To flush or not to flush, that is the question!

[fordfool]

98 AX4N

I believe i need to replace the clip on the valve body of my tranny. I thought that I would first do a good flush (as stated here on these forums) and see if my problem subsides (no O/D). Then I thought about the all the money for trans fluid. If I flush first and it does not help, will I need to flush again after replacing the clip?

[shorod]

If the OD clip is similar to what it was in 1993, there will be no fluid loss in changing the clip and you wouldn't need to flush the system again.

-Rod

[fordfool]

I did the flush, still have the same problem. I THINK it actually shifts into O/D but jumps out when I put some strain on it. What about the transmission oil temp sensor? When the car is cold it will go into O/D and stay, but after 20-30 mins of driving it starts jumping out. The cooler it is, the better it goes. The hotter it is, the worse it goes. No codes on computer.

[shorod]

That's interesting since the Transmission Fluid Temperature (TFT) sensor is used to prevent the OD from engaging when the tranny fluid is really cold. How cold are you talking about when the OD seems to engage well?

-Rod

[fordfool]

Oh I dont know, anything below maybe 60F? All I know is sometimes when its a cool evening, it will hold O/D much longer. Ive driven it a hour maybe two before with no problems. If I have to make it downshift it gets worse more quickly. If its easy driving it lasts a while. If its hard driving it dont. Once its hot you have to build up speed and let off the gas and it will change and fall to the appropriate RPM levels and then just lightly touch the pedal. Any major push of the pedal when its hot results in a downshift and RPM jump.

[shorod]

Oh, that's a high enough temp that the TFT should allow the OD to lock.

Hopefully one of the folks that's familiar with these transmissions will chime in.

-Rod

[tripletdaddy]

I'm not chiming in here as I am of no help here. Instead, you have gotten my curiosity on what and where this clip is on the trans valvebody/OD, especially when you won't have fluid coming out to get to it? Rod, is that easily found in the Ford CD? I've been trying to find something else there and I've used up all of my patience with it.

[shorod]

I doubt it's in the manul, except maybe as a step for replacing the OD servo. I learned about it when the OD went out on my 1993 SHO, found it on the SHO enthusiast site I freqented at the time. A $0.17 e-clip fixed my overdrive, and I replaced it in my garage with no mess.

I probably still have the short document with low-resolution photos that I put together just after the job if you're really curious.

-Rod

[fordfool]

Im curious. Id like to see those pics. I dont know if its because its been cooler for the last couple of days here or because I did some adjusting on the range sensor that I initially replaced, but it seemed to hold O/D a little better. Ill try some more of the adjusting and see. It definitely goes in O/D and locks in, but wont stay locked in. Yesterday I drove over one state to get some fireworks and its a good hour each way. Although I did have problems with it jumping out, it was much more manageable with constant working of the cruise control switches.

[tripletdaddy]

I'm always curious, except for when I'm not in the mood, , that would be when I'm tired, grouchy, and it's boring....yawn. I'm interested in its location, access to it so that you don't have fluid escaping, what does it do and could you see why would it needed replacing or what it wasn'tdoing? Pix are always nice but not necessary on my account.

[shorod]

I guess I never typed up the steps that I performed, but I did take some low resolution photos. At the time, I only had a 1MP camera. I've uploaded the photos here.

I determined mine was bad by noticing that the tachometer seemed pretty high during highway drives. I had bought the car used, so I didn't know what it was supposed to do. I took the car to the transmission shop my Dad used. They scanned the car and there was a transmission code for "no 4th gear." After a bit of searching on SHOTimes I found instructions on the e-clip issue and decided to see if I was that lucky.

-Rod

[tripletdaddy]

Ahhh, said the blind man, now I see!! Not bad pix for 1mb camera. Don't know what you're apologizing for. I see why no spilled fluid. That things is located on the back side of the trans. Which trans was that, AXOD, AX4N, are those even different? I have seen that on the back side of my 95, which has the AXOD, I think.

I was going to accuse you of making a good politician and ask the judge to treat you as hostile,, but considering you are the "judge," things wouldn't get much further. Very nice pix and info.

[shorod]

I think it was the AX4N in the SHO, but not sure. I doubt they are a whole lot different as far as the OD servo goes.

-Rod

[fordfool]

It seems like I read somewhere that the AX4S/AXOD had a removeable plate with 3 bolts for the O/D servo and the AX4N didnt. Anyone know for sure? If a tranny will shift into gear, what actually makes it lock into that gear and how can it come out?

[shorod]

Hmmm, you may be right. It looks like the 93-95 SHO has the AX4S/AXOD and the 96-99 has the AX4N. I never took a look for an OD servo in my '98 SHO when I had it to know if it had a similar servo plate.

-Rod