tranny slipping..............????

2000 ford windstar S.E.L 96000 miles. i have been having problems with the tranny, so far this is whats happened : driving van around doing errands no problems when i come to a stop sign or stop light and stop and then take off the van shudders and the engine races and the van moves slowly, the more gas i give she starts to moves alot faster, then all of a sudden the tranny will catch up to the engine speed.no bangs or clunking. she changes gears ok after that. its just happens on the first gear, also i noticed when i accelerate from a stop i get a "big bump from first to second. does this mean something big is going to crap out on me. thanks.

P.S this problem is more commom when the van is full of people, last night took friends out for dinner{6 friends} take off at stop light was very bad thought tranny was going to quit right there. after getting out of first gear all was ok, till the next light and /stop sign,then all over again.

Have you checked the fluid in the tranny to see if it is at proper levels? Have you changed the fluid lately? My Windstar tranny went at around 60,133 miles, just 133 miles over the 30k interval for replacing the fluid and the tranny went. So check the fluid and levels. Good Luck.

Have you checked the fluid in the tranny to see if it is at proper levels? Have you changed the fluid lately? My Windstar tranny went at around 60,133 miles, just 133 miles over the 30k interval for replacing the fluid and the tranny went. So check the fluid and levels. Good Luck.


thanks MARZBX157,

yes tranny filter and fluid was changed on 1/28/08,not flushed.

was this issue present before changing the fluid? did you change it yourself? If so, did you use mercon V? I ask because Ive herd of problems when using a multi purpose ATF which claims compatibility with Mercon. Just a thought.

was this issue present before changing the fluid? did you change it yourself? If so, did you use mercon V? I ask because Ive herd of problems when using a multi purpose ATF which claims compatibility with Mercon. Just a thought.

yes to the first question.

no to the second,

tiresplus did the job.

There is a first-to-second servo gizmo that may be your problem. The o-ring piston seals get weak. Fairly easy to get to .... on the lower rear of the tranny. Three screws hold the cover in place. A foil heat schield has to be bent out of the way for access. Start out by getting an exploded parts view of this area from the dealer.

There is a first-to-second servo gizmo that may be your problem. The o-ring piston seals get weak. Fairly easy to get to .... on the lower rear of the tranny. Three screws hold the cover in place. A foil heat schield has to be bent out of the way for access. Start out by getting an exploded parts view of this area from the dealer.

what do i tell him what i am looking for? first-to-second servo gizmo ??

"Low range shift servo", I think.

"Low range shift servo", I think.


thank you, i will go to rizzo ford tomorrow and get it, .....then what do i do when i get it?

Well, you should be getting only some o-rings and gasket. There is usually no issue with the metal parts ... tho I did have a circlip break once. It's a fairly simple task for someone with mechanical skills and tools to replace the seals. BTW, they should only cost $25 or so for the whole "set" ... 3 or 4, I think.

You can find more info by searching.

Well, you should be getting only some o-rings and gasket. There is usually no issue with the metal parts ... tho I did have a circlip break once. It's a fairly simple task for someone with mechanical skills and tools to replace the seals. BTW, they should only cost $25 or so for the whole "set" ... 3 or 4, I think.

You can find more info by searching.

went to rizzo ford, the parts guy could not find what i asked for he did give me this :http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e274/toughguy5/2000windstartranny.jpg


can you tell me which one is it. thanks.

7D025, o-ring seal. (I believe this is the one that acts as piston ring.)
7D026, gasket
7D040, o-ring seal.

Check the two circlips to make sure they are in place and not fractured. Lube all parts with fresh fluid before reassembly. Have pan in place as you will lose a few ounces of fluid in this procedure.

You may want to remove one end cover screw and loosely replace it with a slightly longer screw ... then the second screw, then the third. This keeps the spring loaded stuff from "taking off"!

Good Luck! Hope it helps.

7D025, o-ring seal. (I believe this is the one that acts as piston ring.)
7D026, gasket
7D040, o-ring seal.

Check the two circlips to make sure they are in place and not fractured. Lube all parts with fresh fluid before reassembly. Have pan in place as you will lose a few ounces of fluid in this procedure.

You may want to remove one end cover screw and loosely replace it with a slightly longer screw ... then the second screw, then the third. This keeps the spring loaded stuff from "taking off"!

Good Luck! Hope it helps.


ok, circled the parts on the paper going back to ford in the morning. once i get the parts and replace them what should i expect from the tranny?

P.S looking at the parts on the sheet what happens if by accident the "spring loaded stuff take off".


how long will this job take? i do 98% work on my van. never worked on the tranny,willing to give it a shot.

thanks for your help.

I don't remember any particular problems ... just a bit of a knuckle buster.

I don't remember any particular problems ... just a bit of a knuckle buster.


P.S looking at the parts on the sheet what happens if by accident the "spring loaded stuff take off".

once i get the parts and replace them what should i expect from the tranny?

You'll be looking for parts around the bottom of the car. But there isn't a great deal of spring force on this servo. On the other servo, the one you will not be removing ... there is a concern, almost a danger, it the screws are taken out without precaution.

If your current o-rings are well worn ... new ones will give you a more positive 1st to 2nd shift ... and vice-versa. If your current o-rings are in good shape, you will wonder why I ever mentioned them.