Transmission down shifting prematurely?

97 Town Car Exec 165K miles
When I accelerate my trans some times seems to take a while to engage. If I give it too much gas it slams into gear. When it gets going it seems to have some trouble around 45-50 unless I push in the over-drive button. Once over 55 I am fine until I decelerate. It then down shifts really hard and it seems too early for each down shift. It really jerks the car when it down shifts. Strangest thing is that it does not do it everyday. The past 2 days it has not done it once and I have driven it 200 miles.

1) Would it do me any good to get the filter and fluid changed?

2) Can some trans problems be fixed with out a total overhaul?

3) Should I just have it rebuilt?

1, When was the fluid last changed? If it has been a while then it would be a good idea to change it.

2, Depends on the problem. Could be as simple as changing the programming or replacing a solenoid.

3, Before you decide to drop money on a rebuild, have this one diagnosed to see what it could be.

Also on a side note there is an additive called lubegaurd available at Napa Autopart that is really helpful to these transmissions, if you get the fluid changed I would suggest picking it up and having it added when changing the fluid.

My transmission on my started out doing that exact thing (only in Overdrive), then a year later it deteriorated and eventually it wouldn't go over 35 mph without neutralling out. I just had an aamco rebuild last week and it was $1900 because of all the parts that burnt up from a year of slipping. I had to get a new overdrive pump and countless other parts.

I doubt your case is this severe, but its worth getting it checked out before it progresses. Aamco took my car on a test drive then tore down my transmission for 50 bucks to diagnose the problem, (a small price to pay to know what needs to be done).

The trans fluid should be changed around every 30k anyways, and having that and the filter changed would definatly at least slow the progress of the problem.


Im with ltdltc on getting it diagnosed before haveing any serious work done.

Another vote for some preventative maintenance.
Mine was showing signs of trouble for about a week till I started searching all the BB's. It was recommended to me a complete flush, filter, and Lubegard.

That was 20k miles ago, no problems since. And yes, the 30k flush was recommended as mandatory on these trannies.