Trans flush, or possible looming doom?

[USMC0351]

So my truck has been doing this odd thing lately. When it's sitting still and put into drive it seems like it doesn't want to start rolling forward, you know the usual roll when you just take your foot off the brake? And it seems to kind of lag a little if you just press the accelerator a little, as opposed to it acting normal if you press it just a little more. Also, when going uphill (once again when only pressing the accelerator slightly) it randomly will have little jerking episodes, feels like the trans is slipping/catching? In either instance, just more throttle will make it stop, and I haven't tried it going up a grade with the O/D off, nor the ECT. My buddy who worked at a tire and lube shop suggested I drain the trans and replace the filter/screen, but someone else told me they have seen that cause problems. Anyone else had this happen and correct it? It's kind of hard to describe exactly but hopefully I at least conveyed what's going on lol. Oh, and the truck is a '98 Limited 4x4, bone stock with 229k miles.

 

[audiness]

Do the drain and dill, and save your old fluid if you are worried that it could make the problem worse.

but it sounds like your clutch packs are starting to wear out, which basically means its near the end of its service life.

 

[kball]

I think your random jerking while lightly accelerating uphill is probably spark plugs and wires time. It sounds like it has that slight miss thing going on. Not the trans.

Not moving when in Drive may be rear brakes soaked in axle lube. Check them out before you do something too crazy like have someone pull your trans.

 

[USMC0351]

Thanks guys, hopefully it is plugs and wires and not clutch packs. I didn't really even think about that, definitely gonna check that and brakes before anything serious. And change the ATF.

 

[Slow_T4R]

I think your random jerking while lightly accelerating uphill is probably spark plugs and wires time. It sounds like it has that slight miss thing going on. Not the trans.

Not moving when in Drive may be rear brakes soaked in axle lube. Check them out before you do something too crazy like have someone pull your trans.

This x2. I had these two issues and fixed them by changing spark plugs/ plug wires and rear diff fluid.

 

[USMC0351]

This x2. I had these two issues and fixed them by changing spark plugs/ plug wires and rear diff fluid.

I need to change the front and rear diff fluids, and the transfer case as well as the trans, so I'll probably do the rear diff first. What plugs/wires/fluids did you guys use? OEM plugs and wires? I usually stick with mobil1/royal purple/lucas for any fluid changes.

 

[Slow_T4R]

I need to change the front and rear diff fluids, and the transfer case as well as the trans, so I'll probably do the rear diff first. What plugs/wires/fluids did you guys use? OEM plugs and wires? I usually stick with mobil1/royal purple/lucas for any fluid changes.

I used the ngk plug wires, Toyota/denso dual prong plugs and a synthetic rear diff oil (sorry I can't remember the brand).