Transmission help needed - Taurus Car Club of America : Ford Taurus Forum

labtek · 09-15-2012, 11:29 AM

98 Duratec with with AX4N trans.

I have done a lot of work on this car lately and everything has worked out great with help from the guys on the forum.

Now I have a problem and just don't know were to start. I have searched and learned a lot but no answer to my problem.

I changed the trans fluid as per the wiki with Mobil 1 ATF and it has been shifting great and has somewhere between 300 & 400 miles on it. Now all of a sudden I have to rev it to get into gear any gear once it's in gear it seems to be OK but I haven't driven anywhere because I may not get home. It does not seem to slip. Yes I did check the fluid level and cold or not quite warmed up it's a little above the hash marks and I didn't see any water or foam in the fluid. Now this seems to have started after the big rain we had and the car did go through some not to deep water but ran fine after my wife got home and it dried out. She said she got some electrical blinking of lights and radio and also it tried to stall but cleared up and she came home. I did notice a clattering sound when she went to work the next day but it seemed to run and shift fine and the day after the same but today when I was trying to find the noise with a stethoscope I could not pinpoint it. After looking for the noise I tried to move it and thats when it started not going into gear. It is loudest in the torque converter area. It sounds like a bicycle with a card in the spokes or maybe a solenoid banging back and fourth but not real loud just a pronounced clattering that changes when I raise the RPM and is not as loud when it warms up . Now there you have it.

Is it maybe the torque converter clutch solenoid, wiring problem or something worse any thoughts.

taurus505 · 09-15-2012, 11:49 AM

http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Reference/AXODE-AX4S_Tech_Manual.pdf

sheila · 09-15-2012, 12:35 PM

^ Labtek has the ax4n tranny.

soundu · 09-15-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by labtek

98 Duratec with with AX4N trans.

I have done a lot of work on this car lately and everything has worked out great with help from the guys on the forum.

Now I have a problem and just don't know were to start. I have searched and learned a lot but no answer to my problem.

I changed the trans fluid as per the wiki with Mobil 1 ATF and it has been shifting great and has somewhere between 300 & 400 miles on it. Now all of a sudden I have to rev it to get into gear any gear once it's in gear it seems to be OK but I haven't driven anywhere because I may not get home. It does not seem to slip. Yes I did check the fluid level and cold or not quite warmed up it's a little above the hash marks and I didn't see any water or foam in the fluid. Now this seems to have started after the big rain we had and the car did go through some not to deep water but ran fine after my wife got home and it dried out. She said she got some electrical blinking of lights and radio and also it tried to stall but cleared up and she came home. I did notice a clattering sound when she went to work the next day but it seemed to run and shift fine and the day after the same but today when I was trying to find the noise with a stethoscope I could not pinpoint it. After looking for the noise I tried to move it and thats when it started not going into gear. It is loudest in the torque converter area. It sounds like a bicycle with a card in the spokes or maybe a solenoid banging back and fourth but not real loud just a pronounced clattering that changes when I raise the RPM and is not as loud when it warms up . Now there you have it.

Is it maybe the torque converter clutch solenoid, wiring problem or something worse any thoughts.

Chances are your torque converter splines are stripping out.
common problem. Your probably going to need a new TC.
There was a thread here in the past on this and a company
that makes a better than OEM unit.

Common O.E.M. Torque Converter Problems - F68E2 - YouTube

labtek · 09-15-2012, 01:02 PM

soundu thanks I thought it might be something like that. This trans was rebuilt at about 67000 miles and now has 156000 and I have no idea if the TC was changed but I doubt it. Well I will have to find someone to do this job because I don't have anywhere to do it. The HMO gets pissed off if I leave a wheel off for more than a day. If and when I get this done I'll make sure to get the better TC but money is pretty scarce right now.

If anyone else has any ideas let me know thanks again.

labtek · 09-19-2012, 01:15 PM

I have been reading about my problem and was wondering if it could possible be the pump and/or shaft that has broken. The reason I ask is that it does seem to work when I rev it up. Would it work like that it the converter splines were striped. I can see it doing this with a broken pump or shaft.

We really don't want to give up our Taurus but this might be the nail in the coffin. I'm sure I can pull the valve body and pump but the whole trans is not going to happen.

labtek · 09-24-2012, 09:36 AM

Update: I have been reading everything I can find and I decided screw the HOA I will take the valve body pump out if for no other reason than to see what is bad or broken. At least I can maybe make some since out of this.

