Trans Issues

[Canadasvt]

Is my tranny going? After coming off the highway off ramp and turning left onto the next road, I gave it some gas and all I got was revs for a second or two. Then yesterday I was cruising at about 50km/h (30mph) and when I gave it a little gas it only gave me revs for about 1 or 2 seconds. I think it was in OD and wanting to kick down a gear.

[Dr Caleb]

How new is your trans fluid? Starting to get a bit dark?

[Canadasvt]

How new is your trans fluid? Starting to get a bit dark?

No, it's still pinkish red.

[fordfnatix]

mine did this a couple of times going into 2nd and a couple of times into overdrive . I had just got the car so I thought I had better save money for a rebuild of the trans. but after a flush and pan drop it has not done it ever since....and I drive the hell out of it daily.

[Dr Caleb]

I think it was in OD and wanting to kick down a gear.

Kick it down beforehand. I recall the best advice for this trans is to manually take it out of OD before using the loud pedal. I do it, even at highway speed (especially!). It will down shift to 3rd, then the loud pedal kicks it to second. Even at 110! I only use OD when I'm over 80km/h, and take it out of OD under heavy acceleration.

Not doing so can let the OD band slip, that leads to excessive wear and failure of the band. Then Yoko shows up, and it's all over.

[ctrlraven]

Kick it down beforehand. I recall the best advice for this trans is to manually take it out of OD before using the loud pedal. I do it, even at highway speed (especially!). It will down shift to 3rd, then the loud pedal kicks it to second. Even at 110! I only use OD when I'm over 80km/h, and take it out of OD under heavy acceleration.

Not doing so can let the OD band slip, that leads to excessive wear and failure of the band. Then Yoko shows up, and it's all over.
^^^^ Proper way. I drive with mine off all the time until I get on the highway and will maintain a speed for a long distance/time.

[4play]

sounds like maybe its low?

[fastblackmerc]

Follow the advise in post# 5 and get the tranny flushed.

[magindat]

The real problem is the drop from 4-2 puts a ton (almost literally) of torque on the stub shaft which is only about 5/8" diameter and it breaks.

From OD, drop to 3rd (OD off) then hot step it....

BTW, it also gives more control of the car and is less likely to snatch the rear tire traction away from you - esp on a ramp!

[SlkMerc]

^^^^ Proper way. I drive with mine off all the time until I get on the highway and will maintain a speed for a long distance/time.


So this explains why mine acts like it does. At 40 it's in OD and when I go to throttle it lumbers along and wont drop gear as you mention - unless I lay into the pedal harder. Makes sense to keep OD off around town. I have to assume it wont hurt the car and from what Ive read here, lessens the chance of OD band failure. How's you mileage doing this?

[MM2004]

So this explains why mine acts like it does. At 40 it's in OD and when I go to throttle it lumbers along and wont drop gear as you mention - unless I lay into the pedal harder. Makes sense to keep OD off around town. I have to assume it wont hurt the car and from what Ive read here, lessens the chance of OD band failure. How's you mileage doing this?

The stock shift schedule will go into OD very early (low MPH), causing the car to 'limp' along at very low RPM.

When you hit the loud pedal, the tranny has to 'hunt' for what gear it's going in, and depending on how hard you hit the gas, it could drop 2 - 3 gears down.

This will kill the OD band.

I have a tune in mine, and always have OD off around town until I exceed 50 MPH.

Mileage? Sure, it will effect it.

Just depends on how 'aggressive' you are driving.

;)

Mike.

[JBeezy]

Great info. I just got my car and it has around 31K miles on it. The j-mod has been done already. I'm just wondering if I should go ahead and get the tranny flushed now but not replace the filter as I read in another post, and then flush it again around 60K miles.

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

I had this same problem at 34000 miles. I flushed the tranny now every 30,000 miles. I now have 113,000+ and running strong.

[JBeezy]

What does a shop usually charge to flush the tranny fluid w/o replacing the filter?

[Dr Caleb]

What does a shop usually charge to flush the tranny fluid w/o replacing the filter?

Had mine done the other day. About $370. I put in a new deep aluminum trans pan (TCI) and the fluid was approaching a tawny colour, so it was time. I put in the new filter, so they flushed with 300% the recommended fluid to be sure it was clean.

55 litres of synthetic tranny fluid isn't cheap.

[babbage]

Had mine done the other day. About $370. I put in a new deep aluminum trans pan (TCI) and the fluid was approaching a tawny colour, so it was time. I put in the new filter, so they flushed with 300% the recommended fluid to be sure it was clean.

55 litres of synthetic tranny fluid isn't cheap.


Wow, that's a bit over the top. There is still old fluid in your system, factory bypass opens at 180F letting fluid into the cooler. So unless it was really hot the trans cooler may still have some old fluid in it.

[JimmyXR7]

Great info. I just got my car and it has around 31K miles on it. The j-mod has been done already. I'm just wondering if I should go ahead and get the tranny flushed now but not replace the filter as I read in another post, and then flush it again around 60K miles.

This is a Marauder or a Grand Marquis? On a Grand Marquis you donot need to change the trans filter at 30K. On a Marauder, drop the pan, clean the magnet of the black stuff, and put in a new filter.

Marauder transmissions are worked extra hard and need the extra maintenance effort. See my photos of my MM pan drop at 30K, using the search. Once you look at the magnet, you know the pan drop is the way to go.

Did the previous owner flush all of the fluid during the J-Mod?
You need to find out the maintenance history, if possible.
Jim

[JBeezy]

This is a Marauder or a Grand Marquis? On a Grand Marquis you donot need to change the trans filter at 30K. On a Marauder, drop the pan, clean the magnet of the black stuff, and put in a new filter.

Marauder transmissions are worked extra hard and need the extra maintenance effort. See my photos of my MM pan drop at 30K, using the search. Once you look at the magnet, you know the pan drop is the way to go.

Did the previous owner flush all of the fluid during the J-Mod?
You need to find out the maintenance history, if possible.
Jim


Not sure. I just know the J-Mod was done. I'll get all that done and then I'll know for sure. I'll have it done at 35K miles and then every 30K miles after that. Its a 2003 MM.

I've also picked up that I will not be using overdrive until I hit the highway over 5 min. I wanna save this tranny for as long as possible.