Transmission, driver side lock and Power Sliding Door problems

[olopezm]

Hello again guys,

Well this morning my windstar started acting up the usual info is:
2000 windstar 87200 miles.

1.- The Transmission takes more than usual to engage, there are no codes or rough shifting. As usual if the gas pedal is pressed before the gear has engaged there will be a kick once it finally does. Could this be caused by a bad/misaligned TRS? the only thing I've noticed since a shop rebuilt the transmission last may was the gear indicator needle in the instrument cluster is a bit out of adjustment (I posted this in one of my older threads but got no comment about it).

Click here

2.- The lock on the driver's door will lock/unlock electrically only sometimes, the rest of the time I have to either use the key or the handle to unlock it and push it by hand to lock it. When I press the button, the lock will look like it tries to move but it will go back to it's previous state right away.

3.- The Power Sliding Door will open automatically but won't close in the same way, I've tried running the reprogram procedure but I can't even finish it as I have to close the door by hand...

I've read that both PSD and electric locks are operated with two different modules. Could these be the cause of my problems?.

Thanks in advance,

Oscar.

[olopezm]

Well i inspected the door lock actuator and seemed to be fine, I gave it some cleaning and will see if it has been fixed? Any comments on point number 1? Thanks in advance.

Oscar.

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by olopezm

Well i inspected the door lock actuator and seemed to be fine, I gave it some cleaning and will see if it has been fixed? Any comments on point number 1? Thanks in advance.

Oscar.

Check this video out Oscar, I think it be worth adjusting to se what happens:

http://www.videosurf.com/video/chang...-2000-75115434

Hope this helps

[olopezm]

Thank you my friend, I'll check it out and will post back. Do you think the TRS could be causing the lag while engaging gears?

Regards,

Oscar.

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by olopezm

Thank you my friend, I'll check it out and will post back. Do you think the TRS could be causing the lag while engaging gears?

Regards,

Oscar.

Oscar I am far from a tranny person. I think it is a strong possiblity delaying the engagement since it is electronic, but I am quessing. I think it would worth your time to adjust, could be a little loose and be moving around and not sending the correct signal. According to video doesn't seem to be hard to adjust but I have never done it. Do you get any codes or pending codes??

good luck

[wiswind]

The driver's side power door lock actuator is a electrical solenoid that is mounted on the actual latch.......the cleaning and lubrication would have been the FIRST thing that I would try.

Seems those TRS modules act up a LOT on the windstars around your vintage.
Also make sure that the fluid level is FULL when checked with the vehicle on level ground, motor running at idle, Gear select in PARK.
Even slightly low transmission fluid level can cause what you are having.
Also, make sure that the fluid has been changed on at least the 30K mile interval.....a cooler line fluid exchange takes just over 12 quarts.

[olopezm]

Originally Posted by tempfixit

Oscar I am far from a tranny person. I think it is a strong possiblity delaying the engagement since it is electronic, but I am quessing. I think it would worth your time to adjust, could be a little loose and be moving around and not sending the correct signal. According to video doesn't seem to be hard to adjust but I have never done it. Do you get any codes or pending codes??

good luck

Oh, I understand. Thank you very much my friend. I watched the video and it's quite easy to adjust it.

Originally Posted by wiswind

The driver's side power door lock actuator is a electrical solenoid that is mounted on the actual latch.......the cleaning and lubrication would have been the FIRST thing that I would try.

Seems those TRS modules act up a LOT on the windstars around your vintage.
Also make sure that the fluid level is FULL when checked with the vehicle on level ground, motor running at idle, Gear select in PARK.
Even slightly low transmission fluid level can cause what you are having.
Also, make sure that the fluid has been changed on at least the 30K mile interval.....a cooler line fluid exchange takes just over 12 quarts.

Thank you wiswind, you've always been of great help I appreciate it!. The oil is still the one they put in when the guy rebuilt the tranny, still is far from being 30k mile old and the level is right at the crosshatched area.

