well, there's 119,000 miles on my car, and the transmission (automatic) was rebuilt at 75,000. i don't know when was the last time the fluid and filter were changed. i checked the level though and it is where it's supposed to be. the shift into second gear really jerks, and i think the shift into third is a little late, a little less jerky but still there. until today i thought it wasn't slipping until i think i might've noticed a little. but it is winter and cold so who knows what that is doing to my car. because the other day we had a really unseasonably warm day and perhaps it is just my imagination but i thought it shifted and accelerated much better than it has been.

so is it worth it to get the transmission fluid flushed and the filter changed? do you think that would do anything? i mean, i'd hate to think that another transmission rebuild would be necessary after only 44,000 miles, so i don't know why this is happening.

i also may have a coolant leak in a seal or hose between the reservoir and radiator that i discovered yesterday. again, might be my imagination but i thought after i added coolant it desperately needed, it was shifting flawlessly for about 10 minutes before reverting back. and then i had to add more today so it may be a rather large leak. i never drive the car far enough to threaten overheating. i don't know if these two things are related as i know shit about cars, but thought i'd mention it.

I don't want to sound rude but what kind of car are we talking about?

oh yeah, sorry. 1988 lincoln town car.

More likely than not, you have an AOD transmission in your Lincoln. If so , check your TV cable (or linkage) to make sure the bushing at the throttle body hasn't come apart. It's a common failure on AOD vehicles.

If your TV linkage/cable isn't connected and properly adjusted, your transmission will fail in a very short time, requiring an overhaul.

More likely than not, you have an AOD transmission in your Lincoln. If so , check your TV cable (or linkage) to make sure the bushing at the throttle body hasn't come apart. It's a common failure on AOD vehicles.

If your TV linkage/cable isn't connected and properly adjusted, your transmission will fail in a very short time, requiring an overhaul.

There's so many things in this post that I don't understand, haha.

I'm not so sure on the slipping. I drove it around more than usual today and played with accelerating and didn't notice any slipping. Perhaps this would cause you to change your diagnosis?

I had my dad in the car once to feel what I was talking about, and he keeps saying it's nothing, it's just an old car, and he's had cars that shifted harder than that and they were fine. I mean to me it doesn't seem normal, but I don't know enough to even check what you just said without a couple hours of googling and pestering my dad for assistance. But anytime I bring the car up, in an effort to learn, he just starts yelling about how it's "an old piece of shit and it's not going to run flawlessly." I get that (not the piece of shit part, I think it's got plenty of life left in it), but I still wonder about it.

The coolant appears to not be leaking, knock on wood.

There is also a very audible squealing noise, possibly coming from the belt or something to do with it. My dad put soap on the belt ( :confused: ) and it made it sound louder and more...ratchet-y. Then he just started yelling about how it's probably nothing and went inside. My friend thinks the water pump could be going. The belt is not loose, and looks to be in good condition.

In an effort to help you with truckfxer's post:

Find your throttle body (A butterfly vavle, likely the first metal after your plastic air intake ducting). There should be 2 or 3 cables attached to it. (3 if you have cruise control) One of these cables is attached to your gas pedal. One (if you have CC) will be next the the gas pedal cable and run to a vacuum servo. A third will be going in the opposite direction, but connected to the same throttle body lever. this cable will run down to your transmission.

Follow the cable down to the transmission and inspect where it attaches. See if it is snug, without play.

Also, what color is your trans fluid? Does it smell burnt? Is there bubble or particulate matter in it?

The trans fluid is red. Right now I don't know what shade of red, I'm picturing fruit punch-like red. As far as I know there wasn't any smell or particles, though I will check tomorrow after work if I get the chance. It's 1:15 AM and about an hour and a half ago I said fuck it and went and got gas and then drove around town for like 12 miles. Man that car really drives good. I don't get enough time to appreciate it on my commute to and from work that involves 3 miles each way up and down only one road. There is definitely no slipping going on, just a very hard shift into second, and a less hard shift into third. Hell I don't know anymore. I guess the loud persistent squealing will take precedent over this.