# Where to even start?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 18, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755 "2011-10-18T16:53:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Stip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Stip](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stip)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755/1 "2011-10-18T16:53:22Z")

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I have a 2002 Ford Explorer and besides the seemingly oh-so-common annoying crack in the tail gate, I have another issue I consider to be major. Recently, on a short trip to the store, I hit an incline in the road of a slight degree. At this point I noticed the RPMs going wildly up and down and ultimately the truck died. I tested this out on a few drives and what I’ve noticed is that if I’m on a flat surface, the truck seems to be okay. OR if I do hit an incline, either lifting of the gas or powering through it seems to help…although neither of which is a long-term solution. I just lost my job a couple weeks ago and the idea of taking it to a mechanic scares me as I’m very limited on savings. I don’t really know where to start. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755/2 "2011-10-18T17:14:28Z")

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When’s the last time you had the transmission fluid changed?

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**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755/3 "2011-10-18T17:32:08Z")

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Is a Check Engine light on?

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**Author:** ![Stip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Stip](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stip)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755/4 "2011-10-18T17:42:38Z")

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Have never had transmission fluid changed. I’ve been told that after a certain point, changing the fluid could be a bad thing. And there’s no Check Engine light on…except when the truck dies.

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755/5 "2011-10-18T17:48:14Z")

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Sorry to say this…but that could be the problem…You could be looking at a serious and expensive transmission problem.

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**Author:** ![Stip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Stip](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stip)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755/6 "2011-10-18T17:57:44Z")

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Yeah, that’s kinda what I was hoping it wasn’t! Time to get the motorcycle up and running. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/where-to-even-start/68755/7 "2011-10-18T18:40:50Z")

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Tranny fluid should be changed on a regular basis. Even if it hasn’t been done in a long time. Try Seafoam Trans-Tune (1/2 can) in your tranny fluid. Drive it a little bit. Change tranny fluid. Add the rest of the Trans-Tune can.