2000 Windstar electronic transmission issue

After driving for a while transmission disengages. Pull over turn engine off, restart, van drives normal. After few minutes or if speed slows down at traffic light or to make a turn, transmission disengages again. Engine runs fine. After restart engine and transmission run again after slowing down, etc.

What do we have here?:disappoin

If the Check Engine light is on......have the code(s) read.
If not....I would get it to a shop that can do a diagnostic on it.
There are a number of things that it 'could' be....but one would only be guessing at this point.

Will bring it to a transi shop tomorrow and have possible code checked out. No light go on, no check engine light, no nothing, just plain disengaging transmission. ....Those Fords...:rolleyes:

How's the tranny fluid level and condition? Sounds to me like your tranny is starving for fluid if its too low.

ditto on the fluid. I wouldn't necessarily believe the cross hatch section of the dipstick. Try another bit of fluid and see how it drives. When was the trans last serviced?

Piper

The transi shop took the pan off and found lots of metal, suggesting rebuild. Got offer for $ 2000 with one year warranty. Received $ 3000 form Ford for 3 Years and 100.000 miles, and other shops are offering $ 1600 to $1900 rebuild.
Ebay offeres with otheres used transmissions from $ 600 to $ 1200 incl. shipping. Toi put one of those in the cost are here in California between $ 650 and $800.
Any used transi vendors reputable..?
I would like to go the least expensive route, and trade the car in a.s.a.p., What would you suggest?

FYI: Transi was replaced by Ford at 55000 four years ago and car has 105000 on it right now. 3.8l automiatic 2000 Windstar

Trans fluid was perfect. Maybe the filter was bad, but now the pan is full of metal.

I had a FORD unit installed at the dealership back in 2001'ish. I had about 100K miles on it.
The replacement is still going strong at just over 200K miles.

The reason that I recommended you get it checked out is that it could leave you stranded....very suddenly.

Now....back when I researched my problem......I did a LOT of internet reading.....and saw a lot of posts from people who were very unhappy with their 1/2 price rebuilt units that failed a year later.....just outside the 12 month waranty.
I bit the bullet....as I did not want to have to do this again.

My reading also lead me to go to yearly fluid changes with synthetic fluid and to install a auxillary transmission cooler.
I had been having the dealership do it every 30K miles.

I also found that the dropping resistor for the radiator low speed fan operation was broken.....so I only had high speed fan.
The fans should come on at low speed....and STAY on whenever your A/C is on.
Now, when in stop and go traffic.....I make sure that my A/C is on.....which keeps a lot of air moving over the radiator.....the engine temperature stays steady....and low, instead of cycling up and down as the fans come on and off due to the motor heating up.
It also keeps the transmission fluid MUCH cooler.....which is a BIG help in keeping your transmission for longer.

Thank you! I will consider this with this transmission. Every 30.000 or yearly synthetic oil and additional auxiliary transmission cooler. Any recommendatgion on that one? Where should I get one and where does it has to be installed? Will check on the dropping reistor as well. Ac on in traffic (will add this extra gas investment for transi longivity).

Thanks

Klaus
FordWindstar



I had a FORD unit installed at the dealership back in 2001'ish. I had about 100K miles on it.
The replacement is still going strong at just over 200K miles.

The reason that I recommended you get it checked out is that it could leave you stranded....very suddenly.

Now....back when I researched my problem......I did a LOT of internet reading.....and saw a lot of posts from people who were very unhappy with their 1/2 price rebuilt units that failed a year later.....just outside the 12 month waranty.
I bit the bullet....as I did not want to have to do this again.

My reading also lead me to go to yearly fluid changes with synthetic fluid and to install a auxillary transmission cooler.
I had been having the dealership do it every 30K miles.

I also found that the dropping resistor for the radiator low speed fan operation was broken.....so I only had high speed fan.
The fans should come on at low speed....and STAY on whenever your A/C is on.
Now, when in stop and go traffic.....I make sure that my A/C is on.....which keeps a lot of air moving over the radiator.....the engine temperature stays steady....and low, instead of cycling up and down as the fans come on and off due to the motor heating up.
It also keeps the transmission fluid MUCH cooler.....which is a BIG help in keeping your transmission for longer.

