1987 Ford F-150 taks time to go into drive cold

LESERZ

MEMBER
1987 FORD F-150

Transmission problem
1987 Ford F150 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic unknow miles

my new to me f150 4x4 with a auto trans C6 I think.
when the truck has sat over night. When I start it up I can put it into reverse trans will go into reverse no lag in time but when I go into drive it will take up to 3-5 seconds at a idle before you can feel it go in to drive. After it warms up not as bad. The trans fluid is filthy more brownish color than red. A friend said my problem is because the filter are clogged up and it takes time for it to be sucked back uo into valve body. Some times he is full of BS and not sure I can believe him or not. Sound right to you? Oh one more thing if I put my foot into the gas hard trans wont shift till I let off the gas. Drive normal it's shifts like it should shifts are firm not sluggish at all could that be cause of no vacuum or bad modulator?

3 Replies

JAMES W.

MECHANIC
2,394 POSTS

Very definately change the fluid and filter. Also, some Ford torque convertors have a drain plug so you could drain that too. Ford C6 modulator valves are usually adjustable allowing you to adjust the shift range. If yours isn't, you may want to put one in.