Transmission Failing??

[CryptoJones]

EDIT: I have a 2002 Windstar SE. Not sure what size engine it has.

So about a year ago, the check engine light came on in the van. It was stay solid on. About three months ago, it started flashing. It will flash for maybe a hundred times, stay solid for a couple seconds then repeat. About three months ago, when it would shift into higher gears, there was vibrations on the down shift.

Finally Last week it stopped accelerating (I had the gas pedal all the way to the ground) and it just stayed at 4,000 RPM. I let it coast to the side of the road and turned it off. I popped the hood, no belts or connectors were loose, so I closed the hood and started it again. It worked fine.

I had the codes read at O'Reiley's and it found the following
PO171, PO174 & PO303 and PO304. The customer services guy said that it ment cylinder 3 & 4 were misfiring and that because of this the mixture was too lean.

So now I am completley confused. If there was something wrong with the transmissions (my biggest fear) why wouldn't the codes say so.


Any help on what to do is greatly appreciated!!

***DISCLAIMER*** I only started reading about how cars worked three months ago when this start happening, so I am super newb.

[mark_gober]

Originally Posted by CryptoJones

EDIT: I have a 2002 Windstar SE. Not sure what size engine it has.

So about a year ago, the check engine light came on in the van. It was stay solid on. About three months ago, it started flashing. It will flash for maybe a hundred times, stay solid for a couple seconds then repeat. About three months ago, when it would shift into higher gears, there was vibrations on the down shift.

Finally Last week it stopped accelerating (I had the gas pedal all the way to the ground) and it just stayed at 4,000 RPM. I let it coast to the side of the road and turned it off. I popped the hood, no belts or connectors were loose, so I closed the hood and started it again. It worked fine.

I had the codes read at O'Reiley's and it found the following
PO171, PO174 & PO303 and PO304. The customer services guy said that it ment cylinder 3 & 4 were misfiring and that because of this the mixture was too lean.

So now I am completley confused. If there was something wrong with the transmissions (my biggest fear) why wouldn't the codes say so.


Any help on what to do is greatly appreciated!!

***DISCLAIMER*** I only started reading about how cars worked three months ago when this start happening, so I am super newb.

What you described sort of sounds like a bad tranny, but it would have thrown a code. The fact that it immediately started working after you restarted also points to the tranny not being a total loss.

Have you checked the fluid level? It could be low on fluid. Check it with the engine running, and warm. Cycle it from park through Low and back up. I think you're supposed to check it in neutral, but that's a guess.

[CryptoJones]

Originally Posted by mark_gober

What you described sort of sounds like a bad tranny, but it would have thrown a code. The fact that it immediately started working after you restarted also points to the tranny not being a total loss.

Have you checked the fluid level? It could be low on fluid. Check it with the engine running, and warm. Cycle it from park through Low and back up. I think you're supposed to check it in neutral, but that's a guess.

Ok, I really feel like a fucking idiot. It's about half an inch under the shaded area. I have had the vehicle for almost four years and have NEVER checked it before.

[mark_gober]

Originally Posted by CryptoJones

Ok, I really feel like a fucking idiot. It's about half an inch under the shaded area. I have had the vehicle for almost four years and have NEVER checked it before.

Being a newbie, you may want to invest in having it changed. You can do it yourself, but it's not nearly as easy as an oil change. The tranny pan has to come off to do it properly. If you have a buddy willing to show you, it's worth seeing, but I don't know if I'd attempt it blind. Not difficult, just very messy if you don't know what you're doing. If you'd like me to walk you through it, let me know.

If its low, its probably been overheated and could stand to be replaced. I hope that it fixes your problem. That'd be great.

I applaud your attempt to learn how cars work. I was lucky and my dad made me change the shocks on my moms car when I was about 9. He just handed them to me and said go change these. I had to find them and then figure out to change them. That sort of learning still serves me well today. Its never too late to learn how to work on your car and you'll be amazed at how much money you save doing it.

[CryptoJones]

Originally Posted by mark_gober

Being a newbie, you may want to invest in having it changed. You can do it yourself, but it's not nearly as easy as an oil change. The tranny pan has to come off to do it properly. If you have a buddy willing to show you, it's worth seeing, but I don't know if I'd attempt it blind. Not difficult, just very messy if you don't know what you're doing. If you'd like me to walk you through it, let me know.

If its low, its probably been overheated and could stand to be replaced. I hope that it fixes your problem. That'd be great.

I applaud your attempt to learn how cars work. I was lucky and my dad made me change the shocks on my moms car when I was about 9. He just handed them to me and said go change these. I had to find them and then figure out to change them. That sort of learning still serves me well today. Its never too late to learn how to work on your car and you'll be amazed at how much money you save doing it.

Will it hurt anything if I wait to change it till 01/15? Obviously, I am going to add some tommorow. I did a quick search in the thread and every one says to use Mercon V. So I will grab some from walmart.

