98 Windstar sounds as if transmission may be slipping

[fivevs]

My windstar was running pretty good after taking care of my check engine light ( about a month ago). Yesterday while on the freeway it suddenly sounded as if the engine was revviny up and the vehicle was slowing down.It seems that I had to really push the gas pedal very hard to make the van move. At the same time when I was taking off from a light, it seemed as if it could not go into the overdrive gear. I finally got help and got it pushed for almost 60 miles for fear of ruining the tranny.I sure could use some help from you good folks.

[LeSabre97mint]

fivevs

How many miles on your 98? How long have you owned the van? What maintance has been done to the trannie? What condition is the fluid? It should be red. What is the level of the fluid? Check it warmed up with engine running in P. What is the van mainly use for? Towing?

Regards

Dan

[fivevs]

Thanks for replying. I've probably got about 110 K miles. We've had the van since 97. The fluid is a light reddish/brownish color.The fluid level is good while the engine is hot. We mostly use the van for traveling and my wife drives it here in town. I recently worked on it,cleaning up the fuel injectors and replaced the plugs an wires as well as thermostat and coolant sensors.The color of the fluid got my attention and I've been told that since the van has front wheel drive, it may not have a filter.I can drive it for short distances, but then it gets to where it jerks hard an sounds like a slipping clutch on a manual trans.

[shankster]

That doesn't sound good. My 96 did similar things and I had to replace the tranny at 140K. Probably time to take your's to a tranny shop you trust and have them look at it. I hope it's something simple (low fluid?) but at the miles you have on it you're probably right on schedule for a rebuild. Sounds like you've never done any maintenance on it either so you're lucky it's lasted this long. I'd recommend religiously flushing the tranny fluid and changing the filter (yes there is one) at the recommended interval (40,000 miles I think) or sooner if and when you do get a new/rebuilt tranny. The windstar has a weak tranny and you need to take very good care of it to get decent life out of it.

Better than a new or rebuilt tranny is having someone rebuild the one you have ($1800??) - the ratios in my rebuilt unit are not the same as the original and it causes some issues occasionally.

[wiswind]

The service interval for the transmission fluid for my '96 is 30K miles for normal usage, and 21K miles for severe usage.
Yes, there is a filter inside the transmission....and it is a fiber material.
I have pictures of the filter in my pictures.

You will need to use Mercon V rated fluid for the fluid exchange.
I would highly recommend a transmission service that includes dropping the pan and changing the filter.
This will give you, or your mechanic, a chance to see if there is any junk in the pan.
The transmission fluid does break down.....and would be the first, and cheapest thing to try.
Again, if the fluid has NOT been changed......you have a problem.....in that there is very likely a lot of deposits throughout the transmission......more than you will be able to get at by dropping the pan.

So, if at 100,000 miles, the fluid has NOT been changed, I would try the following.
Change the fluid and filter.
With the new fluid, you might add 6 oz. of AutoRX www.auto-RX.com
Drive the vehicle 1500 miles.
Change the fluid and filter again.

I would not use any other cleaner....particularly solvent based cleaners.
FORD says NOT to put any additives into the transmission fluid.
So, you can skip the addition of the AutoRX if unsure about it.
I have used it in my engine oil, and in the transmission, following the instructions on the website.

The point of the double change of the fluid is that the old fluid has had the additive package worn out for quite some time.....
The new fluid has a nice new additive package, including detergents, and the stuff to keep junk in suspension in the fluid until it gets to the filter.
The new fluid will clean the the workings of the transmission, and the 2nd change will flush the stuff that is cleaned out of the system.

I have pictures of how to change the fluid in my pictures.
This, along with your repair manual should enable you to do the job....
However, it IS a MESSY job....particulary removing the pan.

Another failure point on the transmission is the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS), also known as Neutral Safety Switch.
One would expect that the O/D light would be flashing if the TRS failed.

The O/D light on the gear select lever will flash when the transmission electronics senses an error......and it will set a transmission code.
You have to have a shop access the code for you....
If you do so....make SURE to get the actual numeric code from them.....as they will normally just tell you a very vague description of it otherwise.
A search in this room, on the code, should point you to what others have experienced with that particular code.