This morning I thought before I started on the valve body I would check the codes just in case and nothing but the 135 and 155 I've been working on. I did however put it in gear and it went in no problem (no clunk it was smooth) and I moved it up the driveway and shut it down. So it appears it works when its cold but wont lock up when warmed up only if I rev the engine. It does still have the clicking or clattering noise but as I said before it's not real loud but easy to hear and does change when it's revved up. My wife did say that when she would let of the gas on the freeway it will really slow down enough to move her up in the seat but back on the gas it's was fine.

I really need some advice (help) on what to look for. I will definitely check the torque converter splines but that doesn't seem to the problem or maybe it is.

labtek · 10-03-2012, 07:44 PM

Update: I took out the valve body today and the pump is broken. The shaft seems to be OK it doesn't move if I try to turn it and I looked inside the best I could and couldn't see any spline damage. The noise must have been the gouging of the pump cover which is pretty bad.

I would like to just replace the valve body but I'm having trouble finding a re builder. The prices range from $89 to $600 for a rebuilt unit. Has anybody dealt with Quality Transmissions & Parts of Florida and if so did you have good luck with them. They have the valve body complete for $139 which seems fair to me. If anyone has any other idea where I could find a rebuilt unit for a reasonable price please let me know I need to get this back together ASAP. Thanks!

labtek · 10-19-2012, 09:57 AM

Well I'm still looking for a re builder and the one I mentioned has a bunch of different websites but a pretty bad reputation. I tried ebay but no luck just a new old stock unit but I want a re built with the updates and properly tested. I am also going to replace the pump shaft because it does have some scoring where it rides on the bearing. I've contacted every re builder (that actually does the work in house) I can find and never get any response. So it seems the VB re build business is full of flakes or they only want to do business with trans shops. I don't have the tools to do this properly or test after the re build plus the parts are expensive.

So I'm asking again if anyone knows of a reputable business I can deal with. I would try local but having been here over 40 years reputable is not something I have found here.

labtek · 11-09-2012, 08:21 AM

Just wanted to let everybody know I found Central VB on ebay. They didn't list the AX4N VB but I contacted them and yes they do have them (all updated parts and fully tested) so I ordered and they also had the shaft (new) with o'rings. They don't have a core charge they send a return label and trust you to return the core. I also ordered a new side pan gasket, filter (mine fell out) and magnet (mine was missing) from a trans parts house in FL. Both places had very fast shipping.

I installed the VB and it works great. The trans hasn't shifted this good in years.

Thanks to every one for your help!

09-15-2012, 11:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
labtek Junior Member Member Number: 15675 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Henderson, NV Visit: My Garage Posts: 54 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Transmission help needed 98 Duratec with with AX4N trans. I have done a lot of work on this car lately and everything has worked out great with help from the guys on the forum. Now I have a problem and just don't know were to start. I have searched and learned a lot but no answer to my problem. I changed the trans fluid as per the wiki with Mobil 1 ATF and it has been shifting great and has somewhere between 300 & 400 miles on it. Now all of a sudden I have to rev it to get into gear any gear once it's in gear it seems to be OK but I haven't driven anywhere because I may not get home. It does not seem to slip. Yes I did check the fluid level and cold or not quite warmed up it's a little above the hash marks and I didn't see any water or foam in the fluid. Now this seems to have started after the big rain we had and the car did go through some not to deep water but ran fine after my wife got home and it dried out. She said she got some electrical blinking of lights and radio and also it tried to stall but cleared up and she came home. I did notice a clattering sound when she went to work the next day but it seemed to run and shift fine and the day after the same but today when I was trying to find the noise with a stethoscope I could not pinpoint it. After looking for the noise I tried to move it and thats when it started not going into gear. It is loudest in the torque converter area. It sounds like a bicycle with a card in the spokes or maybe a solenoid banging back and fourth but not real loud just a pronounced clattering that changes when I raise the RPM and is not as loud when it warms up . Now there you have it. Is it maybe the torque converter clutch solenoid, wiring problem or something worse any thoughts. Last edited by labtek; 09-15-2012 at 11:33 AM.

