Tranny issues at 11.5k

[CRUZTAKER]

I did a search and re-read alot of material regarding member's having a slipping feeling from the drivetrain.

We all made similar replys that all pointed toward getting the chip to resolve shifting points and t/c lockup ranges. I had not experienced slipping any more than just the poor shifting while pre-chip.

I the last few weeks, and only occationally, I have noticed that while cruising at say 60 mph, and then steppin on it hard, not so hard as to drop gears, but hard enough to pass fast, the motor revs, but the car goes nowhere fast. It feels just like a manual that is just starting to get clutch slip in 5th gear. It has happened at lower highway speeds as well. It sucks BAD!

From day one, and still today, I have the issue with the shifter not finding R everytime. I have often wondered if that is what causes the tranny to act up after manually shifting. IE: If I descend a very steep hill, I will occationally down shift to 2 so as to not heat up the brakes. The result is ALWAYS the same. Once I get back on flat road and resume legal speeds, the tranny won't shift into OD. It never will until I either shift into N while cruising, or come to a dead stop and shift into P.

Everyone told me this was a shift linkage issue, and not uncommon. I have procrastinated the repair.
Problem with this is trying to convince the dealer of this. I first brought it up in March, this week I will ask again. My fear is of the non-mod friendly dealers in my area, and the fact that I can't hide the chip, and the gears from them for very long if they need to diagnose and TEST drive for a possible tranny issue.

My question to those of you who solved this problem is: Do you think the tranny slipping I am now experiencing has anything to do with the linkage issue?

-Barry

[deerejoe]

I experienced the same results the first day driving the car and immediately returned to the dealer...a wrench took it for a spin and then repaired it. Works fine, as I can tell...not quite sure what the problem was but it did not require but a few minutes to correct the issue.
A painless ordeal to date.

[Ken]

What is involved in doing this repair ourselves, (shift linkage into R)? My dealer blew me off too, since it didn't act up in the shop.

[DavidB]

MMM2003 posted the fix in the gallery:

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php?photo=617

I had the same issue, ie, not getting D from 2 or 1, and only getting R when coming through P.

I explained it in detail to the dealer, including how to fix... Got the car back with "no problem noted."

The repair takes all of 5 minutes, I could reach the linkage nut without raising the car.

TTYL
David

[looking97233]

Mine slipped when new. It was low on fluid. Had to have dealer check as there is no dipstick for the tranny. They said it was low and they filled it. Problem solved.

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by looking97233
Had to have dealer check as there is no dipstick for the tranny.

Really? WTF?!

This must be another 300B decontenting issue...my 300A has a transmission dipstick...it's not conveniently located, but it IS there...

[JohnnyB]

I had a shift linkage issue with my car. I would shift from reverse into park and the transmission would still be in reverse....shift from drive into reverse and would still be in drive. Nearly had an accident. went to the dealer and DEMANDED they adjust the linkage or I was going to drive the car through the showroom window. They did...... and now it works fine.
You should do the same.

[Thomas C Potter]

My MM had a mis-adjusted shifter, but never any slippage, yet.

I can foresee a situation where, due to the shifter being misadjusted, the lever that comes out of the trans is not properly setting the internal component (piston/valve) so that less than full fluid flow/pressure is going to where it should be. Reduced pressure could lead to a clutch pack, or similar component, not being fully engaged. Hopefully someone here can provide more detail. Good luck Cruz.

TP

[sailsmen]

Check your trans fluid via the dipstick for a burnt smell. It doesn't take much slippage to ruin the clutches due to heat.

If the fluid is burnt have the dealer change it under warranty!

[deerejoe]

Dip stick is w a y back under the firewall shroud...some really articulate maneuvers will have to be used to get to it!!

[looking97233]

Hummm... funny I never looked. Service writer told me there wasn't a dip stick. that the fluid had to be checked from under the car. He said to remove plug from bottom of car, add fluid slowly untill it starts dripping, then it's full. ?? Now I sound silly saying there is no dipstick??

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by looking97233
Service writer told me there wasn't a dip stick. that the fluid had to be checked from under the car.

I think your service writer is a dipstick... :shake:

I'd be VERY careful about letting them do any further work on your car...

You may just want to double-check that they indeed filled it correctly...the car should be level, engine running, trans in Park, everything at operating temperature...the exact procedure is in the owner's manual...

[CRUZTAKER]

Thanks to all. We find out tomorrow. I will update.

[schuvwj]

Originally posted by looking97233
Hummm... funny I never looked. Service writer told me there wasn't a dip stick. that the fluid had to be checked from under the car. He said to remove plug from bottom of car, add fluid slowly untill it starts dripping, then it's full. ?? Now I sound silly saying there is no dipstick??

I is my sugestion that you run not walk away from this dealer!

[89lxbill]

I am not sure about the Marauder, but almost all of the 2003-> transmissions do not have a dipstick. Don't ask me Ford's reasoning behind this, but your dealer may in fact be accurate.

[martyo]

Originally posted by 89lxbill
I am not sure about the Marauder, but almost all of the 2003-> transmissions do not have a dipstick. Don't ask me Ford's reasoning behind this, but your dealer may in fact be accurate.

No, the dealer would be wrong. The car does in fact have a dip stick. And, my friend MM03MOK's car has two dip sticks.

[mtnh]

The Lincoln LS has no auto tranny dipstick. No room for it! It makes for interesting fluid level maintenance, to say the least. Luckily, I don't own one with an automatic. At least there is room in the panther platform for a transmission dipstick.

[CRUZTAKER]

Day 2, the car is still on a lift.

A nice note: The mechanics appreciates mods, and keeps it to himself. It wil make things much easier now when I don't have to try and hide things.

[89lxbill]

Originally posted by mtnh
The Lincoln LS has no auto tranny dipstick. No room for it! It makes for interesting fluid level maintenance, to say the least. Luckily, I don't own one with an automatic. At least there is room in the panther platform for a transmission dipstick.

It really isn't a space issue. The 2003 Explorer doesn't have one either.