Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting ATX error code 740

Does this sound right?
Sometimes I would get a flashing O/D light on the highway--shut off light stops, but rought low end shifts for awhile 2.5 ATX Just took to AAMCO diagnosed with error code 740. they say code makes torque conv stay stuck in off pos? They want to take out trans for $325 to check lockup solenoid
- approx $100 for part-could possibly more involved if broken parts did in the solenoid-But said won't need new tranny

It sounds like you're experiencing the same problems as ConnContour:
http://www.contour.org/cgi-ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=004389

You two may want to exchange notes.

Also investigate if what you have is a failure in the TRS:
http://www.contour.org/cgi-ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=003417

I feel a little better it sounds like aaamco is shotting straight with me

Please read my recent posts. It sounds like you and I have the same problem. When I turn off the motor, even for a few seconds, o/d light turns off, and car shifts roughly on the 1-2 shift, 2-3 shift is smoother, and 3-4 is about the same. AAMCO said it was the same thing (torque converter), but I'm looking at $1600 including the torque converter being replaced. I've noticed that the cooler weather has made the problem less noticeable. . My Contour is a 97, 131k, 2.5L. My error code that came up was PO741. Also having problems with pre-cats. Please tell me other symptoms so that maybe we can figure this thing out. Many thanx!

I get no symptoms- O/D light will just begin flashing. It usually happens on the weekend when I do most of my driving. After a restart no flashing but tranny slams between gears- then goes away after a day or two-- weekday driving is very infrequent and short-errands-yes I walk to work. AAMCO sz 740 the lockup solenoid changing the ratio- I'm think of getting it fixed Tues.

See my post under Bad Tranny. I going to the dealer tomorrow for a trannyectamy (new tranny). Sounded like it was playing a wind instrument, lots of unpleasant high pitched noises. Drove home (barely), and I hope to make it back to the dealer. When I compared AAMCO at $1295 + $329 for torque converter, and any other bad components, the $2400 from the dealer probably seemed the best way to go. Could have whole laundry list of stuff gone bad inside, and the bill would only get worse. Also having cats replaced at same time. I figure car is good for at least another 100K miles. This car is built much better than my old Integra. Talk about a money pit! Keep me posted about what happens with yours. I just don't want to get stranded on I-95 in the middle of a snowstorm.

Now I'm a little worried that once AAMCO has the tranny apart they will find other major problems- I'm starting to call other places on what they recommend with the code or am I safe?

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...

I've been calling tranny places and all i get is more ?'s Most places say it is more involved than a solenoid and it may add up.
One guy sd he could disconnect a harness and use a breakout box to test the tranny and the solenoid can be done though a pan and without removal of trans. It sounds like AAMCO will take it out and look for parts to replace
Does anyone have any ideas or good cheap fixes?

And I thought I was the only one with this problem. I've been experiencing the shift problem for a couple of months now, but I have to remove a few mods before the dealer will look at it and haven?t got around to it yet (mainly putting the OEM air filter back in). From the sound of the above posts I?m glad I paid for the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty (86,000 on the car right now).

I noticed the problem first when driving on the expressway. I hit a small grade and the O/D light started flashing. When I got of the expressway the ATX was shifting rough. Turned the car off and started back up, the O/D light stopped flashing but the car still shifted rough. Later I removed my Superchip, which only improved the rough shifting slightly. Since then I?ve noticed the following symptoms; slams into gears while shifting manually (shifting from park to reverse or reverse to drive for example), shifts rough when auto shifting (gets worse as the car gets warmed up), the O/D light only flashes after driving long distances and only after going up a hill or getting heavy into the throttle (never happens on my daily commute), and I haven?t noticed my car running hotter than normal.

I?ll keep you posted.

-edit-

I forgot to mention that my CE light came on just after I cleaned my throttle body which happened to be about week before the ATX started acting up. The CE light is still on.