97 escort transmission problems

Hello everyone,
I am having a problem with my 97 ford escort. I have an automatic transmission. When putting the transmission in drive (overdrive) it seems like it takes off in second gear or third gear, and never changes gear. If start off in drive (without overdrive) it starts out in first gear, shifts to second and then third as normal. Problem is I drive mainly highway miles and I need the overdrive gear. When car is in drive with out overdrive it runs at a high rpm which then causes the car to overheat. As it is i cannot drive the car when it is really hot outside with the ac on or it will overheat anyway.

This same problem happened around the same time last summer. I took it to a transmission shop and they said they cleared the computer and test drove the car with their diagnostic computer hooked up and could find nothing wrong. Charged me $50 and it has not done this since then until just 2 days ago. I will mention that 2 days ago my car overheated and every since then the transmission is not working correctly. Any advice and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I am having the same problem. Just bought a 97 escort with 64k miles. When I first start it Overdrive works perfectly. After about 15 minutes of driving, if I get out of the Overdrive gear, it gets stuck in one of the middle gears even if I come to a full stop. If I let it sit for an hour or so it starts and works fine again. Drive works fine throughout. Anybody?

Not sure I can give advice on the transmission but I'll guess the overheating is a totally seperate problem. There's no reason that not using OD would make an engine overheat. I used to work in Death Valley where it would be in the 120's in July. To go home I'd go from Below Sea Level to 4,000 feet in 14 miles. I'd have the A/C on max and I never was close to overheating. So I have a lot of confidence in the cooling system. I guess it's possible your radiator is clogged up. The radiator also cools the transmission. So if the engine is overheated then the tranny probably will be too. If it were me I'd find out why it's overheating and fix that then service the tranny with a new filter and fluid and see what happens. :2cents:

I was going to add my 2 cents, but AzTumbleweed has said it all. Follow his advice. It is good.

DaveEscort97, Looked where you are on a map. Right next to Pea Ridge. We went there once. My wife is from Hot Springs.