automatic trans issues

[rockyracoon]

well when I was driving home today, my car started quickly down shifting and upshifting,from 3rd to 2nd, it almost seems like it cant make up its mind what gear it wants to be in.
im pretty sure it was from 3rd to 2nd,but it may have been from OD to 3rd.
I checked the fluid and the level seems fine,however it is brownish looking.
anyone think a fluid and filter change may help ?
when it happened I had the A/C on,and here in my area it was pretty hot today.im wondering if the heat has anything to do with it.
could it be a governor,or something.maybe something to do with the kickdown cable?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Change trans fluid and filter.

 

[fivepointNO]

And prepare for a trip to the shop. If it started dropping into a lower gear, then seemed to go back to the higher gear when you let off, somethings probably burned. Then again, that was typical of the old AOD and AODE. Heat has everything to do with it, but not so much heat of the day in Jersey... I mean, people drive where it's hot all the time. If you find that it did burn up, get a large cooler when you have it repaired. It will surely extend the transmission life. Red, brownish and even brown are all normal colors to see. The red is only a dye and it turns brown with time and use. Doesn't mean it's bad fluid, but it probably needed changing already. Is there a replaceable filter in there? I was thinking they updated that to a washable filter.

Oh, and yeah, it could be the linkage. You can check that easily enough.

 

[nyuk98gt]

rockyracoon:

Heat kills transmissions. How old is the fluid? If it is much older than about 20 to 25k then it is time to change it, as Mr. Trout wisely noted. Dirty fluid can clog the shift solenoids in addition to clogging the tiny passages in the valve body.

If the PCM has been flashed with a custom tune or if there is a chip installed then it is possible that the up and down shift schedules are crossed in one place. This will cause rapid up/down shifting (and it ain't too good for the transmission).

Please post up the mods to your car so we will be better able to help.

Chris

 

[rockyracoon]

pretty much stock,no flash or tune. the trans shifts fine other than this issue.

 

[nyuk98gt]

rocky:

OK, thanks for the info. That helps.

I forgot to mention that the accumulators (pistons) in the '96 are prone to shedding rubber and this means the piston can get hung up in the bore. When this happens, it can cause delayed or erratic shifts. The 2-3 accumulator is probably in bad shape. Get a new 1-2, 2-3, and reverse accumulators and you will be in much better shape. Read "Transmissions 101" by Jerry Wroblewski (former Ford Trans Egnineer) - this is the J-mod bible, so to speak. There is a ton and a half of must-know info in those articles. There are two 'how-to' articles by A-Train that you should read so you know how to get at the valve body and accumulators. It looks a bit tough but, trust me, it is not a hard job as long as you take your time, keep things clean, and have all your parts before you start.

Chris

 

[rockyracoon]

Ok will do, thanks a lot.

 

[rockyracoon]

well I just unhooked the upper trans cooling line from the stock cooler,and clamped a piece of clear PVC tubing,with the end of the tubing in a 5 gallon bucket,I then started the car and let it pump into the bucket.there seems to be about 5 qts in the bucket,anyone know if that is about all ill get,cause it seemed to stop flowing.

 

[streethorse]

you still need to drop the pan, clean the pan and magnet, change the filter.
You can tell by the smell of the fluid how bad it is. Be sure and use the
ford rubber gasket, not the cork style that may come with the filter kit.

 

[rockyracoon]

yeah I just got done swapping out the filter.The filter came with the rubber gasket.I was gonna drain the converter,however I could not find a drain plug,and I rotated the converter a coupla times.

so anyway Im going to take her out for a 30 minute ride with the A/C on and see if the fluid and filter change has helped with the issue.

 

[streethorse]

Any Better? Worse?

 

[nyuk98gt]

rockyracoon:

With the pan off, it would have been an ideal time to check the accumulators (1-2, 2-3). If you read up on the 4R70W (and the old AODE), you will find that the accumulators can loose their skin and this will let them hang up in the bore. When this happen, the shifts get wonky. Sounds to me like the 2-3 piston is "iffy".

Anyway, please post an update.

Chris

 

[rockyracoon]

well It seems to have fixed the issue,I drove about 80 miles and It may have done it once or twice,but nothing like before.I kinda have a feeling that this tranny has been rebuilt not that long ago,as there was virtually no clutch material in the bottom of the pan,and just a small lump of metallic junk sticking to the magnet.I think I may go ahead and do the J-mod this fall or winter,maybe even a stall speed converter.

thanks to all for your help.