Just picked up a 2001 Ranger regular cab, short box 2wd. It's my first Ford, so I'm not too familiar with the transmissions, all I can say is it's an auto.

Symptoms:
I get hard shifts from 1st to 2nd, especially if it shifts while I'm coasting. But only happens once or twice every time I drive

When putting the rig into REV from Park the engine revs lower every time, like it's about to stall but quickly recovers.

Concerned I checked the transmission fluid (engine warmed up and in neutral) and its WAY above the hatched marks on the dip stick.

Questions:
Could the overfull tranny be causing the problems?

How do I drain some fluid out without dropping the pan?

Thanks in advance!

I guess it's possible. If you have a external cooler on your truck, pop off one of the lines and drain some out into a container otherwise it might not be a bad idea to drop the pan and make sure you don't have any debris in the pan, change the filter, and refill it back to the proper amount.

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2003 FX4

Previous RBVs: '91 4.0 S/C 2wd, '93 Explorer 4x4, '99 Mazda B2500

You will need a line disconnect tool to get the external line off. The simpler way would be drop the pan, remove what ATF you can. Then start the truck wait for it to get to operating temp then check the dipstick. You should buy 2qts of mercon 5. Mercon is fords trans fluid. Check the dipstick after adding half quarts.

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03 rider!

He shouldn't need a line disconnect tool other than a screwdriver or nutdriver. All of my Ranger based vehicles with factory external coolers have had rubber hoses between the cooler and hard lines that have screw type hose clamps.

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2003 FX4

Previous RBVs: '91 4.0 S/C 2wd, '93 Explorer 4x4, '99 Mazda B2500