Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Tranny bumping into first gear...??? 98 auto 4cyl

I have a 1998 Ford Contour with the 4 cyl. automatic. When you go from neutral to drive-it tends to slam into first gear like there is play in it. All other gears shift fine, and other than a slightly low idle-I can find nothing wrong with it. It has not gotten worse. I have a Snap-On MT-2500 scanner and it tuns up no codes. Is this just from wear? The car has about 88k original miles on it? Anyone have the same problem or offer any solutions? Carfax came up with no accidents but it was a leased vehicles for the first 20k miles. I have not flushed the tranny/changed fluids or filter-would this help any?

Thanks
~TIM~

You could possibly have a broken tranny mount. The fluid should be pink and smell kind of sweet. If its brownish and/or smells burnt you should get it flushed, but only if the tranny hasn't started to fail already. Many people have reported changing fluid on an ATX only to have it fail soon thereafter. Searching the Transmissions forum should turn up more about the fluid flushing topic.

EDIT: I should also add that from what I remember reading in the Transmissions forum, there's no easy way to change the filter unless you disassemble the whole tranny.

Good calls :motor mounts, ATX fluid (make sure it's not low)

Some times a dirty MAF or air leak in the intake will make it engage hard, may also delay 1st to 2nd shift.

I HAD THE SAME PROMBLEM IT'S THE TRANNY SWICTH IT'S CALL ED THE GEAR SELCTOR SWICTH IT SITS ON TOP OF THE TRANS IT COST ME ABOUT $30.-$ 40 .BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE TRANS WAS GOING TO JUMP OUT OF THE TOUR HAVE IT CHECK I FEEL GOOD ON THIS ONE HOPE IT HELPS 97 CONTOUR GL 4CYL PACIFIC GREEN 59'434