Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle "Update" on '97 without "Drive"....

Well, got 2 different quotes for near $3000 for a new tranny, labor, yadda yadda..... Talked to a couple people whose wives work with my wife, and decided to try changing out the tranny fluid before going any farther.

So, I did the "4 & dump" method with limited improvement. But there is improvement. Did this until the fluid coming out looked like what was going in. Reverse still works like a champ, and drive will make the car creep very slowly down the road.

Now, my question is this...would putting a new valve body in make the difference or would I just be wasting money and time? Also, is there a possibility that one of the trans sensors could be adding to the problem? I can rebuild an engine with my eyes closed, but I have limited knowledge of transmissions.

Any help is always appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Before going any further answer a few questions first:

1) How many miles are on the car?
2) Other than your recent attempt to flush the tranny, when was the fluid last changed?

1. 152k
2. This is the first time I have changed the tranny fluid in it. (unsure before that)

We picked up the car used for a work runner for my wife. We got it with 135k on it, was a good deal for a $1000 (straight body and like new interior). When I checked the tranny fluid then, it looked brand new, so I changed the oil, filters, ect..

With that mileage, a new valvebody would only help for a little while if at all. Chance are that the forward/direct clutch pack is wore out ... I would highly advise a rebuild.

So I take it that even though "R" is fine, "D" can be out in these tranny's. Like I said, not alot of knowledge with tranny's, but I was in the understanding that if one went the other did as well.

Think about it this way:

You put the car in D and it shifts a hell of a lot more than you put it in R. Logically, R gets a lot less wear and those clutch packs will last 10x longer. However, it's always shifting/downshifting 1-3/OD, so those clutch packs bet a lot of wear. So yes, it's definitely a symptom that your problem lies in 1 of 2 areas: sticking/worn out Valve Body bore OR worn out clutches. Regardless, with that many miles, a rebuild is due.

If you decide to have the tranny rebuilt, I could probably save you a $1,500. I recently rebuilt a CD4E and shipped it to a friend. Turns out that the 99 and 00 Cougar trannies are not swappable due to different VSS locations.

Here is my for sale thread on NECO: http://www.fastcougar.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=6&threadid=119886

I just want you to know that my advice is in no way related to the fact that I have a CD4E for sale. In fact, I'm not the one selling it, the person who bought it from me is the one selling it. I just thought that I could point you the direction of saving a few bucks. I'm sure that anyone here can back up my advice ... the mileage on the trans is just too high to try and do a bandade fix like replacing the valvebody.

All you would need is a new pump shaft ($12), rebuilt Torque Converter ($199 from www.bulkpart.com), a trans cooler ($50-60 from www.bulkpart.com), fluids, a weekend. If you can pull the engine/tranny, you can replace it just as easily.

A family friend finally got back to me, and after some haggling, I'm getting a rebuilt trans with a 2 yr. warranty, his shop is doing all of the work, all for the low price of $1500. Granted thats still a nice chunk of change, but it beats the hell out of paying twice that much.

On a side note, that trans wouldn't have helped me, I have a 2.0L. But I do appreciate all of your help fastcougar, was just trying to to save myself some dough.

Thanks again.

Here is a link to the parts that I ordered from www.bulkpart.com: http://www.fastcougar.com/forsale/cd4e/partslist.htm

Add to that, the bearing kit & filter and you are set on the transmission end of things. Don't forget to get a newly rebuilt torque converter & cooler!