Automatic Trans In Drive Doesn't Drive

[93 Freshcort]

1993 Escort 163K Automatic. Engine runs great, but when I put it in Drive or Rev the gears did not engage and the car would not move. I tried a few times both drive, and rev but nothing. Then one last time and it took. I drove the car 33 miles to work this morning and all systems go. The car drove all the way with no problems, and as beautiful as always. Can anyone give me some ideas as to what could have happend or what I might check out? Thanks!

[mightymoose_22]

First tings first... how is the fluid? Check while idling in neutral.

[93 Freshcort]

Fluid level is good. Could this be a dirty filter. I has been a while since I 've changed it. Drove it in to work again today and no problems.

[mightymoose_22]

possible.. if willing to spend a few bucks, take it into a shop for a tranny flush (which includes a filter change). I am always suspicious of the guys that do this service though... easy for them to not do it and say they did...

[quickywd01]

When you were shifting into gear(s) and it didn't go into gear did you hear it shifting or did you feel anything?

[93 Freshcort]

Sounds as if it was trying to drive, but nothing happend. The fluid level is to high, and I haven't changed the filter in a while either. I have been driving the car all week with no additional prblems, and will change the filter on Sunday. Can anyone share a trick on how to reduce the fluid level without removing the pan?

[Torch]

Run some plastic tubing down the dipstick hole and siphon it out into a drain pan, once you get the flow going it should empty out nearly the entire pan.

If this doesn't work what I do is remove all of the tranny pan bolts except the two in the front corners and the two in the back corners, loosen the two up front about 1/16" and the two in back about 1/8" then pop the seal with a gasket scraper if the pan doesn't come loose on its own, fluid should run out the back end of the pan instead of making a mess everywhere, keep loosening the bolts until most of the tranny fluid has drained out then remove the pan.