Hey guys. I've got a 69 Mustang Mach One with a 377 stroker motor with an AOD transmission matching up to a 3.70:1 positraction rear end . I bought this transmission from Lentech Automatics in April 2000 and had it calibrated. After installation at a local shop in San Diego, the transmission started to get intermittent hard shifting in every gear. It got progressively worse. In 2003 we had the transmission rebuilt again because we were getting a bad smell coming from underneathe the car. The smell was like burning transmission fluid. I would smell this when I would accerlerate to pass and under load such as going up a hill. They told us at the local transmission shop that the torque converter was defective and detected metal shavings in the pan. So anyway, we paid another 2k for this transmission rebuild. The smell went away for about a day or two and has come back. The hard shifting was not solved and neither was the smell. First question, are aftermarket aod high performance transmissions supposed to feel hard as if someone rear ended me each time on every gear-that's what it feels like. The kicker is when the car decelerates from 4th to 3rd the hard shifting occurs, is this normal? By the way, the o.d. delete switch doesn't seem to work. It kicks in to overdrive by itself. Should I be worried? Second, Have any of you experienced a nauseous transmission fluid-like smell that travels inside the cab of the car while the windows are down that happens upon acceleration? Please help me. I really need to get to bottom of this. If this smell keeps up, it going to get me sick. Any of your responses would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
What's wrong with my AOD?
- Thread starter Purple Stallion
- Start date
are you running some kind of trans cooler? how is the fluid level? is your trans wet anywhere?
It could be something as simple as a bad oring on your dipstick or a leaky gasket.
It could be something as simple as a bad oring on your dipstick or a leaky gasket.
Hey Ronstang. I've already contacted them before taking to my local transmission shop and told me the calibration might not adjusted.
But I had calibrated already, so there shouldn't have been an issue. Anyway, they also told me take to them to have it inspected and opted not to because of shipping charges and down time. The reason I posted this was to find out if anyone has had problems of this nature with their aod's. By the way, as far as the smell was concerned Lentech couldn't tell me anything. Also, I already had it rebuilt in San Diego. Do you think I ought to just call Lentech and give a piece of my mind?
Hey allcarfan. I am running an external transmission cooler. I'll check if there are any leaks around the places you mentioned on the transmission. Other than that, do these high performance transmissions shift smooth or hard?
But I had calibrated already, so there shouldn't have been an issue. Anyway, they also told me take to them to have it inspected and opted not to because of shipping charges and down time. The reason I posted this was to find out if anyone has had problems of this nature with their aod's. By the way, as far as the smell was concerned Lentech couldn't tell me anything. Also, I already had it rebuilt in San Diego. Do you think I ought to just call Lentech and give a piece of my mind?
Hey allcarfan. I am running an external transmission cooler. I'll check if there are any leaks around the places you mentioned on the transmission. Other than that, do these high performance transmissions shift smooth or hard?
hay there steve. i just wanted to drop in and add that i found this site also to help you out. now back to work for me 
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http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:R-A1HaQcU9IJ:www.network54.com/Forum/260730+aod+forum&hl=en
hope the show in la masa was cool.
DarkBuddha
Founding Member
I've had some experience with some similar symptoms on a friends '88 LTD with an AOD. AODs are particularly sensitive to TV cable adjustment. Improper line pressure can cause an AOD to burn up, causing the fluid to smell burnt. To go along with this, when the tranny has incorrect line pressure and begins to heat up, this can cause fluid to be pushed out of the dipstick or seals. This is all very bad.
As for the hard shifts, this could also be related to line pressure. However, since Lentech is known for performance built AODs, so it wouldn't surprise me if the shifts are a bit harder because of thier valvebody improvements.
In any case, make sure the TV cable is adjusted correctly, creating the correct line pressure. Check with the manufacturer of your TV cable for details on adjustment and make sure you use a oil pressure guage on the correct port. If you don't know who made your current cable, check with Lokar or Windsor-Fox and order a new one.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
As for the hard shifts, this could also be related to line pressure. However, since Lentech is known for performance built AODs, so it wouldn't surprise me if the shifts are a bit harder because of thier valvebody improvements.
In any case, make sure the TV cable is adjusted correctly, creating the correct line pressure. Check with the manufacturer of your TV cable for details on adjustment and make sure you use a oil pressure guage on the correct port. If you don't know who made your current cable, check with Lokar or Windsor-Fox and order a new one.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Thanks guys
Hey thanks for the responses guys. I'll make a visual inspection on the transmission to trace any visible pressure leaks on the dipstick or o-rings. By the way, where are the o-rings located? The T.V. cable is from a Ford Explorer 1996 model year. I got it from The Real Art Carr Transmission now called California Performance Transmission in Huntington Beach. Is there a way I can test for pressure without having to take it a transmission shop?
Hey thanks for the responses guys. I'll make a visual inspection on the transmission to trace any visible pressure leaks on the dipstick or o-rings. By the way, where are the o-rings located? The T.V. cable is from a Ford Explorer 1996 model year. I got it from The Real Art Carr Transmission now called California Performance Transmission in Huntington Beach. Is there a way I can test for pressure without having to take it a transmission shop?
DarkBuddha
Founding Member
Is your motor carb'd or EFI? I've heard that an EFT TV cable doesn't adapt well to carb'd applications... but now that I think about it, as long as you mount it correctly and it has the correct amount of travel, then it should work ok. Anyway, if you do want a carb'd TV cable, Lokar has one for under $50 and it comes with instructions for adjustment.Purple Stallion said:
You can test the pressure at home, but there is a procedure. I don't have my stuff from Lokar with me (I'm in Seattle, the car is in Tampa), so I can't give you the details. All you need to actually check the pressure, you just need an oil pressure guage that goes up to 100psi, and it has to be connected to the correct port (which I had to call Lokar to make sure). You might consider buying a manual for the AOD, or even a Haynes/Chilton book if you can find one.
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