Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting ATX Hard 1-2 Shift ?????

TSB 98-13-11 I had this done to mine in 2000 replaced Servo and re-programed PCM. Mine use to intermitently hammer !st to 3rd. Found it to happen in stop-go traffic, accelerate heavy and about 30-40mph you have to let and stop it would hammer right over 2nd into 3rd.
It still gets confused under similiar situations but it does feel as if it's going to destroy itself now.
98 Mystique LS Duratec built 07/97

Paul

Only problem I had it took over a year to convice the dealer/service manager it had a problem, finally I found the TSB throught Mitchells
and funny thing after mine was done, 5-6 other owners got was able to get theirs fixed.

Mine will do it but I have only had it chirp a couple of times. I have found that if I am on it and approaching the shift, just stay on it till it shifts. It never does it then. If I let off before the shift it will do it about 40% of the time.

my atx shifts a little hard too when cold so i've learned to go easy on it through the first few gears changes

with all that mileage yours has u may want to have it checked out....it could be on its way to atx heaven...mine went at 89k

and of course check fluid level and condition

Ok, I checked the level, it is good. The fluid looks eh, no foaming, no burnt smell and still has a little pinkish color to it. It is doing it at WOT, medium acceleration (I am not letting off the gas), and under light acceleration. It is litterally jerking the car, and when it chirp'slike it has a big block behind it. It only does it on the up shift of 1-2, not any of the other gears or on the downshift. I was hoping someone would know an easyfix for it. Like something came loose and takes 15 minutes to fix. This week I will get it flushed and pray to the tranny gods that it fixes it. Which reminds me, last summer one time while cruising down the highway it seemed to go into neutral and the engine reved to redline as the car coasted. Possible same problem?

Also I need to know what the RPMs it should be running at cruising speed. (i.e. 65mph, 75mph?) Reason is if the torque converter is shot. That is the only explination I can think of for such high RPMs. My Tempo and Taurus run around 2300 RPM at 65mph.

Thanks,

Eric

dont use the tempo as a comparison i had one... it was a 92 5 speed they shift very very low... my friend had a 93 atx.. its in ford heavon aftehr the clutch went

Disconnect your battery OVERNIGHT.
The PCM (computer) needs at least 20 - 30 minutes without the battery, to clear its shifting pattern buffer.
The ATX is shifted electronically and it is controlled by the PCM.

Try this and then flush it out at a shop that has the proper TOOLS to do the flush.
The CD4E Automatic Transaxle does NOT have a drain plug
and it does not have a pan on the bottom.

Ron: I was using the Tempo RPM as a reference for cruising RPM. I know the 2.3L would blow up at 6,500 rpm. But the final Gear Ratio should be similar at highway speed. On the other hand, my Taurus could spend all day cranking at 7,000 RPM. I am just not too familiar with the Countour/Mystique to know cruising RPM, I was hoping someone would have an idea what the nominal RPM would be?

Roadrunner The tranny on the 2.0 does not have pan that can be taken off? It can only be flushed? Ugh, if so. I went into the parts store and they quoted me $12 for the gasket and filter, so I assumed it would come off & I could do the flush. I wouldn't mind some more clarification on this.

Thanks,

Eric

The pan is on the SIDE of the transmission that faces the radiator.
The Filter CANNOT be removed without removing the Valve Body from the transmission,
which is ONLY done when the transmission has been pulled for rebuilding.
The Filter is only a metal screen which catches LARGE pieces of debris.

A good flush should be all you need to clear your shifting problems.
If the problems do not go away, then the tranny may need to be rebuilt.

Reset the PCM and flush your fluid.
Works wonders for shifting problems.

Thank's for the quick reply Roadrunner. I will call tommorrow and see if I can get it in to be flushed. Hopefully that will do the trick. Hopefully one of the local Ford Dealerships will be able to fit it in.

I don't know how your prices are there, but my dealership get about $129 for an ATX Flush.
I flush mine every 10,000 - 15,000 miles now.
Only because I've had problems and had to install an ATX Temp Gauge.
I now flush it when the temp starts to get too hot.
Then after the flush, the temp goes back to normal.