Transmission slipping out of gear

SGTDINGUS

MEMBER
1999 FORD CONTOUR

4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 137000 miles

Hi, Folks!

I have a transmission that slips out of gear while driving at any speed and then "slams" back into gear. This causes a feeling like your buddy just pulled up behind you at a stoplight and bumped your car with his 4WD pickup. (Honest to goodness the first time it happened I looked in the rear view mirror! LOL)

I drove the car on a 130 mile trip last week and had zero problems. The car sat all week unused. When I drove it back home it slipped out of gear at least 150 times during that 130 miles.

The transmission shifts normally sometimes and other times does not. I can put the car in gear, though, even when it's having a bad day, step on the brakes, and run the RPM's up and there is no slippage felt.

In talking to mechanics around here I'm hearing everything from electrical problem to solenoid going out.

Any ideas?

3 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi There,

It sounds like the transmission fluid level is low have you checked it?

This guide will show you how

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission

If the fluid is okay I would like to eliminate the possibility of an electrical problem first as this is the normal first option in fault finding, so i will ask you to go get a scan done or do it yourself to check for any unresolved transmission fault codes, do this first and report back your findings.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

mark (mhpautos)

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Monday, September 6th, 2010 AT 6:12 AM

SGTDINGUS

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hi Mark,
I took it to a transmission shop. They code checked it w/ an Obd 2 reader. It showed "0 codes". Later it started acting up again so I checked it w/ my code reader and got the same results. I know that sounds weird but I checked 3 more times and got the same results so I have the mechanic check the fluid level and there was none! I should have checked it a long time ago but I didn't know it had fluid? Sorry.

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Monday, September 6th, 2010 AT 2:39 PM

MHPAUTOS