Has anyone on the list have or had automatic transmission problems? I have a 99 Contour and have had it in 3 times already. The first two times while driving on the expressway there was a bang sound from the trans and the overdrive light started blinking. On the second time it happened the check engine light came on, at least a had a code they could check. The dealer replaced the converter, valve body, different sensors and a few other things. The car ran fine for a while but now it's doing it again. One thing the car is doing now is when I'm driving at 40, 45, and 50 the car starts bogging for a few seconds and then runs fine, then starts bogging again than runs fine. I like the car but wish I could get these problems fixed. thanks Robert

I have a manual tranny on my '98, but if your car is still under warranty, I would talk to the service manager about swapping out the entire transmission. They'll probably have to get permission from Ford to do that, but it may be the only solution. At least they could tear down the old tranny and see what the problem is. Sounds radical, right? Well, my dealer and FoMoCo swapped my engine a few months after I bought it (2,100 miles), because they couldn't locate the source of a noise (turned out to be the transmission gears cutting in). They sent the original engine (2.5 V-6 L-code) back to Kansas City. Strange. Usually Ford trannies are pretty good. I changed my transmission fluid a few months ago, and it was very clean.

I have a 2002 ZX5 and last week when I entered the highway from the on ramp I noticed the RPM's were pretty high for the speed I was doing. I was at around 4300 rpm at 70-75 mph. I checked to see that I wasn't in the wrong gear. It sayed like that for awhile and I had to mash the pedal then let off to get it to shift into overdrive. It hasn't happened since but I'll be watching it closly as I approach the end of the extended warranty. I don't know if there is anything that can be done since it is electronically shifted by the computer.

By small cooling radiator are you meaning a transmission oil cooler that is usually mounted out in front of the engine radiator and air conditioning condenser and plumbed inline with the transmission oil lines that run through the engine radiator?  If so it sounds like you have a good start on fixing it yourself. If you aren't using this van to tow or do a lot of mountain or high speed highway driving, you could always bypass this cooler altogether. But if you have to have it and it turns out that it is the cooler itself leaking then you could just buy a replacement cooler for it. As far as I know unless you go to Ford for a manual or buy a Chiltons manual $$, there is no readily available separate transmission manual and the Hayne's manual for Aerostars has nothing listed for the cooling lines other than to remove them from the engine radiator when replacing it. I'd suggest taking it to your nearest transmission shop to get it fixed, if you can't fix it yourself.

If you're talking about the little radiator behind your bumper, that's a transmission cooler. If it has a leak in the line, you can't just use any old rubber hose to fix it. It requires special transmission fluid hose, both to withstand the pressure and the tendency of the fluid to destroy ordinary rubber. Even EFI fuel line hose will leak if used. You'll notice the drastic difference whenever you attempt to get it over a flared fitting.   Your local discount auto parts store (Autozone, Pep Boys, O'Reilly's, Advance, Kragen's) should have transmission fluid hose, probably whereever they keep the Hayden transmission coolers.   If the little radiator itself is leaking, you can scavenge another from a junkyard, or simply replace it with a large aftermarket Hayden cooler. You'd pay more to have a radiator shop weld the original one up. They rarely fail.   AC  

ty for the info on that i also have the brake light and the rear antilock light on all the time i have checked all my fittings and my brakes and there all good how do i fix this this its beginning to piss me off
lol

"A. G.

Have you replaced the control box under the ashtray area - it's the ABS control box. I aaume your fluid is where it should be in the plastic reservoir?      

no havent done that can i pick one of those up in a junk yard and what does it look like


Russ

Completely bleed the brakes and see if the light will go out after you pump the brake pedal a few times with some serious pedal pressure.  Also make sure the emergency brake pedal/lever is totally released and against it's release stop.  That may fix the "BRAKE" light.   The ABS system will need completely troubleshot because you just can't blunder through on it's problems, though you might check all the wheel speed sensors and their wiring, as those are common problems.  Otherwise, take it to someone who can actually fix it.  There are plenty of OTHER things that can be wrong that will set the dash light.  AND, you don't need to die because you messed something up because you tried to fix it yourself.  This is serious stuff.   Preston III

gerald

Under the dash at the radio/ashtray area, box about 8" x4" by about 1" thick. Autozone and other likely have them new as well.    

May require a governor service. I had numerous transmission problems with my 92 XLT (got rid of it this past summer). The slipping when cold was explained to me as the governor. This can be serviced without a complete overhaul. However, it could also be the early signs of need for overhaul. After one of the rebuilds on mine, I again had slippage when the weather got cold. Brought it back and they were able to fix it pretty quickly. Can't explain your fluid loss. It's got to be going somewhere. Is it dripping out the rear seal? Pan may be dry, but leak could be somewhere other than pan. I would think you'd notice a wet spot under where the vehicle normally sits after a while. Tranny fluid will have red tint vs. brown oil. Good Luck.

Not only look around the trans but, follow the cooler lines near the radiator.

Matt

> Not only look around the trans but, follow the cooler lines near the > radiator. and of course check that tranny fluid isn't getting into the radiator coolant. M.

I'm afraid you found the main weakness to the Ford Explorer. I have a 94 with 164k miles. Two tuneups and three transmissions. From what I've been told, it's the same model transmission that went into the Astro van and it's way undersized. Start shopping for a transmission shop you can trust. I'm sure others here can point out the specific parts that go bad, but either way, it's transmission time. It will get worse and worse until it leaves you stranded somewhere. Sorry.

I had a friend with a '91 eat a transmission. I have a '94 and it is starting to have problems. I have 147K on it so I can't complane. It is leaking fluid while under way.

James Del Mul

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Thanks James. They bought it with 65K on it.... I think the guy used it for towing a boat so that sure didn't help it. Her mother "replaced the trans" at 100k (I have a feeling all that was done was a filter and pan job, though, not a "new trans", b/c she thinks it cost her around $100). It's got 150K on it and BADLY needs a rebuild. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't wasting time and money on it- the rest of the truck is pretty solid, but if it's something I"m gonna have to drop a tranny into every couple years I'm really not interested! Thanks. Tom H

It depends I had an 85 that went to 185,000 before I sold it with no tranny problems. (That isn't a 92 though) The key is fluid/filter replacement. Not to say you won't have any problems, but it is much less likely. There are so many explorers too, there is an that appearance.   Chris Robertson

Mine is still factory. I think that the exploder is a great truck and would replace the transmission if it was mine.

James Del Mul

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Hi, I have a 91 that I bought a few months ago. It has only 107K on it but I had to fix the transmission a month after that I bought it because it started leaking fluid. The problem was caused for seals (between engine and transmission) I had to change torq converter and O/D too. I hope that now everything be ok for many more miles. I think one of the causes of the problem with the seals was that a week before that happened, I took it to the dealership for a full flush, I heard before that its not a good idea for a old truck because that flush comes with chemicals and detergents that many times are bad for old seals. I would recommend a traditional flush or transmission service in a transmission shop, dont take it for the famous flush to the dealership. Thanks. Robin.

Yes Robin, A dealership flush. They use a chemical flush. You can get a mechanic to flush it or do it yourself. There is a process that uses no chemicals. You simply disconnect a hose leading to the transmission cooler, and then run the vehicle and pour in fluid as it comes out.     Chris Robertson