Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Manual Trans Binds in 1st & Reverse

When I bought my 98 SVT, it had been titled for ten months and had 17k on the clock. From the beginning, at very low speeds, the transaxle sometimes binds and refuses to shift into 1st and/or reverse. When it happens, I have to put it in neutral, waggle the shifer and kind of zero it out. Sometimes this clears the problem. Other times, I have to basically muscle it into gear -- which usually causes it to grind in a way that could get very expensive some day. Changing to Amsoil synthetic ATF helped somewhat. But I can ALMOST ALWAYS reproduce the problem by backing into a parking space, shifting into 1st to adjust the angle and move out of door-ding range, then TRY to shift into Rev again to back the car fully into the space. When I asked a Service Writer at a local dealership about this, he looked at me like I was speaking Chinese (the car was still under warranty at the time. I didn't expect to get much help there, anyway). Because it only affects 1st and Rev, it's obviously not a synchro problem. Could the clutch-cable have been stretched enough after only 17000 mi to
cause something like this?

I'm clueless. Anyone with a clue please lay it on me.

Thanks.

If you search on SYNCHROS, you will find you are NOT alone with this problem.

There is a tranny cocktail that will help with the problem, but it is only temporary.

The transmission will eventually need to be replaced.
Press your dealer to do it NOW.

I have the same problem you describe. I attribute this to the dog teeth not being aligned with the gears at start-up, while the geartrain is not moving. Of course, in your case this also happens when moving between 1st and Reverse, but I'll venture to guess the mechanism of the problem is similar.

My solution is to push the lever into a higher gear, say 4th, and this typically "bumps" the geartrain enough that I can engage 1st or Reverse. Piece o' cake.

HTH!

I've had the same problem for a while now. I told my dealer about it twice when my I brought it in to fix my faulty mass airflow sensor on two different occasions...nothing. They insist everything is fine. I gave up. I guess I'll just have to wait until my tranny craps out on me and then have it replaced under warranty.

When paralell parking, it helps to release the clutch before engaging reverse from 1st, and 1st from reverse... I look like a total douche-bag when trying to fit into a tight space, but at least the gears don't lock up on me...

Start ahmmering those trannies while they are in warranty. You don't want to have to pay for synchro replacement on your dime. If the dealer says nothing is wrong, maybe try going to a different dealer too. Any Ford dealer can perform warranty work, even non-SVT dealers.

My 99 SVT has always had this problem. It started getting worse with 32K on the odo, so I took it in to the dealer. They said that the shifter bolts were "stripped out" and that they had to order a new shifter assembly to fix it. In the meantime, they tightened the "stripped" shifter bolts. The car now shifts great into every gear. If it does not deteriorate, I am not going to install the new shifter assembly. I can't believe how easy it is to shift and how precise the shifter feels. Unbelievable.

On another note, they ruined my dash putting in the dash repair kit (recall). They have ordered a new one.

NO NO NO.....Change that shifter tower for the latest 2000 + level...here is why, the bolt that 'shears' has a habit of breaking off and the head dropping into the trans case, wedges between the crown wheel and casing and is ejected THROU the casing, along with all the trans fluid!!! Then your trans is shot...we had a recent trans with this problem but as we(Vs a dealer) are able to repair these cases it was fixed.Also FWIW DON'T bank on any more NEW transmissions under warranty from your Ford dealer,they are 'no more' and the dealers cant get them,one local dealer here in Grand Rapids had SIX MTX75 in bits under warranty,they will not be replaced with new but repaired with 'parts'....

Terry, how much is this part and can it be done w/o pulling the tranny as I have the same issues on occasion...and it is really bugging me.....some days I wanna blow this car up....others I just wanna sell it...

Around 200 and you need the revised reverse light switch and the Ford 'jumper' cable the new switch can hook up to the existing harness....

Mine has been the same since my clutch and Quaffe were installed. So, can this be done without removing the tranny? I wish there was someone like you, Terry, out here in LALA land.