1997 Escort Auto Tranny Question

[rjm65]

I just changed filter and oil on the auto trans of my 1997 Escort. Now it feels like it slips a little before going into drive or reverse. Oil level checks out ok. Did nothing except the oil/filter change. When I was pouring the oil out of my drain pan into a larger container I noticed there was a small spring in there, about 2 1/2 long by about 1/3" in diameter. I have no idea where this spring came from as it doesn't look familiar. I'm beginning to think it might've fallen out of the valvebody, but from where? This spring very well might've been in my drain pan, but like I said, it doesn't look familiar. I didn't remove the valve body either, just removed the filter and put a new one back on. Any tips at this point would be greatly appreciated.

[rjm65]

Well I just figured it out. The Hayes manual says that 97 and later auto trans have a drain plug (similar to the manual tranny it says). On the drivers side of the transmission there is a large drain plug, it can easily be seen through the driver's side wheel well.I remember removing it and seeing probably about a half a pint of ATF pour out. I cleaned the drain plug with a rag then reinstalled it. The spring I later discovered in my drain pan goes in first, then it's held in place with the drain plug. Before I figured this out, I had already pulled the pan again to make sure the filter was seated properly, and this time after putting the pan back on and filling with ATF to specs, it wouldn't move when I would place it in any gear. It was like being in neutral! That sucked! So I retraced all my steps, figured the ONLY place that spring could've come from (if it had come from the tranny) was through the drain plug hole. I put the spring in, screwed in the drain plug, and instant cure. It almost ruined my weekend! If that spring hadn't of popped out when I was wiping down the drain plug this never would've happened, and an easy job like tranny filter change wouldn't of turned into such an ordeal. Whew!