Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Transmission problems??

Ok, I have a 99 contour 4cyl and auto tranny.. I went out of state this past weekend and my transmission started acting up on me. It started shifting at higher speeds, and when I left a truck stop it hesitated going into second gear and made a jarring like feeling. Kinda like a shutter I suppose. But I made it there and back, but it was just acting strange. I took it to the transmission shop here in town and they told me it was just fine, they couldnt find anything wrong with it.... Anyone else have this problem???Does it sound like its going bad?? Thanks for your replys.

How many miles, and have you EVER serviced it ??

My car has 40,000 miles on it... I havent had it serviced yet.. Haveing the tranny fluid changed on it Thursday... there going to suck the fluid out and replace it. I did have it check out wed though... The mechanic said nothing looked wrong on it at all.. they said they hooked it up to there computer also, no problems were reported. Going to Kansas City this weekend, so its got me kinda nervous.

The computer will NOT tell you if the tranny is worn out.
The computer will only tell you if something ELECTRICAL is wrong with it.

If you have 40,000 miles on it now, and you've NEVER serviced it,
I'll pray that your CD4E doesn't do to you, the same thing that mine did to me.

When you say serve it... you talking about just changing the fluids? I was told it didnt need any kinda servicing till around 50 or 60,000 miles...Figures my damn luck!!!!! ummm, do I want to even know what it did to yours???

The CODES gave mine as TRANSMISSION

After further chesks [Ford verified all Solenoid valves were OK-after removing transmission!!!!} and said it must be Torque Convereter

I think RoadRunner is trying to say that the computer would not know if your clutches or bands were worn out. It can only check sensed problems...Torque converter clutch slippage, solenoid problems....Some transmission problems are electrical, some are mechanical. The mechanical ones aren't directly sensed by the computer.
A bad torque converter (IE-Turbine problems, Sprague clutch problems) wouldn't be sensed, but a slipping lock-up clutch would be, as the computer would see the difference in input RPM (Motor RPM) and output RPM (TSS-Transmission Speed sensor). However, the computer wouldn't know if the lock-up clutch slippage is a worn clutch plate or low hydraulic pressure. So the computer doesn't always know what the problem is. (FWIW, Ford Service doesn't always, eerr, maybe rarely, know what the problem is. You kay or may not have a back TC. It is not uncommon to claim a problem, then fix a different problem, but not let you know they were wrong.)

First,

NEVER rely on what someone tells you.
RTFM !!!
Read The FREE (F'in) Manual !
The Manual states to check your ATX Oil every 5,000 miles for signs of discoloration or burning.
If anything is found, the ATX needs servicing.
If no problems are found, service the transmission every 30,000 miles.

The ATX actually needs to be serviced more like every 12,000 miles or less.

Second,

Now that transmissions are ELECTRONICALLY SHIFTED,
service people tend to rely on the PCM for TOO MUCH INFO.
They forget aoubt doing basic ROAD TESTING, or PRESSURE TESTING, to determine the state of your transmission.
All they do his connect it to a scan tool and say,
"I don't see any codes...Nothing is wrong."

I wish I had a $1 for every time I was told that.