1995 Escort trouble... Need Help.

[littleramon]

I am looking to buy a 1995 Ford Escort and I was told the transmission slips a little when it is cold outside. I am assuming the transmission is going out, My question is how much does a transmission usually cost for the year and type of car? I live in Cincinnati. Does that sound like the transmission is going out? For the price of the car ($400) you can't beat it, even if the transmission is going out. Also the engine is a 1.9L and the transmission is a automatic. Now what kind of upgrades can I do or even if I should?

[Toolman56]

Hi, first thing i would is pull the dipstick for transmission, its kinda hard too find, under the power brake booster, left side of engine compartment, small black knob for handel, should be between the crosshacth pattern onb the stick,when hot and be carefull,wear some sorta glove, lightesth red in color, if brown and burnt smell, i would change it out and go for anthor test drive, while changing out fluid , change the filter out too, my manual i think says too do this every three years or so many miles, most dont do it, till its gets too this stage, i have a 1995 model, great little car ,Everett.p.s, the transmission around here start at $695 and up , and you pull it,.

[littleramon]

Yeah I would assume the fluids haven't been replaced in awhile, so would it be easier to go to a shop and have the transmission fluids flushed, along with a oil change and tune up or is it pretty straight forward? I mean I can look up online on how to do them.. better to learn now than later. Haha! Cost wise which is cheaper?

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by littleramon

I am looking to buy a 1995 Ford Escort and I was told the transmission slips a little when it is cold outside. I am assuming the transmission is going out, My question is how much does a transmission usually cost for the year and type of car? I live in Cincinnati. Does that sound like the transmission is going out? For the price of the car ($400) you can't beat it, even if the transmission is going out. Also the engine is a 1.9L and the transmission is a automatic. Now what kind of upgrades can I do or even if I should?

i would change tranny filter and fluid just to see how many metal shavings are in there and run magnet in old fluid to see if theres shavings if you got chunks time for a new tranny not to long down the road anyway.

[hatethewindstar]

Originally Posted by littleramon

I am looking to buy a 1995 Ford Escort and I was told the transmission slips a little when it is cold outside. I am assuming the transmission is going out, My question is how much does a transmission usually cost for the year and type of car? I live in Cincinnati. Does that sound like the transmission is going out? For the price of the car ($400) you can't beat it, even if the transmission is going out. Also the engine is a 1.9L and the transmission is a automatic. Now what kind of upgrades can I do or even if I should?

I had a estimate quite a few years ago to have the one on my 94 rebuilt. Would have costed 1200 if memory serves me right. I went to pick a part with 150 and bought a 5 speed and clutch pedals and other things and converted it in 3 days and never had a problem again. Pretty easy changeover holes are already there for every possible thing.

[Toolman56]

Hi, first off never ever flush a auto transmission, why becuse everything in there gonna get loosen up and plug up all the litle holes in the transmission, making it three times worst then it is now, great sales gimick at speedee lube, jiffy lube when all they do is drop the pan , change filter and refill and call it a quik flush at $59 buck's go figure, just drop the pan, drop the filter, wearing eygoggles all the time, then cut filter in two and hold up too light , too see if you can see thru it, if not , its time for a filter anyway,manual transmissions, pros and con, very good ,if you dont have a engine that leaks oil or out the back seal were the flywheel goes on, why, becuse if there a leaking out there, the flywheel will toss the oil all over the clucth assembly and your back too square one , slipping in all gears, so unless the engine is sound and no leaks of oil anywear under the engine, best too stick with what you have, this does affect the automatic in anyway if the engine is leaking oil, hopes this helps ya Everett.

[littleramon]

Okay new problem.. maybe you can help me then with a problem. The transmission was slipping but they told it was because it was low on fluids due to a pin size hole in the transmission. We located the hole but I do not know what the part would be called to replace it. There is what looks like a cover behind the driver side front tire connected to the transmission.. that has the hole it in it there are maybe 4 or 5 bolts holding it on... someone had it was a dust cover? I'm not sure... I can't find any info on it. They guy said if that gets fixed the transmission will be fine... any input would be great.

[mightymoose_22]

That dust cover won't stop a leak... the only purpose it serves is to keep debris from getting into the clutch.flywheel area.
If you have fluid coming out from that area then you just may have a main seal leak as described above. The leaking fluid gets onto the clutch and causes the slip.
Don't be in a rush to replace your transmission. Take some time to find out exactly what the problem is.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by mightymoose_22

That dust cover won't stop a leak... the only purpose it serves is to keep debris from getting into the clutch.flywheel area.
If you have fluid coming out from that area then you just may have a main seal leak as described above. The leaking fluid gets onto the clutch and causes the slip.
Don't be in a rush to replace your transmission. Take some time to find out exactly what the problem is.

he's right on the dust cover it will hold fluid up there until full then go all over. i'm thinking main seal also.

[denisond3]

The original poster said his car has an automatic transmission. The only cover on the drivers end of the transmission is the cast iron oil pump housing - the transmission oil pump. Its got about a dozen bolts holding it on, and a paper gasket behind it.
If it slips in cold weather, does it only slip when its low? To measure the fluid in the F4EAT Escort automatic transaxle with fair accuracy you really need to have driven it a little ways. Just around the block might be enough in mild weather, or a couple of miles in cold weather. The fluid needs to be at least as high as the lowest of the notches in the side of the dipstick.

If you are going to remove that cast iron cover, you should make sure you can get a new paper gasket first.