09-15-2012, 11:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
taurus505 Junior Member Member Number: 22781 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: JERUSALEM ISRAEL Drives: 1993 taurus gl 'vulcan atmosfer' Visit: My Garage Posts: 60 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	try this link http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Reference/AXODE-AX4S_Tech_Manual.pdf

09-15-2012, 12:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
sheila Crazy Devoted Member Member Number: 10865 Join Date: Dec 2006 Visit: My Garage Posts: 9,087 Trader Score: 1 reviews Rep Power: 22	^ Labtek has the ax4n tranny.

09-15-2012, 01:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
labtek Junior Member Member Number: 15675 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Henderson, NV Visit: My Garage Posts: 54 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	soundu thanks I thought it might be something like that. This trans was rebuilt at about 67000 miles and now has 156000 and I have no idea if the TC was changed but I doubt it. Well I will have to find someone to do this job because I don't have anywhere to do it. The HMO gets pissed off if I leave a wheel off for more than a day. If and when I get this done I'll make sure to get the better TC but money is pretty scarce right now. If anyone else has any ideas let me know thanks again.

09-19-2012, 01:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
labtek Junior Member Member Number: 15675 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Henderson, NV Visit: My Garage Posts: 54 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	I have been reading about my problem and was wondering if it could possible be the pump and/or shaft that has broken. The reason I ask is that it does seem to work when I rev it up. Would it work like that it the converter splines were striped. I can see it doing this with a broken pump or shaft. We really don't want to give up our Taurus but this might be the nail in the coffin. I'm sure I can pull the valve body and pump but the whole trans is not going to happen.

09-24-2012, 09:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
labtek Junior Member Member Number: 15675 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Henderson, NV Visit: My Garage Posts: 54 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Update: I have been reading everything I can find and I decided screw the HOA I will take the valve body pump out if for no other reason than to see what is bad or broken. At least I can maybe make some since out of this. This morning I thought before I started on the valve body I would check the codes just in case and nothing but the 135 and 155 I've been working on. I did however put it in gear and it went in no problem (no clunk it was smooth) and I moved it up the driveway and shut it down. So it appears it works when its cold but wont lock up when warmed up only if I rev the engine. It does still have the clicking or clattering noise but as I said before it's not real loud but easy to hear and does change when it's revved up. My wife did say that when she would let of the gas on the freeway it will really slow down enough to move her up in the seat but back on the gas it's was fine. I really need some advice (help) on what to look for. I will definitely check the torque converter splines but that doesn't seem to the problem or maybe it is.

10-03-2012, 07:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
labtek Junior Member Member Number: 15675 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Henderson, NV Visit: My Garage Posts: 54 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Update: I took out the valve body today and the pump is broken. The shaft seems to be OK it doesn't move if I try to turn it and I looked inside the best I could and couldn't see any spline damage. The noise must have been the gouging of the pump cover which is pretty bad. I would like to just replace the valve body but I'm having trouble finding a re builder. The prices range from $89 to $600 for a rebuilt unit. Has anybody dealt with Quality Transmissions & Parts of Florida and if so did you have good luck with them. They have the valve body complete for $139 which seems fair to me. If anyone has any other idea where I could find a rebuilt unit for a reasonable price please let me know I need to get this back together ASAP. Thanks!

10-19-2012, 09:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
labtek Junior Member Member Number: 15675 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Henderson, NV Visit: My Garage Posts: 54 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Well I'm still looking for a re builder and the one I mentioned has a bunch of different websites but a pretty bad reputation. I tried ebay but no luck just a new old stock unit but I want a re built with the updates and properly tested. I am also going to replace the pump shaft because it does have some scoring where it rides on the bearing. I've contacted every re builder (that actually does the work in house) I can find and never get any response. So it seems the VB re build business is full of flakes or they only want to do business with trans shops. I don't have the tools to do this properly or test after the re build plus the parts are expensive. So I'm asking again if anyone knows of a reputable business I can deal with. I would try local but having been here over 40 years reputable is not something I have found here.

11-09-2012, 08:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
labtek Junior Member Member Number: 15675 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Henderson, NV Visit: My Garage Posts: 54 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Just wanted to let everybody know I found Central VB on ebay. They didn't list the AX4N VB but I contacted them and yes they do have them (all updated parts and fully tested) so I ordered and they also had the shaft (new) with o'rings. They don't have a core charge they send a return label and trust you to return the core. I also ordered a new side pan gasket, filter (mine fell out) and magnet (mine was missing) from a trans parts house in FL. Both places had very fast shipping. I installed the VB and it works great. The trans hasn't shifted this good in years. Thanks to every one for your help!

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