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transmission question after it warms up


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indy4192
User

Jul 29, 2010, 7:43 AM

Post #1 of 6 (3076 views)
transmission question after it warms up Sign In

Lately i have been noticing that after my car has warmed up and running fine, that if I stop at a stop light or stop sign when I hit the gas to go the transmission seems to take a bit long to shift out of first gear and into second. None of the other shifts seem bad, just the first one. I have checked my fluid when hot and do see fluid on the stick up to where it should be, it's not bright red, but there is fluid there. When I check the fluid when cold it is red. My car is a 98 Ford taurus 6 cyclinder/3.0 ohv automatic. It doesn't do it all the time, and if cool it operates normally.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jul 29, 2010, 10:05 AM

Post #2 of 6 (3069 views)
Re:98Taurus late first shift after it warms up Sign In

?? I would get a code reading AND probably suggest changing out the trans fluid entirely. I don't quite understand the color change when warm or cool.

So what I expect is a code that it isn't quite right when warm - the engine may be struggling like you were going up a steep hill and getting the late shift. Code may lead to something that could cause that.

Trans shifts based on input of throttle postion, load on engine, RPMs and vehicle speed via sensors, a cable may still be used for throttle position - unsure for this one.

Load on engine whether real or sending wrong info to shift is what I think may be happening. Most all use manifold vacuum to translate what the load is. The lower the vacuum is suggesting more load. That could be fooled by an exhaust restriction too which could explain it being better cold than warmed up as many will "restrict" more when warm/hot. That should be tested too either by checking exhaust pressure directly or you can use a vacuum gauge with a "T" to absolute manifold vacuum which should read close to the same at idle as 2,000 RPM. If much lower without load at the higher RPM that's a clue for exhaust restriction.

Vacuum hoses need be known in good shape or they can send the wrong info too and may be just a split that's worse when warmed up.

Take code reading info as a direction to look for the problem not as the instant answer as to what it may need. Even if Check engine light isn't staying on there should be some memory if there has been something out of spec stored in it,

T



indy4192
User

Jul 29, 2010, 10:58 AM

Post #3 of 6 (3061 views)
Re: Re:98Taurus late first shift after it warms up Sign In

the only codes I am getting is that i have a bad EGR valve and such. Could that impact the way the transmission acts? Also, my engine is slowly dieing due to a bad headgasket but I didn't think or know that engine issues can effect how a transmission works.



In Reply To
?? I would get a code reading AND probably suggest changing out the trans fluid entirely. I don't quite understand the color change when warm or cool.

So what I expect is a code that it isn't quite right when warm - the engine may be struggling like you were going up a steep hill and getting the late shift. Code may lead to something that could cause that.

Trans shifts based on input of throttle postion, load on engine, RPMs and vehicle speed via sensors, a cable may still be used for throttle position - unsure for this one.

Load on engine whether real or sending wrong info to shift is what I think may be happening. Most all use manifold vacuum to translate what the load is. The lower the vacuum is suggesting more load. That could be fooled by an exhaust restriction too which could explain it being better cold than warmed up as many will "restrict" more when warm/hot. That should be tested too either by checking exhaust pressure directly or you can use a vacuum gauge with a "T" to absolute manifold vacuum which should read close to the same at idle as 2,000 RPM. If much lower without load at the higher RPM that's a clue for exhaust restriction.

Vacuum hoses need be known in good shape or they can send the wrong info too and may be just a split that's worse when warmed up.

Take code reading info as a direction to look for the problem not as the instant answer as to what it may need. Even if Check engine light isn't staying on there should be some memory if there has been something out of spec stored in it,

T



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jul 29, 2010, 12:15 PM

Post #4 of 6 (3054 views)
Re: Re:98Taurus late first shift after it warms up Sign In

Quote">>I didn't think or know that engine issues can effect how a transmission works.<<"

Automatic trannys are making judgement calls just like you would if driving a standard shift by listening, watching RPMs, up a hill, down a hill - all the same but by name "automatic."

EGR may very well have something to do with this. Head gasket if know can do several malfunctions so that alone makes it very difficult to rule that out - not sure how bad that is or in what way it has failed.

OK - EGR: Exhaust Gas Recircuation device which oddly lowers combustion temps with spits of already spent gas and air. It by design won't work at idle or WOT = wide open throttle. It cracks open once warmed up (off when cold) at part throttle and is both electrically allowed to work and actuated by a vacuum diaphragm. If that diaphragm or line feeding it has a flaw and shares the vacuum with whatever is sensing "actual manifold vacuum" it's telling the trans you are under load and not to upshift yet!

You could try to clean the EGR as there's a 'pintle' that can not seal well and engine operation would suffer usually if so but would think you'd get a different code. You could with cooler engine spray carb cleaner at suspect vacuum leaks as a way to find them. Careful as the cleaner is flammable so use sparingly and avoid spraying known hot items. At idle if it hits a leak the idle could change higher, lower or stumble if you hit one.

Plain water may work too but I don't think as well for testing for vacuum leaks. Also with engine idling just gently touch and move, twist on vacuum items especially the elbows may make a split one show up right in front of you. Use care - things get hot fast of course.

Again - head gasket is an open ticket to be the cause of all of this. Hard to know exactly the extent of where it leaks to where without taking it all down to replace it.

I wouldn't wait too long to get some good diagnosis on this as if you need a trans job, head gasket, and more that goes with that, that's a lot of work and $$ both together. That and anything causing too high of emissions will be hard or destroy cat converters and all three jobs would exceed the likely value of the car dammit!

T



indy4192
User

Jul 29, 2010, 12:22 PM

Post #5 of 6 (3049 views)
Re: Re:98Taurus late first shift after it warms up Sign In

The headgasket issue is basically to much to spend given age of car and what I spent on it buying it ($450). As for the EGR, if from what I have seen online it is located on top of the engine and has a unique design and may not be to hard to replace istead of trying to clean, so i will give that a shot.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jul 29, 2010, 12:26 PM

Post #6 of 6 (3046 views)
Re: Re:98Taurus late first shift after it warms up Sign In

I didn't check but most are a bit pricey so you want to be as sure as possible even for that. Any wiring or plug to it could be the fault and not the item. Code would only know a fault not a surety that the item is bad. Take a look at it. If all clogged and gucky I'd try cleaning it first which is still a maybe to fix them,
T







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