2001 Ford Escort ZX2, 2.0L L4, 98,000 miles


I recently purchased this car. The guy who sold it to me claims he installed a new transmission. I noticed that it shifts pretty hard from 1st to 2nd. All other shifting is find. Could it be the new transmission needs break in time, or is there something else I need to look at?


Thanks All!!!

First thing to do is check the oil level in the tranny. Also ask previous owner about warranty paperwork.:2cents:

the tranny oil level seemed normal. i cant check it now because the hood doesnt want to open. the previous owner is a mechanic and he said he replaced the tranny himself. do you think the tranny is bad?

I rebuilt one of those F4EAT trannies myself, including new gaskets in the valve body. For the first few hundred miles it consistently shifted from 1st -- into 3rd. It stayed longer in first too. It also didnt use 2nd when slowing at a stop sign. Then suddenly one day it commenced shifting normally, has been fine for the last 9,000 miles.

The throttle valve control cable is out of adjustment, or the 1-2 accumulator piston is sticking or damaged or the idle speed is too high.

Transmission fluid is low. So what type of fluid should I top it off with?

Mercon. Check it HOT with engine running in Park.

Mecron V? This is what Ford sales for this car.

The folks at Aamco seem pretty sure that the only way to correct the shifting issue would be to remove the tranny. I was told there is no adjustment that can be done externally. So it looks like I will have a major transmission job in store for me soon.

NO!!! DON'T DO IT!!!

Can you talk to the previous owner/mechanic about it?
How long has it been doing this?
Did it do it when you test drove it before sale?
How long ago in miles did the trans get replaced?
Did he do the rebuild?
Definitely persue the warranty on it if it is a reman unit as it should transfer to you or at least you should be able to get the previous owner to claim it for you.
If he is a real mechanic in business, he may wind up doing the warranty work, but find out if the warranty work can be done by another mechanic as I always am suspicious when something isn't right and you have to go back to the guy who sold it. This could blow up and become a nightmare.

I'd also recommend finding a trusted, non-chain shop that handles transmissions for a second opinion. I'm just not a believer in chains.

Does anyone think a full fluid exchange and filter change will help?

I tried calling the previous owner, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet. If he thinks he sold me a lemon I doubt he will get back to me. I'm gonna have my personal mechanic look at the car today. I remember on an 87 Lincoln I owned, it would fail to shift out of first. My mechanic simply cleaned a part of the tranny that was very dirty and I ran like a dream. Could this be a similar issue?

Since the tranny fluid was a little low, I decided to try a quart of Lucas Transmission Oil. I drove it around for awhile and the shifting was greatly improved. If still shifts a little hard if I try to floor it. But I really only need to tranny to hold up for a few weeks. Does anyone think the trans will fail before then?

Don't go to AAMCO!!!

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/aamco.htm

Only a few more weeks and you just bought it? How many miles you talking about and what kind of driving conditions? I'd say it'd probably be ok, but that's real easy for me to say that. :)

So the "Service Engine Soon" light finally came on. The people at Aamco pulled a code for the Park Reverse Neutral Drive switch. I forget the exact code number, I will find out tomorrow when I go back to Aamco. But the guy at Aamco says all the symptoms fit, and replacing that switch should make my tranny shift fine. Does anyone have any experience with this switch and the problems it can cause???????? THANKS.

So the "Service Engine Soon" light finally came on. The people at Aamco pulled a code for the Park Reverse Neutral Drive switch. I forget the exact code number, I will find out tomorrow when I go back to Aamco. But the guy at Aamco says all the symptoms fit, and replacing that switch should make my tranny shift fine. Does anyone have any experience with this switch and the problems it can cause???????? THANKS.

Didn't you read my thread with the AAMCO horror stories?

I would not take it back to that AAmco. There are lots of service facilities that can replace a "neutral safety switch", and with even poor luck, I think they would do a better job for you than that AAmco. Isnt this AAMCO same place that originally thought the transmission needed to come out? Now that they can get a code with their code scanner they think its the neutral safety switch? It sounds like they are guessing.
I really dont think a faulty neutral safety switch would have ANYTHING to do with you initial problem - of a hard shift from 1st to 2nd. Maybe the 3rd gen Escorts are very different - but on the 2nd gen Escorts that switch does three things. It turns on the reverse lights when you put the tranny in reverse.... it connects two wires together when you are in Park or Neutral so the starter will function, and it lets the PCM know when you are in gear or out of gear - for idle control when the car is motionless. I think thats all it does.
It is possible the tranny will have to come out, but in your shoes I think I would keep driving it until it gets worse (or better).
Dave Escort mentioned 3 things:
"The throttle valve control cable is out of adjustment, or the 1-2 accumulator piston is sticking or damaged or the idle speed is too high." All three of these could be your problem, and all three can be examined with the transmission in the car.
Though checking the 1-2 accumulator piston is the most difficult of the 3 items, if the plastic accumulator lid will not come out. Still it would probably come out if the circlip was removed, the engine was started, the tranny put into gear, and with the front wheels off the ground you give it some gas. Might blow ATF all over the place.

And while Im not necessarily one to use a string of complaints as a reason to avoid a business - - - I would find a non-franchise business that has to depend on customer referrals & repeat business, NOT a franchise operation that depends on saturation advertising on t.v. This eliminates Aamco & Sears Auto Centers as far as I am concerned.