**********************************

Here's what I did today:

I removed the TRS after disconnecting the battery (thank God I don't have the rust problem you guys have up north, when I removed it it was pretty easy, didn't have to pry at all!) it actually seemed to be a bit misaligned, I gave it a good clean and reinstalled it taking into account the marks on the 'N' printed on it; tightened both holding screws and tightened the nut holding the shift linkage. Didn't have a chance to drive it, but will surely do tomorrow and will post the results.

On the door lock, well its still doing it, even though I removed it and the tests were OK seems it has gone weak so I'll have to replace it with a new one (removing it is a PITA!).

Still no news about the PSD, it will open fine but won't close all the times, when I push the button the door will act like it's still trying to open (even when it's already at the end of the run). I guess I'll just keep looking.

Regards,

Oscar.

[olopezm]

Just a quick update:

The transmission started acting up the other day, I was driving backwards into the garage and when I finally applied the brakes the tranny started to go in and out of reverse several times (it was kinda rough and harsh). I decided to replace the TRS (110 dlls from the dealer DAMN!).

So far it seems to be OK but there is something strange, when I put the van in (R)everse the transmission will engage immediately but when I put (D)rive it will take about 1 or 2 seconds to engage. Any ideas on this?

Maybe it's just a coincidence what else could cause that?

Thanks in advance,

Oscar.

[olopezm]

I was thinking if this could be an accumulator problem, maybe just a bad spring? Should this be the problem (I'm thinking it's very likely): would this cause any other/major problem to the transmission other than the delay?.

Oscar.

[Windstartled]

Originally Posted by olopezm

Just a quick update:

The transmission started acting up the other day, I was driving backwards into the garage and when I finally applied the brakes the tranny started to go in and out of reverse several times (it was kinda rough and harsh). I decided to replace the TRS (110 dlls from the dealer DAMN!).

So far it seems to be OK but there is something strange, when I put the van in (R)everse the transmission will engage immediately but when I put (D)rive it will take about 1 or 2 seconds to engage. Any ideas on this?

Maybe it's just a coincidence what else could cause that?

Thanks in advance

If you park on a grade it is normal for the tranny to experience delay in engaging. Could aslso be TRS related or even VSS acting up.

[olopezm]

Originally Posted by Windstartled

If you park on a grade it is normal for the tranny to experience delay in engaging. Could aslso be TRS related or even VSS acting up.

It's being parked on a leveled surface. TRS has just been replaced with new OEM.

Why would the VSS cause problems when the vehicle is stopped? the speedometer is not showing any bad readings while idling, only when cruising above 50 MPH but it's been like that since we bought it and that problem never showed up before.

Thanks,

Oscar.

[Windstartled]

Originally Posted by olopezm

Why would the VSS cause problems when the vehicle is stopped?

It would only act up if it's malfunctioning. When I bought my '00 the seller told me the speedometer was "jammed" because it showed 30mph even when stopped and would only come to life at speeds above that. This did cause odd shifting. But replacing the VSS solved the problem... for a while at least. Now the speedo only displays exactly half the actual speed, go figure.

[olopezm]

That's weird...

The VSS on mine only acts up (I think) above 55MPH, the speedometer needle starts jumping erratically but, as I mentioned before, it's been like that since we bought it unlike the transmission lag.

Anyway, it's a bit annoting but I guess I can live with that... I'll just keep an eye on it.

Thanks for your help!

[Windstartled]

Originally Posted by olopezm

That's weird...

The VSS on mine only acts up (I think) above 55MPH, the speedometer needle starts jumping erratically but, as I mentioned before, it's been like that since we bought it unlike the transmission lag.

Anyway, it's a bit annoting but I guess I can live with that... I'll just keep an eye on it.

Thanks for your help!

It's quite likely that I'm way off but I have an unverified theory that the VSS only accounts for half the speed computing value that is sent to the speedometer, but I have no idea which other sensor would contribute and how it would affect shifting delays. I only know it's not the ABS system.

[tomj76]

I don't know about the '00 Windstar, but my '96 uses a mechanical speedometer, and therefor does not use the VSS to display the speed. The VSS is only used by the PCM & Cruise Control. Transmission shifting is (obviously) determined based on VSS input. When my VSS malfunctioned (bad connection), the O/D light on the steering column flashed, and it stored a code to that effect.