Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting ATX error code 740

Hey Guys,

I have also had the same problems.
At 30k miles my original tranny started to act up, but ONLY after highway driving for an hour or longer.
When I would exit the highway, the ATX would slam every gear while downshifting.
When I took off, every gear would slam upshifting as if it had a kit installed.
I had also noticed that after it started happening, while driving on the highway,
my TEMP Gauge would rise all the way to the "L" in NORMAL.
All the dealer could tell me was that the car does run hot, which was BS,
and that they could not duplicate the ATX problem I was experiencing, with local test driving.

I told them to listen to me.
I have driven this car for over 30k miles.
I think I have a pretty good handle on what is NORMAL and what is NOT.
I had to work WOODSTOCK, during the summer of 1999.
On the way back to NYC, the transmission started to act up on the highway, the temp was way up, and my OD light started to flash.
I called the dealer on my CELL PHONE and told them what was happening WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

When they got the car, they said that the code in the transmission indicated that there was a fault with the Overdrive Clutch, which was probably slipping or losing pressure and slipping, and needed to be replaced.
Since the transmission has to be removed to get at the Torque Converter,
and I had the Premium Care Extended Warranty,
it would be better just to REPLACE the transmission, with a FORD Rebuilt.
No more problems afterward.

Well needless to say, the replacement FORD REBUILT ATX now has 35k miles on it, and is starting to act up the same way.

I have taken it to the dealer last week,
and my Service Manager can't find any codes or duplicate the problem with local driving.
So I am having a ATX Oil Temp Gauge installed, so I can monitor the ATX Temperature while I am driving.
I have to drive from NYC to Buffalo and back, so if it is the transmission, I'll have more evidence to show them.
If the OD Clutch is slipping again, the ATX HAS TO BE GETTING SUPER HOT !!!
The Dealer Agrees with me, and if I can show the ATX overheating,
then they have cause to replace or rebuild it.

Pete...