I have 97 auto awd mine shifts very hard and whines.
but i have bad wheel bearing could cuase the ruffer shifting in low speed turn shifting to second. checked the trans fluid is good. checked the front differntial and it was low. so i changed
oil in the rear differntial with mobil syn. doing the front in the morning. didnt wana mix the syn with what in thier ran outta daylight.
and I havent noticed any change in the shifting. maybe little smoother from 3rd to 4th.