99 Transmission Screeching

[FBM]

When I first start my 99 wagon in the morning and put it in gear the engine on the drivers side screeches. After I drive it for 5 minutes the noise goes away. The car skips a little but other than that runs great. My mechanic looked at it and said I should take it to a transmission specialist. Anyone have any ideas what the problem is?

Thanks

[browntwig]

Originally Posted by FBM

When I first start my 99 wagon in the morning and put it in gear the engine on the drivers side screeches. After I drive it for 5 minutes the noise goes away. The car skips a little but other than that runs great. My mechanic looked at it and said I should take it to a transmission specialist. Anyone have any ideas what the problem is?

Thanks

Well, I had the same problem with the 99 Taurus SE. Had something to do with the pump shaft and a gear that made the gear shaft sit at an angle. That was what caused the screech (grind). We did have the starter replaced when this started, but that obviously didn't take care of the problem. Eventually it would grind when put into reverse and then when it would shift into first and second. Once it was warmed up, no noises at all!

Took it to the dealer last night so they could hear the noise as they started it in the morning. (It wouldn't do it if driven at all.) They called today and to fix the issue was only about 750 more than replacing the transmission. The car has 114,000 miles, so we're replacing the tranny. Can't afford a new car, and because this car is solid with a great engine, decided to pour money into it. Besides, it's cheaper than buying something new, and because we ordered this car and received it from the factory, we know the kind of care it's received in the past six years. Don't have that same comfort level with a different used car.

All told our bill will be about $2700. EXPENSIVE!!!!!

[FBM]

Originally Posted by browntwig

Well, I had the same problem with the 99 Taurus SE. Had something to do with the pump shaft and a gear that made the gear shaft sit at an angle. That was what caused the screech (grind). We did have the starter replaced when this started, but that obviously didn't take care of the problem. Eventually it would grind when put into reverse and then when it would shift into first and second. Once it was warmed up, no noises at all!

Took it to the dealer last night so they could hear the noise as they started it in the morning. (It wouldn't do it if driven at all.) They called today and to fix the issue was only about 750 more than replacing the transmission. The car has 114,000 miles, so we're replacing the tranny. Can't afford a new car, and because this car is solid with a great engine, decided to pour money into it. Besides, it's cheaper than buying something new, and because we ordered this car and received it from the factory, we know the kind of care it's received in the past six years. Don't have that same comfort level with a different used car.

All told our bill will be about $2700. EXPENSIVE!!!!!

Browntwig,
Thanks for the heads up. I plan on dropping my car off tuesday at a transmission specialist. I'll post back what I find out. My Taurus has approximately 116,000 miles on it so it's interesting they both are failing with about the same mileage. If it's cost that kind of money I may just go ahead and trade it in.

F

[browntwig]

Originally Posted by FBM

Browntwig,
Thanks for the heads up. I plan on dropping my car off tuesday at a transmission specialist. I'll post back what I find out. My Taurus has approximately 116,000 miles on it so it's interesting they both are failing with about the same mileage. If it's cost that kind of money I may just go ahead and trade it in.

F

A local transmission specialist was cheaper, but we went with the dealer, as the local company has such a bad reputation. I will say you'll get a cheaper price than we did. I'd be suprised if you didn't. Fixing these isn't cheap, but I just couldn't face the monthly payment for something new. I could easily get two more years out of this car, and with car payments like they are, plus state tax and increased insurance, I'm going to be saving almost $10,000 in two years by spending $2700 now. Seems like a cheap price to me.

[browntwig]

Another quick question, if you don't mind. Have you ever had the transmission fluid changed? We never had. I'm just curious, since we've had the same issue at the same mileage if our maintenance was similiar or not.

[FBM]

Originally Posted by browntwig

Another quick question, if you don't mind. Have you ever had the transmission fluid changed? We never had. I'm just curious, since we've had the same issue at the same mileage if our maintenance was similiar or not.

Browntwig,

I did have the transmission fluid changed at approximately 85,000 miles and am thinking about having it changed again just in case it might help. Unfortuneatly, I can' take it to transmission speacialist until next week. Now a question for you did the dealer indicate what would happen if you kept driving it with that noise and how much longer it might last? I'm trying to decide about trading it in and would rather drive the car in than have it towed.

F

[browntwig]

Originally Posted by FBM

Browntwig,

I did have the transmission fluid changed at approximately 85,000 miles and am thinking about having it changed again just in case it might help. Unfortuneatly, I can' take it to transmission speacialist until next week. Now a question for you did the dealer indicate what would happen if you kept driving it with that noise and how much longer it might last? I'm trying to decide about trading it in and would rather drive the car in than have it towed.

F

We had the grinding noise at startup for probably a year before we started hearing it when shifting into reverse. Then after a month or so of that, it started to grind when shifting into first and second. Remember too, that if the noise is just at startup, it could be the starter. We had that replaced several months ago, but the noise didn't go away. Finally got the car into the dealer to check the transmission because I was dreading the inevitable. I think it was about $500 to replace the starter at a mechanic. What I'm trying to say is that it could be several things causing the noise. Can you run it into a dealer for a diagnostic? They could at least tell you what the issue is and then you can make a decision about what to do.

[FBM]

Browntwig,

I went ahead and took the car back to the transmission specialist yesterday and had them change the tranmission fluid/filter. The car didn't make the noise (screech, chirping sound) so they couldn't diagnose the problem because it's only present when I first start the car in the morning. Well I just tried starting it this morning and no noise. My guess is that the transmission filter was somewhat blocked so the cold transmission fluid was having a hard time going thru the filter until it was warmed up. Not sure what was actually making the noise-maybe it was the transmission pump looking for oil when there was little to none to be had. Once the oil warmed it could go thru the filter (less resistance) and thus no noise. Go figure as I was getting ready to research replacing the cam sensor as well as what my next car would be. Guess I'll hang onto it as long as I can. I sure hope it didn't do any permenant damage. We shall see. Good luck with your car.

F

[browntwig]

Originally Posted by FBM

Browntwig,

I went ahead and took the car back to the transmission specialist yesterday and had them change the tranmission fluid/filter. The car didn't make the noise (screech, chirping sound) so they couldn't diagnose the problem because it's only present when I first start the car in the morning. Well I just tried starting it this morning and no noise. My guess is that the transmission filter was somewhat blocked so the cold transmission fluid was having a hard time going thru the filter until it was warmed up. Not sure what was actually making the noise-maybe it was the transmission pump looking for oil when there was little to none to be had. Once the oil warmed it could go thru the filter (less resistance) and thus no noise. Go figure as I was getting ready to research replacing the cam sensor as well as what my next car would be. Guess I'll hang onto it as long as I can. I sure hope it didn't do any permenant damage. We shall see. Good luck with your car.

F

Just thought I'd let you know that the car was finished yesterday. Talked to the technician that did the work and he said that the problem we had was very common in the 97, 98 and early 99 models. Something about a metal piece that fits over the end of the fluid pump rod. Ford put a seal on it and found that the seal caused problems. What was happening to us is that the rod started laying at an angle and when it would shift when cold, the metal would shear off. Eventually we would have been left at the side of the road. Best of luck with your car! The new tranny was EXPENSIVE, but there's no more grinding. Plus, the tech told us that the motors they were putting in Taurus at that time are GREAT engines. So great in fact that they're still putting that engine in today's models. I'll take what I can get!