Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting 98SE with ATX tranny hesitation

OK...it's been a while since I posted but my ride has been aces until recently.

Ride is a 98 SE, ATX 125000KM.

Got a tranny flush 3 weeks ago at Ford, along with some general maintenance. Since then, the tranny has had about 7 occasions (mostly on cool/cold mornings) when it has hestiated when I was in D and pressing the accelerator. Has been a mix of hesitations from a standing stop, accelerating from 40KM, to hesitating (disengage then engage) immediately after stopping. Has been mostly when the engine is cold, but a couple times at operating temp.

I have not been able to re-create the problem.

No mil, no O/D flashing.

Any ideas or advice?

Don't count on them to have the fluid level right. Too low will cause it to neutralize. Too much will make it slam into gear due to foaming.

Check your fluid level, drive around in the city for 15 miles. Go home and the shift the selector through all the gears three times, starting and ending in Park each time. Afterwards put it in Park and leave it running, and wait 60 seconds then check the fluid level several times to see if it is correct.

And remember, the design of the CD4E causes the fluid in the pan to go down when hot. This is due to a thermoplastic valve at the bottom of VB that allows some of the hot fluid to pass into the side cover thus preventing foaming. Your dip stick will read itâ??s lowest after the car is warm. If it is over the high mark when hot itâ??s over filled (should be at the low mark when hot and high mark when cold).

jeff

thanx. Will check this tomorrow. I hope it's simple as fluid levels or air bubbles.