quick question: ive had a 1993 f150 xlt 4.9 6cyl standard and a 1996 f150 xlt 5.0 automatic and both of these vehicles when hitting 125,000 miles the damn tranmission starts to slip and goes out. one of my buddies has a 1993 f150 4.9 auto and hes gone through 3 transmissions as in that one truck of course it has close to 400k miles on it. ive had no problems with the motor but the damn transmission... any sugguestions? i still have the 96 and the tranny is starting to slip when engaging passing gear so i know im up for a rebuid soon. help...

I have a 1990 Aerostar van with the 3L V6. I'm on the third transmission and the engine has never been touched at 230,000 miles. I also have a 2000 F150 4.2L with 43,000 miles. I've had the truck for 7 months now, and I like it for the most part, but the auto transmission is a pile of crap. It always shifts too early unless you have the throttle wide open. With the throttle wide open it doesn't want to shift at all and I let up on the throttle to get it to shift, and when it does shift it seem awfully weak. The only real complaint I have about my Fords is the transmissions. Is it just me, or are Ford automatics just piles of junk? Ken