Freakin out! Tell me it wil be OK...

[Doubt_Incarnate]

I must be cursed. my explorer had a small leak from the tranny pan bolts. No prob, just tighten them, they were barely snug, some weren't even that far, I suspect that it had recent service because it had the updated filter and the fluid was like new. next week, still leaking. hmmm, some of them are lose, again? this time i torqued them to the correct specs. a few days later, drip drip drip, and lose, again! :wtf: !so i get a pump, and a filter and gasket, 18 lock washers so the bastard bolts stay tight. I pump the fluid out the dipstick tube, i drop the pan, change the filter, put the new gasket up. They say not to use sealant as it will "foul the fluid and/or clog the valve body", sounds like to me, but OK. the fluid i pumped out, like new, because i've already put 2 new quarts in and it was already still fresh, so i filter it, and back in it goes, still needs some to make up for my new tranny slick hairdo and the shiny floor, plus another quart so its the right level.

now the delicous part... It doesnt do engine braking in first anymore, WOO-HOO! and the 2-3 shift is like 2nd-whoops+1000 more rpm-3rd.

It was just a freaking gasket and filter!

someone tell me its just air in the valve body and it will work its way out and everything will be ok....

[sil]

did the oil filter seal stay in there and then you put the oil filter in with 2 seals accidently ?

check the modulator for vacuum leaks

no manual braking (selector in selected gear you are testing for manual braking)in 1-2-3 or just 1?

fluid level...dont be offended but did you check it with engine running?

check the pipes inside the tranny going to the valve body if there loose

linkage adjusted properly

tv cable working smoothly, not bent or binding?

take the tv cable off at the trannty and get a magnet on the end of a telescoping rod, and stick it in there and check if the valve is smooth in and out

hmm thats all i can think of
if it had those symptoms immidiately after you changed the filter then its possible that some foriegn material is stuck in a check ball or sommin stupid like that

you can try to repetedly put it in all gears...1-2-d-r-d-2-1 ect... for a couple minutes

[Doubt_Incarnate]

my little brothers friend works at a dealer in service, he was over just a bit ago. he said "you must have excited the known common flaw in the tranny, your lucky it went over 100K miles before it surfaced". the flaw being the valve body sux, and the brackets holding the solenoids is weak and cracks/breaks. the good news is its still drivable, gently. and there is an update kit. looks like i need a spare valvebody to put the update on so i can swap it all out in one day. btw the leak stopped! and i actually overfilled the tranny and fluid is seeping from the hole around the dipstick tube. to bad it doesnt matter anymore since i get to go right back in! AH! oh well.

thanks for trying to help, appreaciate it.