TROUBLE SHOOTING: PRELIMINARY INSPECTION
1. Ensure vehicle is thoroughly road tested to verify driver's complaint. Determine if problem occurs during upshift, downshift, coasting or engagement. If noise is diagnosed, check if noise is affected by RPM, vehicle speed, gear selection or temperature. Ensure vehicle is at normal operating temperature when checking.
2. Inspect fluid level and condition. Visually inspect for vehicle modifications, electronic addons,
fluid leaks and/or incorrect linkage adjustment. Check for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) before any mechanical repair is performed. See FORD CD4E ELECTRONIC CONTROLS article for DTC diagnosis and repair procedures. If no DTCs are present, see applicable symptom diagnosis.
3. If the following symptoms are present, it is necessary to complete electronic diagnosis and
repair before any mechanical diagnosis and repair is performed. See FORD CD4E ELECTRONIC CONTROLS article for DTC diagnosis and repair procedures.
No Reverse
Harsh Engagement
All Or Some Shifts Not Present
Early, Late, Erratic, Soft, Slipping And/Or Harsh Shifting
No First Gear (In "D" Position)
No Low Gear
No Torque Converter Clutch
Torque Converter Clutch Always Engaged
Poor Vehicle Performance
Engine Will Not Crank
Transaxle Overheating
No Engine Braking In Low ("L")
No Engine Braking In Second ("2")
Vehicle Movement In Neutral ("N")
SYMPTOM DIAGNOSIS
No Forward Gears
Check shift linkage, oil pump external or internal (support sealing rings) leakage, valve body
malfunction (internal leak, stuck regulator valve and/or leaking forward accumulator), forward and
coast clutch assembly, low one-way clutch, forward one-way clutch and low/intermediate planetary
carrier.
No Reverse
Check external and internal shift linkage, low line pressure, valve body (stuck valve), oil pump
internal leak (No. 6 and 7 sealing rings), reverse clutch assembly, low/reverse clutch assembly,
forward/coast/direct clutch cylinder, case (oil passages cross leakage or porosity) and reverse/overdrive gear set.
Harsh Reverse &/Or Forward Engagement
Check fluid level, axle shafts and CV joints, engine/transaxle mounts, shift linkage, line pressure,
restricted oil filter, valve body, forward clutch assembly, reverse clutch assembly, low/reverse clutch
assembly and direct clutch assembly.
Delayed/Soft Reverse &/Or Forward Engagement
Check fluid level, axle shafts and CV joints, engine/transaxle mounts, shift linkage, line pressure,
restricted oil filter, valve body, forward clutch assembly, reverse clutch assembly, low/reverse clutch
assembly and direct clutch assembly.
No Forward Or Reverse
Check fluid level, shift linkage, line pressure, oil pump, restricted oil filter, valve body, torque converter, turbine shaft to forward/coast/direct clutch cylinder, chain and sprocket assembly, parking pawl mechanism, axle shafts and CV joints, final drive assembly and planetary gear assemblies.
All Or Some Shifts Not Present
Check fluid level, shift linkage, speedometer drive/driven gear, valve body, band, low one-way
clutch assembly, overdrive/reverse sun gear and shell, case, oil pump, direct clutch assembly,
intermediate/overdrive servo, coast clutch assembly and forward one-way clutch assembly.
Early Or Late Shifting
Check tire size and speedometer drive/driven gear.
Erratic/Hunting Shift Timing
Check fluid, vehicle speed input, valve body and miscellaneous internal failures.
Soft/Slipping Shift Feel
Check fluid condition, shift linkage, low line pressure, valve body, oil pump assembly and leaking
filter and/or seal.
Harsh Shift Feel
Check fluid level and condition, axle shafts and CV joints, high line pressure, valve body and torque
converter.
No First Gear (In "D" Position)
Check shift linkage, valve body and internal seal(s) leakage.
No Low Gear
Check shift linkage and valve body.
No Torque Converter Clutch
Check valve body and torque converter.
Torque Converter Clutch Always Engaged
Check valve body, oil pump assembly, torque converter and transaxle case.
Stiff Shift Lever Operation
Check shift interlock system, shift linkage and manual valve (valve body).
Poor Vehicle Performance
Check correct shift linkage to shift lever indexing, torque converter (TCC applied and one-way
clutch).
No Engine Braking In Manual Low Position
Check valve body, coast clutch assembly, low/reverse clutch assembly and oil pump assembly.
No Engine Braking In Manual 2nd Position
Check shift linkage, valve body, forward one-way clutch assembly, coast clutch assembly and oil
pump assembly.
Vehicle Movement In Neutral Position
Check shift linkage, oil pump assembly and forward/coast clutch assembly.
PERFORMANCE TESTS ROAD TEST
1. Ensure engine and transaxle are at normal operating temperature. Road test vehicle in
"D" (overdrive on) position. Apply minimum throttle and observe speeds at which upshift occurs and torque converter engages. See appropriate VEHICLE SHIFT SPEEDS table.
2. Stop vehicle. Accelerate vehicle to 12-15 MPH. Release throttle and allow vehicle to coast. Monitor downshift speeds. Downshift is gradual and may not be felt.
3. Accelerate vehicle until transaxle shifts into 4th gear. Depress Transmission Control Switch
(TCS). Transaxle should downshift into 3rd gear. Release throttle. Engine braking should occur. TCC should disengage and then reapply.
4. Press accelerator pedal to floor (WOT). Transaxle should downshift from 3rd-to-2nd, or 3rd-to-1st gear depending on vehicle speed. Torque converter clutch should unlock.
5. Accelerate vehicle to about 50 MPH in "D" position. Manually shift transaxle into 2nd gear.
Transaxle should shift into 2nd gear. Manually shift transaxle into 1st gear. When speed drops below 28-32 MPH, transaxle will downshift into 1st gear.
6. If transaxle fails to upshift/downshift or torque converter clutch does not lock/unlock, see
TROUBLE SHOOTING
STALL SPEED TEST
Torque Converter
The stall speed test checks the operation of the following items:
Converter One-Way Clutch
Forward Clutch
Low/Reverse One-Way Clutch
Reverse Clutch
Forward One-Way Clutch
Engine Performance
1. Apply service and parking brakes. Connect tachometer to engine, and record RPM reached in
each gear selector range (except Neutral) at WOT. See STALL SPEED SPECIFICATIONS (RPM) table. If stall speeds exceed specification, ensure engine is mechanically okay and tuned to specification. If engine is okay, remove torque converter one-way clutch and check for slippage.
2. If stall speed is too high in "D", "2" or "1", the following components may be faulty:
Forward Clutch
Forward One-Way Clutch
Low One-Way Clutch
3. If stall speed is too high in "R", the following components may be faulty:
Low/Reverse Clutch
Reverse Clutch
***Based on these troubleshooting ideas, I believe you have lost your low/reverse and low one-way clutches. DO you happen to have the check engine light on? If you do, it will be easier to narrow down based on the diagnostic code(s).***
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 AT 9:16 PM
