Transmission problem
1999 Ford Windstar 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 145000 miles

We have had a Ford Windstar for the last 2 years and it has run very well for us. I have always felt blessed that it has run well because I see so much negative feedback from people who own this car.

Well, today when I was driving the car something bad happened. I was at a stop light and the light turned green. I stepped on the gas and all of the sudden there was a big "thud" but the car did move forward. Then when it went to shift into 2nd gear it slipped and didn't drop into gear immediately. I was concerned but hopeful that it was just being goofy and would not repeat the performance later. Well, it has not ever made the big "thud" again, but it does slip every time it tries to shift into second gear. Also, when I am just starting out from a stop light the car seems to shudder a little bit.

The only clue previous to this was that when you came to a stop in the van the tranny would often stick in second gear and then kind of thunk down into 1st once you came to a complete stop. The van has always done this and it has not concerned me because it does not always do it and it has in the past shifted very smoothly through the gears.

Any suggestions would be helpful because I want to make a decision on what to do fairly quickly here.

Thanks,

Landon