Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting 98 Contour SE losing transmission fluid

Hello all, I've recently purchased a 98 Contour SE with 2.0 Zetec and auto transmission. It has 62,000 miles on it and is getting 24-30 mpg.

This weekend was the first time I had to drive the car for a sustained period of time ( 1 hour) at 70-80 mph. When I got home, I noticed a small puddle accumulating under the car near the front driver's side tire.

Upon further inspection, I found that the transmission fluid was leaking from the filler tube, and had lost a substantial amount of fluid.

I checked around the base of the filler tube, and it wasn't leaking there, so I went under the hood and noticed that there was fluid on top of the filler dipstick and a little on the brake booster and intake tube.

So, it is backing transmission fluid out of the filler tube which is telling me one thing. The transmission is getting too hot.

This is where my limited mechanical knowledge concludes. The Contour is new to me, so I don't know where the transmission cooler is located, or what could possibly be making the transmission over heat.

Has anybody else had this problem?

Thanks in advance!

-Adam

There is no coolor (Thanks, Ford!)

You're right, it is puking fluid because of interanl fluid temps. There is also a vent tube that comes off the top inside corner of the valve body cover that is supposed to clip to the rearward battery holddown bolt. You can also check it to see if it's wet or clogged.

Just one of the possible early symptoms of worn valves in the transmission's valve body. Surprised you haven't experienced harsh shifting after longer (30-45 minutes) highway operation if the VB is starting to go.

Steve

The only shifting problems I noticed were when I got back in the car to make a quick trip to the store. I put it in reverse, and it didn't engage at first. Again when I shifted to drive, it took a second for it to slip into gear - that was because of the loss of fluid, and subsequent loss of pressure in the transmission.

Is there a filter that needs changed? Would a flush clear any possible blockages? I'm sure that the fluid has never been changed, so it is due for new lubricant.

Forgot to include -- stock cooler is in the radiator....

The filter is not a maintenance item. It is deep inside the tranny and is replaced only on rebuilt.

Do perform a flush. The old fluid is likely well spent.

You can add an external cooler, highly recommended.

Since you haven't experienced any other symptoms so far, you might be okay checking/clearing the vent tube, changing the fluid, and installing an external cooler. Throw a bottle of RED LubeGuard in there when yu're done.

Steve

thank you so much for the help. i lost my 95 SHO to overheating and transmission problems (well i still have it, but it doesn't run), so I was really upset when I found that the Contour was having transmission issues as well.

I really hope this was not the cause to my potentially ruining a good transmission:

Whoever touched the vent tube last was an idiot. instead of placing the plastic clip with the hole in it on the stud on the battery strap, they put the vent tube it self on the stud, blocking any venting that it was supposed to do.

DERR if there's a tube not goin' to anything, let's just plug it up! :smacks forehead:

I repositioned the vent tube correctly, and will post updates if this works/doesn't work.

The car drove just fine this morning, and no fluid was found on the ground. Problem solved!