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Hey guys. 1996 Ford Contour GL 4cyl Zetec w/Automatic transmission @ 218, 900kms.
Was on my way to work this am, and almost all the way there, i noticed a flashing green light... "OD OFF"...now ive read about what that means. But also:
1) OD OFF light flashing
2) burning smell came through the vent, like burning oil or something
3) Gear shifting was erratic...i was doing 100kph and suddenly it shifted down a gear...i had to slow down to 80kph and then it shifted back up...was not very responsive..
Now it sat for the day (bout 8 hrs) and when i left(and it was daylight and i could see) i noticed a small puddle of brown fluid underneath where the transmission is...i started the car, didnt see anything dripping...drove home, didnt notice any problems...was a bit rough and noisier, but nothing like in the morning and no light flashing...Mind u i stayed below 80kph on the way home.
What could the problem be? I know my transmission fluid is dirty (VERY), and oil level looked fine, so not oil leaking i think...transmission fluid is overfilled (has been for awhile thanks to a friends mistake), but am not able to get the drain plug out.
So my questions are:
1) What is possibly wrong?
2) What can i check?
Thanks,
Ken
96 Contour GL 2.0L 4banger w/auto tranny @ 218,800kms
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Joined: May 2000
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Your transmission is fubared ... it's needs to be rebuilt!
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Sounds like the fluid was burnt, so that hurts... alot! As for what happened this morning, it sounds like you might have blown a seal or somthing internal (piston in the valve body) got stuck. You might want to look into a remain'd tranny or having this one rebuilt. 
Phillip Jackson
`98 Mystique LS
262K+ and counting...
ATX rebuilt @ 151K
"This storm has broken me, my only friend!" RIP Dime
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Joined: May 2000
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Flashing OD/OFF light is like the window's blue screen of death ... once you see it, things will never get better. You have a seal leak that only a rebuild can address. Maybe this time, you will actually flush the fluid every 20-30K miles 
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Joined: Nov 2004
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LOL...i have only had the car for 12,900 kms....the previous owner didnt keep up his maintenance...well ok thanks for the info guys...ill have to look into having it fixed... :-S
96 Contour GL 2.0L 4banger w/auto tranny @ 218,800kms
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Joined: Nov 2000
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Brown fluid, that stink = burnt fluid = something got DAMN hot in the trans = she's screwed. Start scrounging for a new trans!
2000 SVT Turbo 295hp/269ftlb@12psi
#1 for Bendix Brakes Kits!
Knuckles rebuilt w/new bearings $55
AUSSIE ENDLINKS $70
Gutted pre-cats $80/set
A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!
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Originally posted by Stazi:
Brown fluid, that stink = burnt fluid = something got DAMN hot in the trans = she's screwed. Start scrounging for a new trans!
99.9% chance of this being a blown seal in either the direct/forward clutch housing or valve body due to hardened seals that have blown out. Seals harden and subsiquently blow out due to overheated fluid
I can't stress this enough people ... flush your trans every 20-30K miles or sooner. As a rule of thumb at least once a year will keep your trans like new for a VERY long time! On the flip side of this coin, lower the trans temp with a cooler. The CD4E isn't the crappy tranny everyone likes to think it is. It has evolved into a rather good little ATX, but with one major flaw ... inadiquite cooling.
I think Ford does this purposely so that when it does go, you hopefully take it to them to get fixed. They replace it with reman with the same flaw for $2500+ and bam, new core to start the process over again. MAJOR source of income for them!
Last edited by fastcougar; 02/01/05 08:48 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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yep thats what ford wanted, around 2500$...the h$#% with that...ill get another one instead...and have a independant shop do it for me...2500$ i could buy a new contour LOL assuming i even had 2500$ which i dont :-(
96 Contour GL 2.0L 4banger w/auto tranny @ 218,800kms
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Joined: Nov 2004
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oh and forgot to mention, today i stayed on the regular roads, never went over 80kph and it was fine all the way to work and back...though when i got home, i did smell a small burning smell like before, though i didnt see a puddle like last time, and it shifted fine  Maybe it will last me long enough to get the money together for a new one
96 Contour GL 2.0L 4banger w/auto tranny @ 218,800kms
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Joined: May 2000
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Originally posted by KenetiX:
oh and forgot to mention, today i stayed on the regular roads, never went over 80kph and it was fine all the way to work and back...though when i got home, i did smell a small burning smell like before, though i didnt see a puddle like last time, and it shifted fine Maybe it will last me long enough to get the money together for a new one
Hmmm ... sounds like a valvebody issue to me. With the mileage, and from the condition of your fluid, I would definitely do a rebuild vs. dropping in just a new valvebody.
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