Transmission question

[adopted-bassist]

I have a 2000 Windstar. My van works well expect for the slow shift from 1st to 2nd. When I excellerate from a stop the van shifts fine but if I start to go and then have to slow there is a thump from 1st to 2nd. This is very apparent during stop and go traffic. I have been leaving the van in 2nd during slow traffic. Is there any up dates to the PCM or something else I could have checked?

By the way I regret buying this van and wished I had bought the Warner Bros. Venture (same year) that had the 'infamous' intake gasket leak. At least I know GM tranny's are good and the 3.4L engine is better on fuel with ample performance. Also the dealer wanted 2 grand less for it in excellent condition and would have installed the new gaskets...DOH!!!
I picked the Windstar because I knew the 2000 did not have the head gasket problem anymore but the tranny.......................
'Live and Learn'!
Cheers!

[rodeo02]

How long has your van done this? is it accompanied by a CEL or flashing OD light? Have you changed out the ATF? if you have make SURE you used only mercon 5. Given the symptoms you describe, I would suspect an electronics issue- speed sensor, range sensor, etc. FWIW- GM and Daimler-Chrysler minivans have just as many, if not more issues than the windstar.
G/luck
Joel

[cclayton]

I have just recently posted to this forum about my 2000 windstar having had to REPLACE the transmission at 50, 000 miles ... yes. And it cost me almost $1000 Canadian to replace it (Ford only covered 75%) I want to fight them but would like to find out how many people are having problems.

You will see from my posting about a week ago that I too was experiencing problems similar to yours for quite awhile (while the car was under warranty) but they said they could find no problem.

Then one day... kaput. It blew and had to be replaced.

Yes, ford is having BIG problems with the transmission. If you could supply me with more details, I can be contacted at [email protected] .
Thanks!

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by cclayton

.....And it cost me almost $1000 Canadian to replace it (Ford only covered 75%) I want to fight them but would like to find out how many people are having problems...

I am not in any way affiliated with ford, nor do I typically side with them, but you were VERY lucky to have them cover 75% of the repair bill on a (nearly) 5yr old van with no warranty!!! Most owners were not nearly as fortunate. Good luck on the other 25%
Joel

[adopted-bassist]

Originally Posted by rodeo02

I am not in any way affiliated with ford, nor do I typically side with them, but you were VERY lucky to have them cover 75% of the repair bill on a (nearly) 5yr old van with no warranty!!! Most owners were not nearly as fortunate. Good luck on the other 25%
Joel

I know that many Venture owners have had to pay for engine replacements due to the infamous intake gasket problem. I had bought the van I spoke about in my thread but before I took delivery a tip brought me to a website 'GM 3.4 V6 a lemon' and I read numerous horror stories of engine failures. I stopped the deal because the 2000 Venture had some of the symptoms of the gasket failure (no coolant, thick creamy oil under the oil filler cap). What I regret is that I could have had the new gaskets installed and had a van that 4 years earlier was $40.000 loaded with 7 leather reclining captains seats, power door, VHS player with 6.5" flipdown screen (easy to add a portable DVD player) etc...The fear I had with the van was not knowing how much engine damage was already done with the coolant leak into the engine so I terminated.
Now I have a van that has the right side power lock not working, the power door has a mind of its own and decides to crush me for fun...haha Mr. Power Door! I will disable you!!! I think I may just remove the fuse for the door unless there is a easy fix (probably expensive to have the dealer tinker'in with it).
And of course the tranny issue which bothers me the most . Keep in mind I have only had this van for a short time and never thought I would have a tranny issue with only +90K on it.

Cheers!

[lewisnc100]

Those harsh shifts in the transmission could also be caused by low fluid, there was a TSB for the 2000 to raise the fluid level to the top of the hash mark on the dipstick rather than in the middle to fix harsh shifts. I noticed it in my 2000 especially when going around turns and found my fluid to be low. Remember to check the fluid you need to drive regularly for about 20 minutes to heat up the fluid and check using the instructions in your manual. If you check it cold it will look low.

I also had some problems with the power sliding doors and found mine to be caused by improper fit. The rear of the door should be slightly outward of the body and front should be slightly inward of the body. Also every once in a while the door will close and open up again immediately. We just keep a rag in the van to clean the pad and plunger off and it fixes that problem.

[adopted-bassist]

Originally Posted by lewisnc100

Those harsh shifts in the transmission could also be caused by low fluid, there was a TSB for the 2000 to raise the fluid level to the top of the hash mark on the dipstick rather than in the middle to fix harsh shifts. I noticed it in my 2000 especially when going around turns and found my fluid to be low. Remember to check the fluid you need to drive regularly for about 20 minutes to heat up the fluid and check using the instructions in your manual. If you check it cold it will look low.

I also had some problems with the power sliding doors and found mine to be caused by improper fit. The rear of the door should be slightly outward of the body and front should be slightly inward of the body. Also every once in a while the door will close and open up again immediately. We just keep a rag in the van to clean the pad and plunger off and it fixes that problem.

Thank you.