Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle After half year struggle. ATX still has problem

My Contour V6 ATX has problem since last year. The code is P0741, TCC stay off. I replaced VB, Solenoid, TC since then, but the problem still there, and becomes even worse now. I check the line pressure, 65PSI for P/N/R and 45PSI for D/2/1. Everything seems normal. I am so frustrated now. Any body can give a clue?

Are you sure that is the correct DTC code? For this transmission CD4E I show no DTC code such as what you have listed. I also checked engine and still not such code - at least with the reference material I am looking at.

I got this code form ford dealer, cost me $75. I thought it should be correct. The TC has excessive slipping on freeway. Usually, it is 2550RPM at 70M but now is almost nearly 3000RPM at 70PM. After freeway driving, the O/D light starts flashing, and bang shift comes.

When you replaced valve body,etc. did all problems go away? Is this problem recent or had you had it all along?

I did all of these because of this problem. This problem first happened last May when I climbed a long upgrade. Suddenly I saw the techo significantly increasing and then following the O/D flashing. Since then it become worse and worse. I replaced the VB last Nov. The problem unsolved. Then I thought it might be TC. Two weeks ago I replaced the TC. The problem still there. Then I thought it might be the solenoid. I replaced the solenoid yesterday. I still cannot solve this problem. Today, I did the line presure test, they seem OK even a little bit low but still within the normal range. Now I have no idea what should I do next.

When you say solonoid are you referring to the solonoid pack on the valve body. Have you replaced the TSS sensor? If you have, your end play in the transmission may be too great because the clutches/steels are worn. The new tss sensors are not as powerful as the old. With excessive endplay the sensor can not detect your turbin speed properly, from what I have read and understand. Unisys would have more info.

Then again, your clutches/steels may just be worn out and it is time for a rebuild. When you had the tc out you could have had it rebuilt then......

Looking up your line pressure, it looks right on. Seems oil pump and valve body are fine. replace clutches and steels along with PROPERLY CHECING ENDPLAY IN TRANS. Endplay is everything in this trans, if specs are too far out, oil will not be able to travel through planet, etc.....

I recommend www.bulkpart.com for rebuild kits, If you are going to rebuild I recommend the master kit that has the clutches and steels....

I think BT is on the right track here, based on the fact that you have pretty much done everything else that normally causes this.

Only one puts a spin on this... Why does it still do it?

I am going to work up something for ya and see where we can go from there. Keep your eyes peeled here for the info.

[EDIT]

P0741** ³ TCC

³ Torque converter clutch control engagement error.

³ The processor assembly picked up an excessive amount of torque converter clutch slippage when torque converter was scheduled to be engaged during normal vehicle operation.

³ Failed off - poor fuel economy, overheating, torque conveter clutch will not engage. May flash TCIL

³ Go to pin point test C

Pin Point Test C uses the Rotunda tester and a break out box to perform a host of test on the Solenoid block. Basically testing the funtions of the TCC Solenoid, located on the block. At this point you would be troubleshooting the new solenoid block that you just installed. Although this would not be pointless, it would be almost impossible for me to draw out all the tests and break them down so that you could actually do them with a DVOM.

One test that might be worth checking into, with a standard DVOM, is if you have a short to ground. To check this, Measure the resistance between BAT- jack (engine ground) and appropriate jack with an ohmmeter or other low current tester (less than 200 milliamps). The connection should show infinite resistance (no continuity). Connect the negitive lead, from the meter, to the battery ground and connect the positive lead to pin 3 of the case connector first, then check pin 4. The case connector is the male part of the connector that is sticking out of the transmission.

Don't forget to check the resistance either - Do this by checking across pins 3 and 4. You should have a reading of 12.5 - 19.0. If not, then you have a bad solenoid block or the wrong one, but I don't think you got the wrong one unless you got it from a junkyard.

Here is the pin out of the connecter -
1 TFT Signal
2 Signal Return
3 TCC Power In
4 TCC Signal from PCM
5 SS2 Signal from PCM
6 Shift Solenoid Power In
7 SS1 Signal from PCM
8 3-2T/CCS Signal from PCM
9 EPC Power In
10 EPC Signal from PCM

To actually see the connecter and pin out, to get a better understanding, look here ( http://www.transtec.com/rebuilder_news/3rd_q98r-n.pdf ). I would actually suggest that you print this and take it outside with you. That way you can get an even better idea of the lay out of the pins.

I do have one question for ya though... Have you tested to see if the TC is actually locking? You can do this by leting the car up to operating temp. Find a nice strip of road where you can maintain a speed of at least 50mph. Once you able to maintain that speed, litely apply the brake while continueing to hold the gas. Your RPMs should increase by at least 250 RPMs. Once this happens, you can release the brake and after a few seconds your RPMs should drop back down. If this happens, then your TC is locking. If not, then it would confirm that it is not. Reason I ask this is because I had the same code, but my TC was actually locking most of the time. There was just enough slip in the TCC, during warm up, that caused the code to be declared.

In your case though, if all this proves to hail you to no end, a rebuild might just be your only option at this point. I'm thinking it could be something with your wiring harness or ECM as well though.

Best of luck to you and hope we can provide any more help in hassing this out for ya.

Yep it's your TSS sensor. Check this out TSS Link.

Thank you guys' warm reply. I still use the old TSS. Should I replace the it with the new one? I didn't consider TSS as a cause at the beginning. I thought a bad TSS can cause 1-2 bang shift but my shift is really smooth up to now. I only have bang shift after freeway driving.

Hi, unisys12, thank you for your long reply. I measure the solenoid pack. The resistance between 3-4 is 13.6 ohm, sounds normal. I didn't do the short to ground test. I will do it tomorrow. I did the road test as you recomended. It seems that the converter never locked-up. When I maitain a speed of 50M and then press the brake, nothing happen. The rpm doesn't increase at all. What's that mean? Sounds this is a clue to my problem.