manual shift thing Slab was talking about. It did shift this way, but was delayed even after the manual shift to next gear. went past park to end of street and turned around. Total distance of street, not quite 1/2 mile. Turned back toward 4 lane blvd and repeated procedure of manually shifting trans. to other end. at first didn't want to shift to third till I slightly lifted pressure on throttle pedal, then shifted. turned around and went in park to house. in the 3 blocks back to park entrance used the D location and shifting was delayed and seemed hard...
Thoughts, posibilities...

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