[mark_gober]

Originally Posted by CryptoJones

Will it hurt anything if I wait to change it till 01/15? Obviously, I am going to add some tommorow. I did a quick search in the thread and every one says to use Mercon V. So I will grab some from walmart.

You'll probably be fine just adding some. I just wouldn't wait too long. I believe most sources recommend you change your transmission fluid about every 25k miles. (Honestly, I don't, but I'm just telling you what they recommend) If you've never changed it, it just needs to be changed. It'll likely be very dark and smell burned. Adding new fluid will certainly breathe new life into what you've got, but its something you shouldn't forget to change.

Mark

[CryptoJones]

Originally Posted by mark_gober

You'll probably be fine just adding some. I just wouldn't wait too long. I believe most sources recommend you change your transmission fluid about every 25k miles. (Honestly, I don't, but I'm just telling you what they recommend) If you've never changed it, it just needs to be changed. It'll likely be very dark and smell burned. Adding new fluid will certainly breathe new life into what you've got, but its something you shouldn't forget to change.

Mark

I added it untill the fluid level was in the crosshatches. The hard shifting went away. It's amazying what a three dollars bottle of fluid can do!

Thanks everyone!

[12Ounce]

... and the check engine light and codes?? What is the current state of them?

[wiswind]

In the pictures that the link in my signature takes you to......I have a series of pictures that show the transmission fluid exchange process.
I included the removal of the pan and replacement of the filter.
Your 2002 windstar will be super close to my 1996 as far as the process of changing the fluid.
If you don't want to do it yourself, you could have it done at a shop.
Most quick lube shops will do your transmission fluid.
Most shops use a fluid exchange machine that they connect to the transmission cooler lines.....and it adds new fluid at the same rate that your transmission pumps the old fluid out.

Mobil One ATF is a quality fluid that is sold at many places.
I have used Redline D4 with good results, but it is more expensive and you have to get it at a speed shop or order online (OGRacing is a good online source).
You can also take you own fluid to most shops that do the fluid exchange.

[serge_saati]

I'm sure your transmission is ok.
The P0171 and P0174 indicate that your engine is running lean, thus you've 95% of chance to have a vacuum leak on your engine. It can also be a bad/dirt MAF sensor.
A severe vacuum leak or a bad MAF can cause many symptoms like lack of power, hesistation, vibration when changing gear, misfires and many other symptoms.
You can read more info on vacuum leak here: http://www.aa1car.com/library/vacleak.htm
Many things can cause misfire, including a vacuum leak. The misfire cause the check engine to flash.

On most Windstar years, transmission is programmed to shift from 2 to 1 when you brake to stop and cause engine vibration because of compression and engine brake. When engine has a vacuum leak, vibration is more higher, because you have more air in cylinder (thus more compression) with not enough fuel to burn, so the engine brake the van instead of accelerate it when it downshift w/o gas.

I remember when I had the 171/174 codes in one of my previous Windstar, when I floored the gas, the van almost no accelerates. I mean it's like if the power was limited to 100HP or something.

So my point is your vacuum leak or bad MAF is causing these symptoms, not the transmission.
Change fluid will fix nothing. If fluid is pink dark, It's too late to flush it and can kill your transmission if you flush it. And check fluid only when it's hot and engine is running on an horizontal surface. If level is too high, it can damage the transmission.

[CryptoJones]

Originally Posted by serge_saati

I'm sure your transmission is ok.
The P0171 and P0174 indicate that your engine is running lean, thus you've 95% of chance to have a vacuum leak on your engine. It can also be a bad/dirt MAF sensor.
A severe vacuum leak or a bad MAF can cause many symptoms like lack of power, hesistation, vibration when changing gear, misfires and many other symptoms.
You can read more info on vacuum leak here: http://www.aa1car.com/library/vacleak.htm
Many things can cause misfire, including a vacuum leak. The misfire cause the check engine to flash.

On most Windstar years, transmission is programmed to shift from 2 to 1 when you brake to stop and cause engine vibration because of compression and engine brake. When engine has a vacuum leak, vibration is more higher, because you have more air in cylinder (thus more compression) with not enough fuel to burn, so the engine brake the van instead of accelerate it when it downshift w/o gas.

I remember when I had the 171/174 codes in one of my previous Windstar, when I floored the gas, the van almost no accelerates. I mean it's like if the power was limited to 100HP or something.

So my point is your vacuum leak or bad MAF is causing these symptoms, not the transmission.
Change fluid will fix nothing. If fluid is pink dark, It's too late to flush it and can kill your transmission if you flush it. And check fluid only when it's hot and engine is running on an horizontal surface. If level is too high, it can damage the transmission.

You were right. The fluid level was low, after I topped it off the slipping went away. The codes were fixed by replacing the coils.