I drive a 1990 Lincoln Town Car with a developing transmission problem. The car was about a pint down. Over the summer I inadvertently put in about 4 tablespoons of type F steering wheel fluid instead of Mercon, if that might be a long term cause. The original defective transmission was changed at 20K. The fluid was suction flushed at 80K. It's at 115k right now, good maintenance and driving habits throughout. The problem is in the last week it is not shifting that easily into second, especially when cold. After it warms up, the car shifts into second at 30 mph OK most of the time, unless going up hill, and then stays stuck in second. It also shifts into 3rd at 38 mph most of the time. But lately, it won't shift into overdrive above 40 mph and slips and revs without acceleration. What should I do to fix this? Many thanks in advance.
Well, I brought it in to a mechanic. He found that the rubber grommet holding the cable into the transmission had cracked and fallen out. He put a grommet/bushing in. The car now shifts OK through third, but at 40 mph when car shifts into overdrive, the engine revs still, so I'm guessing the cable pps has to be readjusted. He'll try again after the snow clears.Well, I brought it in to a mechanic. He found that the rubber grommet holding the cable into the transmission had cracked and fallen out. He put a grommet/bushing in. The car now shifts OK through third, but at 40 mph when car shifts into overdrive, the engine revs still, so I'm guessing the cable pps has to be readjusted. He'll try again after the snow clears.
AnonymousMar 29, 2014
When car is cold 1 and 2nd shift very late (4000 rpm). The car also makes a noise after 30 mph. I do not think it is a wheel hub assembly because both were changed in January 2013.Shifting gets better after transmission heats up.When car is cold 1 and 2nd shift very late (4000 rpm). The car also makes a noise after 30 mph. I do not think it is a wheel hub assembly because both were changed in January 2013.Shifting gets better after transmission heats up.
AnonymousMar 30, 2014
Transmission shutters - feels like its going in and out of lockup. Most noticeable at steady hwy speeds (of 65 thru 85 mph)? Some times it happens when shifting into 3rd and 4th gear.Transmission shutters - feels like its going in and out of lockup. Most noticeable at steady hwy speeds (of 65 thru 85 mph)? Some times it happens when shifting into 3rd and 4th gear.
We just fixed this... You are not going to believe the answer...
It is your traction control system. When your wheels spin at different rates the trac control thinks you are on ice and disengages the engine at 40+ MPH down to 35mph so that you can regain traction.
But in the older town cars this system becomes hyper sensitive.
Let me guess.. it never happens when you have a passenger over 50 pounds sitting on the passengers side... right? And it only happens when you are driving alone and low on gas... right? Right....
The weight of the gas when over 1/2 or the weight of the passenger puts more weight on the passenger side of the car keeping those tires from spinning faster then on the drivers side.
So... we simply spent $6 on a 50# concrete deck footing placed behind the front passengers seat and $5 on a load strap to ancor it to the seats steel undercarriage for safety in a roll over acedent.
Problem solved....We just fixed this... You are not going to believe the answer...
It is your traction control system. When your wheels spin at different rates the trac control thinks you are on ice and disengages the engine at 40+ MPH down to 35mph so that you can regain traction.
But in the older town cars this system becomes hyper sensitive.
Let me guess.. it never happens when you have a passenger over 50 pounds sitting on the passengers side... right? And it only happens when you are driving alone and low on gas... right? Right....
The weight of the gas when over 1/2 or the weight of the passenger puts more weight on the passenger side of the car keeping those tires from spinning faster then on the drivers side.
So... we simply spent $6 on a 50# concrete deck footing placed behind the front passengers seat and $5 on a load strap to ancor it to the seats steel undercarriage for safety in a roll over acedent.
Problem solved....
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sure will but none of the connectors will line up and neither will the coolant lines, but relax they do make adaptors , just google adaptors for model number and your see
Easy, most likely problem is low transmission fluid. Your owners manual will tell you how to check that if you are not certain. If the level is okay, there are many, many, many other things that could be wrong. Most transmission shops will test it for you, no charge; but they usually will want to rebuild your transmission. It seems they no longer fix a specific problem, they just rebuild. This old of a car... maybe it's time. I hope this is helpful.
This is a common happening, but it is not necessarily a problem. What happens is when you are driving, the transmission is locked and providing as much power to the wheels as possible. When you take your foot off the accelerator, the transmission unlocks and goes into a passive state to prevent bogging down the engine. When you hit the gas again too soon, you feel a "THUMP" which is the transmission going back into the locked position. While this causes no short-term damage, if you do it often enough, it could cause increased wear for the transmission.
Are you sure it's not just a dirty and burn transmission fluid?? But if it is engine oil you may have a bad radiator since the transmission cooler and engine oil cooler is integrated with the radiator.
Good luck and keep me posted.
Hi Joe, what you need to do is go to a trans. shop and have them adjust the TV (Throttle Valve) cable. You can do this yourself but you need a really low PSI guage. When the line pressure is at 0 - 5 PSI, it will be adjusted properly. Usually only trans. shops will have the proper tools to do this. It's very important that the TV cable is adjusted right on the money or you'll smoke your transmission.
This could be caused by the transmission range selector switch on the tranny, no sure how without the wiring diagram, but seems to ring a bell from my 20 years at a ford delaer.
Check to see if your linkage to the transmission is properly adjusted. Get a book on your car at your local auto parts store and look up throttle/transmission shift linkage adjustment
Well, I brought it in to a mechanic. He found that the rubber grommet holding the cable into the transmission had cracked and fallen out. He put a grommet/bushing in. The car now shifts OK through third, but at 40 mph when car shifts into overdrive, the engine revs still, so I'm guessing the cable pps has to be readjusted. He'll try again after the snow clears.
When car is cold 1 and 2nd shift very late (4000 rpm). The car also makes a noise after 30 mph. I do not think it is a wheel hub assembly because both were changed in January 2013.Shifting gets better after transmission heats up.
Transmission shutters - feels like its going in and out of lockup. Most noticeable at steady hwy speeds (of 65 thru 85 mph)? Some times it happens when shifting into 3rd and 4th gear.
We just fixed this...
You are not going to believe the answer...
It is your traction control system.
When your wheels spin at different rates the trac control thinks you are on ice and disengages the engine at 40+ MPH down to 35mph so that you can regain traction.
But in the older town cars this system becomes hyper sensitive.
Let me guess.. it never happens when you have a passenger over 50 pounds sitting on the passengers side... right?
And it only happens when you are driving alone and low on gas... right?
Right....
The weight of the gas when over 1/2 or the weight of the passenger puts more weight on the passenger side of the car keeping those tires from spinning faster then on the drivers side.
So... we simply spent $6 on a 50# concrete deck footing placed behind the front passengers seat and $5 on a load strap to ancor it to the seats steel undercarriage for safety in a roll over acedent.
Problem solved....
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