1997 Ford Escort Stuck in second sometimes

Tiny
ARTSUT
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 FORD ESCORT
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 99,000 MILES
Sometimes after I have been driving my car when I put it into park or neutral and then back into gear it seems to be stuck in second. It is boggy until about 40 km/h then keeps revving higher as I pass about 60 or 70 km/h but will not shift up or down. If I turn the car off but leave it on acc it does the same thing when I start it again. The only way to remedy the problem is to turn the car all the way off for a few minutes. This has me baffled any help is greatly appreciated.
Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 10:12 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi artsut,

Thank you for the donation.

The condition is known as " Limp Mode" and occurs when an error has been detected in the transmisison or engine management system. The Power Control Module (PCM or engine computer) goes into Limp Mode when certain errors are detected. Restarting the engine refreshes the PCM memory and it would shift correctly until the error is detected again.

When this occurs, the OD light could be blinking or the Check Engine Light would indicate.

Get a free scan done at Autozone and let me know the exact trouble code if any found.
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Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 10:28 AM
Tiny
ARTSUT
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I plugged it into a scanner and got a P1443. I believe I have found the canister but am not sure.
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Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 3:08 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
P1443 = Very Small or no purge flow condition.

It can mean any of the components and not the cannister alone. The file is too large to be printed here so I have emailed a pdf format file to you.

Let me know if it is helpful.

This trouble code is not likely to be related to the trans going into limp mode and there could be other problems. Some scan tools would not show transmisison trouble codes unless it is compatible so I would suggest getting a different scanner with capabilities to test transmission system to test.

Some trouble codes would be lost once the ignition switch is turned off. When the problem occurs, get a scan done without turning the ignition off and see if any codes are present.

The freeze frame data would be the best way of analysing the problem but it can only be retrived when a code is triggerred.
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Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 11:52 PM
Tiny
ARTSUT
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
So I took it to my mechanic and he said it came up with a shifter solenoid "c" code. I am wondering how hard this is to replace and if you have instructions or schematics to help me with this.
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Monday, August 16th, 2010 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Let me know the EXACT trouble code and I will get the information for you if they are available in our database.
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Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 AT 7:17 AM

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