# 1988 F150 Transmission

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1988-f150-transmission/75487>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ford, f150\
**Created:** [November 12, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1988-f150-transmission/75487 "2012-11-12T05:28:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![deearedub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@deearedub](https://community.cartalk.com/u/deearedub)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1988-f150-transmission/75487/1 "2012-11-12T05:28:09Z")

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Hi, I have a 1988 F150 which is in beautiful shape. My father in law had it since 1989 and had “babied that truck” according to him. So it’s running great, has a mere 92,000 miles, is an automatic with 4X4 with manual shifter to put it into 4X4 or Low 4X4. Here’s the questions: When driving in rear-wheel drive mode (I never drive it on the street in 4X4 - we don’t get snow here in SC) it has developed a hard shift from first to second. It feels like it bumps when shifting. When empty it shifts at about 3200 RPM at average acceleration, which I think is a little high. Does RPM even matter when the shift occurs? Can the tranny be adjusted to shift at a lower RPM? Is my tranny about to go kerplunk? The transmission fluid was a tad low so I topped it off but that didn’t seem to help. Any ideas and/or experiences would be GREATLY appreciated! After all, if I don’t take care of “his” truck I may be in for a real tough Thanksgiving. Thanks. David.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 6:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1988-f150-transmission/75487/2 "2012-11-12T06:04:19Z")

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An 88 Ford automatic? Has the tranny fluid/filter ever been replaced?

Tester

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 12:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1988-f150-transmission/75487/3 "2012-11-12T12:22:29Z")

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Like Tester, I too wonder about whether or not the transmission has ever been serviced since new.  
The term “babied” is sometimes used erroneously too. 🙂

I think there were several different transmissions available at the time and gut feeling says this one may be an AOD.  
If so, the transmission does use a throttle cable that affects the shift points and care should be used if adjusting that cable.