'97 with AOD Tranny Slips between 2 - 3

[enigmabird]

My Bird has 205,000 miles on it, never had tranny service, but has run like a champ since she was new til last week.

It hangs between 2nd and 3rd gear, pretty much only when hot.

I saw SirBlast's thread and thought that might be it, but my throttle pressure cable retainers look intact as far as I can tell.

I did find a reference elsewhere about a TSB concerning similar symptoms, but it was for Ford remanufactured trannies, and it happens primarily when cold. It was only a summary, so I don't have any more info than that.

One mechanic that looked at it said to put Trans-X in it, not to service it, because that could cause it to fail if it's really worn out. Another mechanic said that sh*t's poison, don't use it, service it!

I'm at a loss, anyone got any input?

My 'Bird is a 4.6, built 6/97.

[ModMech]

Your 4.6 powered 'Bird has the 4R70W transmission, and at this point, with that many "never been serviced" miles on it and 10 years, my *guess* is that lack of maintenence has killed it.

If the ATF is burned (by smell or dark brown color) and you do service it, it will most certainly completely die rather soon. If you do nothing, it will get no better, only worse.

I am not a trans "expert" in any manner, but if you go to www.tccoa.com (T'Bird and Cougar owner's club of America) and look thru theri "tech" sections you will see a LOT of good info on your trans written by one of it's design engineers. There are even hundreds of VERY knowledgeable owners on that site who can offer more specific advice.

[enigmabird]

Well, that's not what I was hoping to hear, although I had a feeling it was what I would hear.

Thanks for the info, I'll check tccoa.

BTW, why would servicing it make it die sooner?

The fluid doesn't smell burnt, but is slightly dark.

[ModMech]

ATF contains "calsium", with age, and especially heat, the friction parts absorb the calsium from the ATF making the ATF more "grippy".

When you change the ATF, the new stuff has a fresh quantity of calsium, and it is MUCH more slippery than what you removed. Add more total calsium than was intended to slippery ATF and you have severe clutch slippage.

[enigmabird]

Welp, I had a complete tranny rebuild, $1500...ouch!