Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance transmission problem?

hey all. im new here...so bear with me a bit.

i just bought a used 1998 contour SE with automatic transmission a month ago. it has 70k miles on it. ive run into a few problems which seem to me to be tranny problems.

the first:

if you floor it, and then let up real quick off the throttle...the car lurches forward...and almost feels like getting rearended. i dont know if thats just the nature of a ford transmission, as i have 2 friends who own tauruses that do the same thing. this isnt a huge problem for me.

the second

this si the one that worries me. when shifting into 2nd (right around 55 mph), and into 3rd (right around 80)...the car has a tendancy to lurche forward and back...it almost seems as if the trans cant decide whether it wants to shift up, down, or stay put. it is most noticeable when accelerating, such as getting on the highway. when it does this, sometimes the rpms skyrocket, and then plummet...all without affecting the speed im going. then sometimes you getn o power at all. i have had the the throttle all the way in, and the car is just coasting, or lurching forward without shifting. the problem doesnt ovccur everytime i go above 50 or 80 though...which makes me think something is about to go out.

ive checked the fluid, and it is full...although as far as i know, its still the factory trans fluid. would a flush and fill help this? any hlep you all could give me on this would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

-tk

also...where the hell is the PCV in this damn thing? the chilton book is no help at all...and one person told me that you have to remove the entire exhaust manifold to get at it?...that cant be right.

thanks again.

Welcome aboard!

As for your first problem, it really sounds to me like Throttle Hang. Here is an article that might be worth reading on the subject.

As for your tranny problems, it sounds like you need to change your fluid. I would not suggest flushing it right now, rather changing only 4 quarts at a time. If you look on the bottom on the transmission, near the rear, you will see a plug that can be removed with just a 3/8's drive rachet. This is the drain plug. After the car is warmed up, place a pan under there and remove the drain plug. Approximately 3.5 - 4 quarts will come out. If you raise the front of the car slightly, with either a jack or using ramps, right at about 4 quarts will come out. After all the fluid has drained out, simple replace the drain plug and pour 3.5 quarts of DexronIII/Mercon approved ATF down into the dipstick tube. Crank the car and if on ramps, back it off. At this point, put the car into each gear while allowing a few seconds for each gear. This will help bleed out any air that might have gotten into the system as well as get everything flowing. After doing this, get out and check the fluid level. If you need to add the other .5 quart, then do so now. If not, then take the car for a spin and see if it has helped anyway.

If you feel that the ATF in the tranny now is the original stuff, then I would suggest you repeat the above procedure in the next few weeks. This will for a better ratio of new-to-old fluid. If you see a difference, then great. If not, then you might have some problems with worn valves in the valve body or worn bands.

Oh yeah! One more thing - After doing the second drain and fill, I would suggest you then get the tranny flushed. That is, if your problems do not get worse. It is a common problem with all automatic transmissions, that the owner does not change the fluid on a regular basis and the fluid will actually eat away at the insides of the transmission. Once a big shot of new fluid in put inside the tranny, the new fluid cleans all this grit and dirt out of little scares all throughout the entire transmission. At this point you will have a hugh loss of internal pressure due to leakage in these areas.

Hope I didn't scare ya, but just wanted to warn ya in case you didn't know. If you have any other questions or not sure of anything, please let me know and feel free to post any of these questions in the transmission forum, which I am a moderator of and visit more than any other forum here. Or you can just PM me.

thanks guys...ill get on that as soon as i get a chance.

hetfield...the bang-shift thing sounds more right...simply because of the bang. it feels exactly like getting rear-ended...and sometimes its even hard enough to get a little squeal from the tires.

thanks

-tk

The hesitation at high RPM is sounding like a possible fuel delivery issue. Change your fuel & air filters (clean the air filter if you have a K&N).

Over the next few weeks when you have a little maintenance cash, read over the "common problems" section for cleaning your MAF sensor and Throttle Body . There is a good how to on changing your plugs as well. The Duratec is quite particular about what plugs you use.

By this time, you'll have read & learned a lot about your car. Having maintained it, you'll feel the performance & handling at its best, and you will learn to love the Contique.

well...its not so much of a hesitation as it is a shift up, shift down, shift up, shift down...all very quickly, which is what sounds like a trans problem to me. air filter was replaced, fuel injectors cleaned, and MAF cleaned all 500 miles go.

i was just browsing the transaxle section and i found this post...which is why im sincerely hopeing that replacing the turbine speed sensor and refreshing the ATF does the trick...that long list scares me ... especially since he is describing almost exactly what is going on with my car.

my check engine light has been going on and off for a while now...usually it goes on after i fill up, and goes off at around half a tank...and its not a loose gascap. im tryin to get this resolved without having to pay to have the mechanics plug it in to a computer and then charge me 500 bucks.

thanks

-tk

well...i got my code read at autozone, and apparently i have a transmission range sensor malfunction specifically code p0708, transmission range sensor circuit high input
...apparently a fairly common occurance in the cd4e transmission. so now my magic question is this...just where the hell is the TR sensor? again...the chilton book i have is no help at all...i wouldnt reccomend getting a chilton to anyone.

help me

thanks

-tk

The switch is on the transmission. It is right where the shift linkage comes into the trans. Basically that switch tells the PCM which gear you have selected. Before transmissions were computer controlled, a similar switch was called the neutral safety switch.