[Steve83]

I'd take it to a transmission pro before diving into such an expensive & complicated job. Just for a professional opinion, if not to let him do the job.

 

[Nails.Sch]

I'll drop the oil pan and see if I can learn more with my hands on the TC. But either way, it looks like the tranny is coming out. I expect to either replace the TC, maybe replace the tranny, or start looking at what I could do with a good Duratec.

The repair you describe will run more than the car is worth. Not going there, not even just having a tow truck take it to town and back -- I already have $1K just getting it home. If the car was a rust bucket, I'd junk it.

This is the newest car of several I own, and repairing them myself is a big part of my personal economy. If I wanted to just throw money to make the problem go away, I'd buy a new car. Haven't really burned myself yet.

 

[chartmaker]

Continued thanks.

Okay, a batch of defective TCs; and all I need to do is buy a new stock TC and quit worrying about it.

Now to plan this heinous job.

You have to drop the sub frame/engine go get to it.
-chart-

 

[Architect]

But at the time I shifted it onto drive a few times, and the RPMs dropped each time. I also felt a slight nudge and initially thought I had accidentally fixed it -- fat chance.

Yes, that is what I meant. So it is almost certainly not the electronics because the shifter and the PCM did shift the transmission.

 

[sheila]

It's looking like I'm not really gonna know for sure whether the TC is bad without taking it out and looking at it. And if not that, then it's apparently a bad trans. So I think it's time to start wrenching.

I'll search again here, but from earlier searches I don't remember seeing this: did FoMoCo supersede this defective TC with a new PN that doesn't break every 80K?

Dunno if they're still in business or under a new name, but Dacco was the recommended TC replacement on the forum because of their "beefy" splines. They were available through Dacco and Autozone.

 

[Nails.Sch]

Yes, that is what I meant. So it is almost certainly not the electronics because the shifter and the PCM did shift the transmission.

Yeah. Weird that it only did that once, though. Almost always, I don't feel anything and the RPMs do not change.

 

[Nails.Sch]

Thank you, Sheila.
Dacco F68EHS https://www.autozone.com/drivetrain/transmission-torque-converter/p/tc-remanufacturing-automatic-transmission-torque-converter-f68ehs/841032_0_0 $151.99 with a $12 core coming back.

 

[sheila]

Thank you, Sheila.
Dacco F68EHS https://www.autozone.com/drivetrain/transmission-torque-converter/p/tc-remanufacturing-automatic-transmission-torque-converter-f68ehs/841032_0_0 $151.99 with a $12 core coming back.

I guess they've went up like everthing else. Last 1 I bought was under a Benjamin, lol! Of course that a was a decade or 2 ago...

 

[Nails.Sch]

I guess they've went up like everthing else. Last 1 I bought was under a Benjamin, lol! Of course that a was a decade or 2 ago...

I suppose nowadays this isn't such a hot item ... in these 2-decade old cars. (Once again, here I'm on the bleeding edge of technology.)

 

[ice445]

I suppose nowadays this isn't such a hot item ... in these 2-decade old cars. (Once again, here I'm on the bleeding edge of technology.)

Yeah, parts availability is on the decline unfortunately. What is out there is either cheap because it's discontinued, or priced a lot more than it used to be to justify keeping it in stock lol

 

[jimn]

I read somewhere a while back that there's a plug you can remove on the trans and if it's the converter there won't be any pressure when you start it. Sorry I can't be more helpful but it was a while ago. Sure sounds like the converter, mine failed exactly the same way.

 

[rjacket]

I read somewhere a while back that there's a plug you can remove on the trans and if it's the converter there won't be any pressure when you start it. Sorry I can't be more helpful but it was a while ago. Sure sounds like the converter, mine failed exactly the same way.

In this video just before 5:30 mins:

 

[Nails.Sch]

Perfect!
It's been cold and I've been sick. In other words, I haven't done really anything with the car yet. I'll have time to check this tomorrow.
Yeah, I think I know the outcome. But this is exactly what I need now. Muchas gracias.

Looks like I'm about the last human alive to deal with this: an AX4N with less than 90K.

 

[chartmaker]

Perfect!
It's been cold and I've been sick. In other words, I haven't done really anything with the car yet. I'll have time to check this tomorrow.
Yeah, I think I know the outcome. But this is exactly what I need now. Muchas gracias.

Looks like I'm about the last human alive to deal with this: an AX4N with less than 90K.

Sorry you are not feeling well, hope you feel better soon.
Likely you live in low rust location so your ride likely very nice shape as to rust. Of course there are different levels of nice besides rust.
Also likely you are going to repair and keep it so congrats. Good ones very hard to find. Drop the engine and replace TQ.
Here is rust country local car likely never make it to 20 years unless it started South.
I bought '05 SEL with 130K miles, starting rust, this for my grandson to take to college. Two years are up and will scrap this summer.
Price $1600, engine, tran, climate all good. I will only buy way south used and bring them home, will last 5-10 years is rust. I am not concerned about miles if they have been maintained.
Back in the Spring, bought '04 Sable wagon, loaded, 160K, well maintained, super clean, nearly new tires, for $4500. From VA. Sold my "used hard", '03 Sable wagon to friend, it had 170K and starting to show rust, $1K. He will get 2 years before it can't be inspected for rust.
-chart-

 

[ggentry03]

Bought an 05 sedan earlier this year with just 80k miles on it.. TC went out at 82k.. the test plug on top of the transmission will be your tell tale.. if your TC is functioning properly, it will immediately start shooting gender neutral shift juice everywhere.. so be ready to shut the car down..

If you do decide to do the repair, just drop the transmission out.. I had mine out in a day, and that was while drinking, um, kool-aid...... take the transmission to a shop if you dont have a manual to go through it.. chances are, there's metal shards where there shouldn't be.. a complete flush will only ruin the transmission..

 

[Nails.Sch]

I'm surprised that Bull owners of yore put up with these skanky TCs for that many years.

Today was all appointments (including a classroom demo for 5th-graders -- such fun). Tomorrow I expect to make a fire in the shop's woodburner and then get after turning some bolts.

I REALLY appreciate the help on this forum.

 

[rjacket]

I'm surprised that Bull owners of yore put up with these skanky TCs for that many years.

Used car market prices show what people think of Ford quality. But when it comes to the NHTSA, Ford seems to have gotten away with all sorts of defects.

 

[Architect]

so be ready to shut the car down.

I think the guy in the video said he had some rags ready so I assume he plugged the hole first and then carefully had a look.

 

[Nails.Sch]

I was able to futz with it for just a couple hours today.

Surprising exactly no one, it did not spurt any gender-neutral fluids out that plug hole.

The gender-neutral hole (red arrow) with a socket on it. Green arrow points to the front of the car.

The gender-neutral hole, with some stuff out of the way.

I got the battery tray and air cleaner out, loosened the exhaust pipe bolts (front), and got the trans pan off -- no spills, and only two drops of ATF in my hair! I'll let it drip tonight then clean everything up, see what's on the bottom of the pan, and put the pan back on for now. (I'll take ggentry03's advice and haul the trans to a shop.)

Making a mess ... into a large white pan that's supposed to be under a washing machine.

Tomorrow I'll see what else I need to do under the hood (like remove the top bell housing bolts and sort an engine support), drain the engine oil, put the car on jack stands, disassemble the exhaust, and start in on the axles. (A few months ago, I had a brake disk crack and replaced it; but I still need to replace the one on the other side.)

Steady ahead, by jerks.

 

[Architect]

This is what my AX4N pan looked like after 150k: