Got a 97 with high mileage today, and on the way home it seemed to shift a little harsh. Got some Mercon V and going to do a fluid change in the morning (I know you can only access about 6 quarts from the pan at a time). Has anyone had any success with anything to help with their hard Shifts? Also, where are the best/safest jack points on it? Have ramps, but with probably have to use my jack & stands. Also, I'm looking at replacing the gasket while I'm in there. Is there also a filter I need to replace while I'm at it? Thanks in advance!
Hard Shifts
- Thread starter ZackO
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There is a filter and it is specific to the Gen 3 SHO AX4N. It sits a bit lower than the regular filter.
But you can exchange all the fluid without taking the pan off by using the cooler hoses to empty the trans.
If never done you will need to cut the hoses going to the radiator and splice together when done. This is also a great place to insert a Magnifine inline filter.
You need to jack up the front to get access to the hoses. Put a bucket under both cut ends. A little will come out of one the other will be a full flow, make note of which is which if using an inline filter as far as direction of the flow.
Start the car up and let it run until the flow lessens. Then shut the car off and dump half the new fluid into the trans. Then start the car again and watch for color change or the flow lessens again. Once this happens reconnect the hoses and top off the trans.
If you take off the pan be very careful when reinstalling to not strip out the threads. If you do you can use a 1/4-28 thread bolt without drilling and tapping to repair the strip.
But you can exchange all the fluid without taking the pan off by using the cooler hoses to empty the trans.
If never done you will need to cut the hoses going to the radiator and splice together when done. This is also a great place to insert a Magnifine inline filter.
You need to jack up the front to get access to the hoses. Put a bucket under both cut ends. A little will come out of one the other will be a full flow, make note of which is which if using an inline filter as far as direction of the flow.
Start the car up and let it run until the flow lessens. Then shut the car off and dump half the new fluid into the trans. Then start the car again and watch for color change or the flow lessens again. Once this happens reconnect the hoses and top off the trans.
If you take off the pan be very careful when reinstalling to not strip out the threads. If you do you can use a 1/4-28 thread bolt without drilling and tapping to repair the strip.
Awesome, thanks for all the info!
The EPC solenoid is usually what causes hard shifts. Does it go into gear hard? this is another sign it's the EPC solenoid.
GEN 3 SHO FAN
SHO Member
Your hard shifts can be caused by an aging gas pump (like on my SHO and my Taurus LX). The 2 developped this problem at around 135 000 miles. What mileage do you have ?
If the engine isn't furnished enought with gas, PCM has difficulty to manage communication between engine and trans giving hard shifts and others behaviors... You should check this before opening the trans.
You have to test the gas pressure when you roll because pressure can be o.k. at idle and on park but for some reasons, can "fall" a lot during driving (mine doesn't want to go upper than 4000 rpm). Seems worst in hot conditions.
(But maintenance on the trans will be good too.)
If the engine isn't furnished enought with gas, PCM has difficulty to manage communication between engine and trans giving hard shifts and others behaviors... You should check this before opening the trans.
You have to test the gas pressure when you roll because pressure can be o.k. at idle and on park but for some reasons, can "fall" a lot during driving (mine doesn't want to go upper than 4000 rpm). Seems worst in hot conditions.
(But maintenance on the trans will be good too.)
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Nope! Goes into gear well.
Could that also be the reason why it stall out occasionally when I'm in drive under 1k? Even in park idling it almost dies quite often.
luigisho
SHO Member
You have the part number? Also look around in the classifieds here, facebook, ebay and see if there are parts cars out there. There is used stuff out there. You have to find a bad tranny with a good pan. Look on co part finder and other salvage yard search bots.
Yep!
F6DZ6675BA
Didn't even realize there was a classifieds here, I'll look into that.
GEN 3 SHO FAN
SHO Member
With a bad pump, engine will mostly have a bad behavior at higher rpms (because you ask more to the pump), but who knows ? Ha yes..., Paul, Eric and some other veterans can knows that.
I rode recently that a bad EGR valve can cause stall at low rpms mostly in hot conditions (hot engine or hot weather).
Don't count on Ford to supply you with spare parts... lost of time. Here they keep only 10 years past... Ford philosophy (?) : Don't be enthusiastic, our cars are crap passed 10 years, buy a new one then... :S
I think you can also take a used pan from any 1996-2007 Taurus having a AX4N trans. (watch also classified on TCCA site ?)
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fourofdiamonds
Member
The transmission pan can be found on ebay. A truck tire retread mangled mine and I had to replace it. These all fit my 97. Some of the sellers are Ford dealers.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-Fo...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
https://www.ebay.com/itm/96-thru-03...e:Ford&hash=item2579cf0b28:g:kMYAAOSwcj1Z94d-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-NEW-Au...e:Ford&hash=item4b35c0d89b:g:NOgAAOSwW9RaZ1S3
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-Fo...149488&hash=item2aa007c54f:g:n2EAAOSwMQhag0hV
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-AU...e:Ford&hash=item41fa6d7bc4:g:knsAAOSwyrlcYQkF
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-Fo...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
https://www.ebay.com/itm/96-thru-03...e:Ford&hash=item2579cf0b28:g:kMYAAOSwcj1Z94d-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-NEW-Au...e:Ford&hash=item4b35c0d89b:g:NOgAAOSwW9RaZ1S3
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-Fo...149488&hash=item2aa007c54f:g:n2EAAOSwMQhag0hV
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-AU...e:Ford&hash=item41fa6d7bc4:g:knsAAOSwyrlcYQkF
Thank you, someone already hooked me up! You have a 97 as well?
99sho-time
SHO Member
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did you ever figure out your hard shifting?
Did a fluid change, there was a fair amount of metal coating the pan/ on the magnet. Was going to take it out for a spin, but found I have a flat. So gotta take care of that first before I can give it a test drive.
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