Anyone really familiar with these transmissions? I have a 2011 Transit connect with one that is acting up. The van has 150K miles on it. I bought it last year with 137k on it. When I got it the trans still had the factory fill of ATF in it. It shifted fine and the fluid was a redish brown. I dropped the pan and changed the fluid and filter. Installed a mazda pan with drain plug. Did a few more drain and fills because you can only get 3 out at a time and the total capacity is 7 quarts. Fluid used was mercon lv and maxlife.
For the most part its been fine but it does have its quirks. The van is really under powered for its size and the shift strategy leaves a lot to be desired. This is the only thing Ive ever driven that will up shift under a load on a hill while your loosing speed causing you to slow down even more and lug the engine. Thats probably my biggest complaint about the thing.
Here lately though Ive noticed it feels like it slipping while climbing hills. Doesn't seem to matter what gear its in because I will sometimes manually shift it from drive down to 2nd to stop it from trying to up shift on a grade. Today I was on the interstate cruising about 75 or so and it went to shift and jerked hard twice almost instantly. I let off the gas and looked down at the instrument cluster to see if anything was amiss. No lights or anything so carefully got back onto the gas. The rest of the way home though I had two occasions where it went to shift and revved way up until I let off the gas. So something is up with it. Fluid looks nice and clean. I plugged my computer into it with forscan to see if any codes where stored but it showed nothing.
I guess my question is what kills these transmissions? They have a terrible reputation in these vans from 2010 to 2013. I think most guys over load them and never change the trans fluid but I have kept it pretty light and like I said before changed the fluid. I also don't beat on it or run it any harder than necessary.
For the most part its been fine but it does have its quirks. The van is really under powered for its size and the shift strategy leaves a lot to be desired. This is the only thing Ive ever driven that will up shift under a load on a hill while your loosing speed causing you to slow down even more and lug the engine. Thats probably my biggest complaint about the thing.
Here lately though Ive noticed it feels like it slipping while climbing hills. Doesn't seem to matter what gear its in because I will sometimes manually shift it from drive down to 2nd to stop it from trying to up shift on a grade. Today I was on the interstate cruising about 75 or so and it went to shift and jerked hard twice almost instantly. I let off the gas and looked down at the instrument cluster to see if anything was amiss. No lights or anything so carefully got back onto the gas. The rest of the way home though I had two occasions where it went to shift and revved way up until I let off the gas. So something is up with it. Fluid looks nice and clean. I plugged my computer into it with forscan to see if any codes where stored but it showed nothing.
I guess my question is what kills these transmissions? They have a terrible reputation in these vans from 2010 to 2013. I think most guys over load them and never change the trans fluid but I have kept it pretty light and like I said before changed the fluid. I also don't beat on it or run it any harder than necessary.