For transmission fluid....you could use Motorcraft Mercon V, Mobil 1 ATF, or another quality brand.
I have used Redline D4 ATF for the past several years.....you will need to go to a speed shop for that.
FORD specifies that 30K miles is the maximum that you should go on the transmission fluid.......21K for "severe service" interval.

For a auxillary cooler.....I installed a Derale fin and plate cooler.
B&M.....and others are very good also......fin and plate version gives you more cooling for the same space as compared to a tube and fin version.

The auxillary cooler is to be installed in front of the radiator.....
I installed mine higher than the factory (optional) auxillary cooler would be installed.
I installed mine ABOVE the bumper....behind the grill.
This results in less stone damage.
I routed the cooler hose so that the fluid flows from the transmission, through the cooler that is inside the passenger side, side tank of the radiator.....then through the auxillary cooler......and back into the transmission.
I used the sections of rubber hose that you will find between the mounting on the bottom of the radiator assembly and the metal tubes that come off of the transmission.......so I did not have to cut any metal tubing.
I routed the hoses so that they did NOT hang down below the radiator when going out to the auxillary cooler........I was able to route them through openings in the radiator support near the driver's side headlight.

Do you remember how much time and money you invested to get it done?

For transmission fluid....you could use Motorcraft Mercon V, Mobil 1 ATF, or another quality brand.
I have used Redline D4 ATF for the past several years.....you will need to go to a speed shop for that.
FORD specifies that 30K miles is the maximum that you should go on the transmission fluid.......21K for "severe service" interval.

For a auxillary cooler.....I installed a Derale fin and plate cooler.
B&M.....and others are very good also......fin and plate version gives you more cooling for the same space as compared to a tube and fin version.

The auxillary cooler is to be installed in front of the radiator.....
I installed mine higher than the factory (optional) auxillary cooler would be installed.
I installed mine ABOVE the bumper....behind the grill.
This results in less stone damage.
I routed the cooler hose so that the fluid flows from the transmission, through the cooler that is inside the passenger side, side tank of the radiator.....then through the auxillary cooler......and back into the transmission.
I used the sections of rubber hose that you will find between the mounting on the bottom of the radiator assembly and the metal tubes that come off of the transmission.......so I did not have to cut any metal tubing.
I routed the hoses so that they did NOT hang down below the radiator when going out to the auxillary cooler........I was able to route them through openings in the radiator support near the driver's side headlight.

I seem to remember the FORD dealer charging me $150 for a fluid AND FILTER change....a number of years ago.

I now do it myself......fluid only change does not take much time......filter requires that you remove the pan from the bottom of the transmission......which requires you to raise the front of the vehicle......and the pan is wider than the 15 quart drain pan (those real big ones).....so it is hard to do this without making a mess (not recommended over a asphalt driveway.......for concrete.....Era Laundry detergent helps get it out).

I have pictures posted that the link in my signature takes you to that show step by step the process of the fluid / filter change.

I do not remember how much time I spent putting the auxillary cooler in......I took my time in my garage on a rainy Saturday....with lots of breaks......

Thank you for your info. It is great to have the data. Last, the cost for the auxillary cooler parts, do you remember? In any case thank you again for your time and info!


I seem to remember the FORD dealer charging me $150 for a fluid AND FILTER change....a number of years ago.

I now do it myself......fluid only change does not take much time......filter requires that you remove the pan from the bottom of the transmission......which requires you to raise the front of the vehicle......and the pan is wider than the 15 quart drain pan (those real big ones).....so it is hard to do this without making a mess (not recommended over a asphalt driveway.......for concrete.....Era Laundry detergent helps get it out).

I have pictures posted that the link in my signature takes you to that show step by step the process of the fluid / filter change.

I do not remember how much time I spent putting the auxillary cooler in......I took my time in my garage on a rainy Saturday....with lots of breaks......

I think I spent about $80 for about a 19,000 pound capacity kit....plus a few other parts to go with it (longer hose.....fittings....etc to be able to customize the installation to how I wanted it).
You can find the kits online.....Derale plate fin (for plate & fin) or B&M plate fin

The hose and tubing size for the transmission cooler lines on the windstar is 5/16"......I seem to remember that some B&M coolers came with some "AN" fittings that I have not worked with before.

The power steering is 3/8" hose

Fuel lines are 5/16" hose/line