I think immenient tranny failure is in my near future. :?

The shifts are getting sloppy. I can definitely say that it doesn't "snap" into 2nd gear from 1st. All the others are the same way. The nice thing is that it'* smooth, but alarming smooth!

Is there anything I can do to extend the life of this bad dad? I've never had it flushed and won't at this point. The car has no mods. Bone stock. She'* got 141,000.

With that many miles, would there be any harm in dropping the pan and changing the filter?

My next concern is that next week I have to take it to New Jersey. Given that, should I do my fluid change (if recommended) before or after that 1,600 mile round trip?

changin the fluid may give you some more time. it helped mine for a day or so then all the fluid was burnt again. id do it.

yup, do the fluid drop and filter. Refill with new fluid but leave a quart low and put in a quart of Lucas tranny additive.

Ahh.... Good idea. Never thought about the Lucas.

I know it has helped mine.

just don't use synthetic tranny fluid....

Vital my 96 has a lot softer shifting characteristic than the 90 SSE but obviously you have noticed a difference.
Your filter could be getting clogged thus lowering the pump pressure.
Don't know about the Lucas but I have used a Qt. of B&M Trick shift at fluid changes with good results.
Its a blend of extreme pressure agents and shift improvers that will provide improved shift feel.

The Ditchhopper is doing the same, according to Ditchboy who drives it. He put in that TransX stuff....not sure if it made a dif or not. I figured it was just his driving that was creating the problem.....

I'm on board with the filter and lucas. Did the same to mine. Didn't have funny feeling shifts thought.

Aiming right past CT? If you need a crash or nap on the way past...info on way in PM...always great to meet another member.

Yup, mine is also that way. I'm going to do a complete flush and filter change a week before my trip. I suggest you do the same cause if you're tranny is bad it will likely fail almost immediatly after its serviced. That way you'll have a couple days to get a new one before you're trip. VS not doing it and having it fail on you're trip.