2001 Windstar Transmission Overflow

Hello everyone! I was referred to this site from people at fordtrucks.com.

I have a 2001 Ford Windstar LX with about 72,000 miles. After long drives, or expressway drives the transmission fluid leaks out of the overflow when parked. The transmission still works fine, and shifts smooth. The fluid is nice and red. This has occurred about 5 times in the past year. It does not overflow much fluid, but enough to notice. Is this a sign of a failing transmission? Too much fluid maybe? Shoudl I add a trans cooler maybe?
I have been told that it is a cmomon problem with these. They just tend to boil over when worked hard.

ANy help would be greatly appreciated!


Thanks,

Nate

Extended intervals of high transmission temperatures breaks down the transmission fluid and is the number one killer of the AX4S transmission.
My advice to you:
1- Change the transmission fluid and filter in your vehicle. Do a search and you'll find numerous posts on procedure for a COMPLETE fluid change. Do this BEFORE your next long trip.
2- Buy and install a transmission fluid cooler ASAP. Again - search this forum for procedures.
3- Say a special prayer tonight before you go to bed that you didn't screw up your transmission up too bad.

Good Luck-
Glenn

I have a 2001 that did the same thing... The best thing to do is to add a cooler.. about 25 -50 bucks. Depends on where you buy and easy to install. I did the pan and filter myself. There was a lot of junk in the pan. Which I can see makes the tranny run hotter.. Mine ran fine until I just made the decision to get a new one installed.. Since I use it every day I had the tranny replaced even though it ran fine.. I did not notice any fluid leaks after the cooler install so i am sure it helped...I also had a shudder issue that ended up being a spark plug issue..

Here is a link to the first in a series of pictures that show the pan drop, filter change, and fluid exchange on my '96.
It will be super close to yours for the transmission fluid process

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1503284711011220610kYSGCI

The pan gasket is reusable.....if it is the original OEM gasket.
This gasket is much better than any replacement gasket.....so if it is still present, wipe it down to remove any dirt....and re-use.

For fluid.....I recommend a quality ATF that Meets the Mercon V specification.
I have used Mobil 1, and I have Redline D4 ATF in there right now.

You should NOT have the unit heating up enough to spew fluid.
I recommend 3 things if you plan to hang onto the vehicle.

1. As mentioned a nice auxillary cooler.....mounted so that the fluid flows from the transmission, through the in-radiator cooler, then through the auxillary cooler, and back into the transmission.

2. Verify that your radiator cooling fans low speed dropping resistor is good. To do this, with the transmission in PARK, motor at IDLE, turn the A/C ON.....any setting that has the A/C on will do. Verify that the radiator fans are ON....and STAY on (unless is is cold outside....like freezing or below).
If the radiator fans are NOT on......then you likely have a broken radiator fan dropping resistor......fix that ASAP.
Now.....when in stop and go traffic, particularly in warm weather.....I have my A/C ON......as this will keep the radiator fans running.....keeping the transmission MUCH cooler, as well as the motor.

3. Install a magnefine in-line filter in one of the ATF fluid lines......the valves within the transmission will benefit from the finer filtration that this filter provides. It should be good for at least 10K miles if the transmission fluid has been changed regularly.
FORD specifications are every 30K miles for normal service, 21K miles for severe service.
Make SURE to keep on top of regular fluid changes.
Here is a link to a picture of a magnefine filter installed on mine.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1335969027011220610OiEiLN


I think that the rated flow rate of fluid out of the cooler line is about 1 quart in 45 seconds. If not getting flow at about this rate (or more), then you may have a clogged cooler.....which will requre cleaning or replacement (the whole radiator assembly has to be replaced).

I would get about 15 quarts of new ATF for the job......total system capacity is 12.25 quarts, pan drop gets only up to a max of 5-6 quarts, rest is in the torque converter (does not have a plug to drain it) and the rest of the system......so a couple extra quarts to flush things out some.......but more than that gets expensive if you are using a high quality fluid.
DO NOT USE ANY CHEMICAL CLEANERS.


As a side note, use the SAME Mercon V fluid to exchange the fluid in the power steering.
The windstar tends to cook the power steering fluid....and FORD calls for the Mercon V fluid in there (except on older windstars which call for Type F ATF).
The easiest way to change the power steering fluid is to use a turkey baster....suck fluid out of the power steering resevoir.....replace with fresh MERCON V fluid.....start vehicle...turn steering wheel from limit to limit ....not resting on the limit......and repeat the suck out.....replaced with fresh fluid.... Do that a few times....and you will be in good shape.
You may have a screen in the power steering resevoir.....if so....verify that it is NOT clogged with crud.
I mention the power steering as you are getting the same fluid for the transmission.....so it is a good time to do this also.....not much fluid is needed....but it helps the power steering system last longer....and helps keep it quiet.

I am far from a pro at car repairs.....just a cheap person who likes to get the most out of my vehicle.
So.....I will say that the ATF fluid exchange is a not difficult DIY job.....but that pan drop is MESSY.......my 15 quart drain pan , big as it is......is too small to cover the area that I want to when dropping the pan......so every time I have done it......I have made a big mess.

Hello, I went 300 miles over the 30,000 mile interval which Ford recommends and my transmission went on me so be careful and follow the recomendations given in this forum and you should be OK. Now, I plan on flushing my tranny every 30k with Synthetic ATF. Good Luck.