Wanted to see what thoughts were on a rougher shifting pattern I'm noticing in the 3,4 and 5 ratios...the other day when I was speeding up to merge with traffic, I also noticed and felt a jolt in the rear axle...

I have an '03 STR with ~83K on the ODO...I know the ZF's can develop problems...has anyone had anything occur similar to this or had their ECU reflashed by the dealer when their mileage started to get a little higher???

TIA!

 

I've notice that same problem with my '04 stype. Just over this weekend. Does anyone have an idea where the transmission fluid is located?

 

It's very unlikely to be an ECU - btw, which of the about 15 did you have in mind?

Much more likely a sensor or actuator. Only about 200-500 of those but you can ignore most of them.

Or the ZF autobox oil may need changing.

Overall, you could guess what to change (plugs? coils? filters? ZF oil?, MAF?, TB?) or maybe do the cheapish ones or have a go at diagnosis (serious dealer-type tool, maybe). Or see if it gets worse and you can figure it out.

Remember that normally the autobox (TCM) changes gear when the PCM figures it should and mostly problems are not due to the TCM. Likely a sensor misleading the PCM or an output from the PCM that a device inadequately obeys.

Any other issues? Any other work recently done that might be the cause?

 

Er.... you meant something else!!
All the likely questions have replies found using Search (see menu higher up page).

 

The usual places are,
1. In the transmission
2. On your garage floor
3. On the shelf at the dealers.

Maybe you were searching for the dipstick to check the level? If so there isn't one the tranny is "sealed for life".

 

In regards to the ECU, I know there is a TSB tranny reflash that many people have said they have had done more than 1 time...but an actuator or sensor make the most sense...

I may head to the dealer to try and head it off and I may just have the autobox fluid changed as well...

I haven't had any work done recently, the one thing I did have replaced around 50K was the torque converter but this feels different, that was sluggish and loss of power, this was more of a "jerk" and heard it come from the rear axle...

 

It doesn't sound like any of the lurch problems (but don't 100% rule them out). They're cured with a reflash of both TCM & PCM but FIRST they must clear the existing TCM adaptions (which are in NV memory - flash or some such).

The jag fluid is very expensive (see previous threads)

A good tech may be able to figure it out with a description but more likely a drive to show the fault. If there may be any sound as well, have the windows down and be on a really quiet road.

Can be worth repeating the fault with the tech (or a friend if you've a mechanically-inclined one) sitting in different positions (and if sound maybe head out of windows lol).

A mechanic's stethoscope can be helpful for the other person to see where any noise is loudest. Sorry if you've no noise!

 

I was looking for the dipstick to check levels. Sorry for posting such a vauge question.

Thanks

 

No problem. Bring back the dipstick lol

 

390hpstr, this could be an electrical problem too. A code reading then clear may help. What was thought to be a mechanical trans problem for my STR was actually an unexplainable electrical/program glitch remedied by a one hour battery disconnect.

 

That's good info...definitely keep that in mind...

 

Here we go again with ZF autobox problems. From my experience, change the atf fluid RIGHTAWAY for something better; 83,000mile is way beyond the (on this website) accepted 50,000mile point, especially if you drive the car enthusiastically. It will be well depleted. Do a search, as there's a mountain of evidence right here on this website, the best there is bar none for this kind of thing. I do believe one contributor has kept a running record of using Mobil atf meeting respectively Dexron III and VI on dozens of cars. A fluid change plus Forte additive fixed all the problems with my autobox, a 6HP26, and I've never looked back as 'twere.
Leedsman.