ATX slips out of gear when I come to a stop!

[shobhakti]

I have to take it out of drive and then re-engage it back into drive to get it functioning again. Or give it a lot of throttle and then it engages like I just slammed it into drive from neutral! Hello! do not do that!

I just changed the pan filter and gasket a couple of weeks ago. It was working fine before and just after.

I do not drive this car to much, but I have informed my son that he should turn off the OD in town and he said it does help. Plus with taking it out of gear at a stop we are getting by, but that will just not do.

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to the April 9th track day at the Gainesville , FL race track. You Georgia boys come on down, we are very close to you!

SHOBhakti

 

[kevinspann]

Check fluid, I bet its a quart or two low.

 

[tommyturbo]

could be an internal problem with the forward piston, alot of taurus and windstars also have this problem. the piston was aluminum until around 94 my, and 96 my on windstar. piston cracks and lets fluid by pass, so it does that. then when pressure builds back up from accelerating the engine it re-engages hard.

 

[shobhakti]

Check fluid, I bet its a quart or two low.

That was the first thing I did, it was a 1/2 qt, low. Topped it off, no difference

 

[shobhakti]

could be an internal problem with the forward piston, alot of taurus and windstars also have this problem. the piston was aluminum until around 94 my, and 96 my on windstar. piston cracks and lets fluid by pass, so it does that. then when pressure builds back up from accelerating the engine it re-engages hard.

Sounds like removal time, unless I can get at this while the trans is in the car! How would I confirm this the problem? Will an electronic diagnostic reveal this as a problem or is it purely mechanical? Could the thing go belly up like a bad planetary set? Is this hard to fix at home for the AVERAGE guy that has never taken a transmission apart before?

Thanks

SHOBhakti

 

[whiteguy3]

Are you sure the filter did not fall out and you used a new filter gasket on the pickup?

My first guess obviously would have been fluid level which should be checked on flat ground at operating temp. Seeing as you did that I would definitely check the filter before ripping it apart. Kinda weird it happened soon after maintenance was done. Your symptoms, barring fluid level and filter, describe either a failed forward clutch piston or failed torque converter.

If you did end up replacing it I would have a transmission shop insect it and rebuild it or get a new unit. I don't recommend taking apart a transmission unless you have some experience AND the right tools. You would be able to remove and reinstall the transmission itself though, which is a good chunk of the price of a transmission replacement. It's a heavy piece for sure. If you want to splurge get an FPS unit or have a reputable shop build one stronger which can be done.

 

[shobhakti]

Are you sure the filter did not fall out and you used a new filter gasket on the pickup?

My first guess obviously would have been fluid level which should be checked on flat ground at operating temp. Seeing as you did that I would definitely check the filter before ripping it apart. Kinda weird it happened soon after maintenance was done. Your symptoms, barring fluid level and filter, describe either a failed forward clutch piston or failed torque converter.

If you did end up replacing it I would have a transmission shop insect it and rebuild it or get a new unit. I don't recommend taking apart a transmission unless you have some experience AND the right tools. You would be able to remove and reinstall the transmission itself though, which is a good chunk of the price of a transmission replacement. It's a heavy piece for sure. If you want to splurge get an FPS unit or have a reputable shop build one stronger which can be done.

Now that you ask about the filter I'm questioning the clip. Though my memory says I did it right, some thing could have malfunctioned. The clip could have popped off! God I hate autos! I'm just going to have to take the pan back off(new gasket) and check like you say first.

I do have a rebuilt unit with a broken case from an accident to the only other ATX we have owned out of 10 SHO's. Local tranny guy said he would swap out the innards into the good case. It only has 30k on it w/a shift kit and better TC than stock.

Now I'm hopping I messed up the clip

Thanks, I'll get back after I get oily, lol.

SHOBhakti

 

[bubba]

Same thing that happened to my atx, it's time for a new transmission, broken hard part... Welcome to the club

 

[whiteguy3]

You can reuse the gasket by the way. No need to purchase a new one since you just put a new one on. It will hold as long as it is correctly tightened.

I have seen a filter pop out before. The trans does not like it at all! lol.

Swapping good parts between the transmissions might be a good idea. Most importantly spend a little money and get new shift solenoids, VSS, TSS, steel forward clutch piston and TQ converter. Not all 94 ATX's got the steel one forward clutch piston from the factory, just FYI.

 

[shobhakti]

Same thing that happened to my atx, it's time for a new transmission, broken hard part... Welcome to the club

Thanks Bubba, I'm luck to have a spare situation to garner parts from. Other wise I would have never agreed to buy this car. We have been exclusively MTX SHOer's for the last 8 yrs.

Before that we had an ATX that dumped the planetary gear set and filled the pan with shavings. That's the rebuild I have covered in the back yard, 30K w/ a shift kit and HP torque converter from a front ender that broke the bell housing.

SHOBhakti

 

[shobhakti]

You can reuse the gasket by the way. No need to purchase a new one since you just put a new one on. It will hold as long as it is correctly tightened.

I have seen a filter pop out before. The trans does not like it at all! lol.

Swapping good parts between the transmissions might be a good idea. Most importantly spend a little money and get new shift solenoids, VSS, TSS, steel forward clutch piston and TQ converter. Not all 94 ATX's got the steel one forward clutch piston from the factory, just FYI.

I kind of thought the seal would be good. Now I'm really hoping it is just that simple. Now I just have to pry the car out of my sons hands for a couple hrs(I'm old and slow, lol)

The transmission I have was rebuilt and has about 30k on it. But it was in a wreck and the case is broke. They put a shift kit and HP torque converter(shifted like a 5sp, just loved it!). Now the forward clutch piston is another story and I haven't a clue what it has. But if we go this direction I will take all the advice I can get and have this tranny assembled right for better durability.

I saw some place else something about drilling a hole for better oil circulation and welding of some sort, what are the specifics of these modifications. Thread links?

SHOBhakti

 

[shobhakti]

Ok, I'm in, the clip was installed and tight, but looks more like a limiting device than a mechanism to retain the filter. The filter just dangles there after the pan is off. This is the same way the old one was installed. There is no way that clip clamps the filter down. Does the pan keep the filter in place?

I'm looking in the Helms manual on page 07-01A-4 and see the scematic but the 'clip' is designated as item 259 and discribed as "Bracket assy-Tube support-Rev Clutch.

This being the case I see no way for this clip/bracket to be installed wrong and must now assume the tranny is on it's way out.

Or have I got something wrong in my logic?

??

 

[shobhakti]

No I got it right, the tranny is still the same, drops out of gear at a stop. So time to make the sacrifice and fix it. This was not the project I had in mind in the next coupe of weeks, lol.

Thanks for the help.

CB

 

[shobhakti]

I got a major leak in what looks like the bell housing area. I know there is a main seal in there to the transmission, but could a torque converter leak too?

CB