95 Mustang V6 A/T transmission problems.

[cloudwalker]

I need your help:

I have a 95 mustang equipped with the 3.8L and automatic transmission. It takes a while to shift into reverse when I first drive it in the morning, but has no problems after it warms up. Also, it sometimes stutters between first and second gear, especially if I have to come to a fast stop. I have checked the fluid and it is full. I have owned it for almost five years now and there are some days where I do not have any problems with it, and others it acts like someone put sludge into the transmission. A mechanic told me that the transmission pump is leaking bad and needs to be replaced. Unfortunately having the transmission fixed and having a refurbished one cost about the same. I do not have much experience with transmission diagnosis or repair. What would you suggest?

[Kurt Combs]

I don't know much about the transmission, but while you have the engine out, change the head gaskets. I have owned several 3.8 Ford V-6 engines and they all blow head gaskets at between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. So if you have it out it is a good time to replace them. I would consider it a maintenance item on any 3.8.

[Donnie]

This trans has a fair amount of electronics involved in controlling the shifts....I would seek out a GOOD, reliable trans shop to drive the car & SCAN the computer system for faults...Offer to pay for an honest diagnosis..Most general repair shops are not electronically equipped to diagnose your problem... Does your service / soon light ever come on ????....There are many things that can cause your slow reverse, some simple & some complex.....Hard to guess on line..Don't let someone sell you a trans OH...with out doing this.
There are solenoids in the trans, also small filter screens in the valve body , etc..........The fact that it is intermittent, leads me to think wireing or electronics....... also what looks like a neutral safety switch is VERY involved in the operation of the unit & could be your culprit
. Donnie

[cloudwalker]

Thanks you for the replies Kurt and Donnie. On Saturday afternoon, I changed the filter, gasket, etc. I inspected the magnet and there was not any shavings....phew! The fluid definitely needed to be changed since it did not look like cherry cough syrup. It does operate a little bit better, but I know that it can be better. I really appreciate the idea to have the computer scanned for any faults at a transmission shop. There are not any lights on at the moment. I am leaning towards it being an electronic problem and a good thorough diagnostic by a professional is well worth the time.

[Donnie]

I think that I should have asked you if you have a delay in forward in the AM or just reverse. Is reverse the first gear that you select when you first start to move in the AM?....Like backing out of your garage? If it is, try forward as the gear that you first select.

Also if your service lite has come on recently, your processor has the capability to store that failure code for a certain # of starts..
That varies according to vehicle & my mind leaves me vacant at the moment............But it DOES NOT have to be on at the time of the scan..
Donnie

[ultraranger]

As Donnie suggested, a code scan of the PCM (Power Control module) should be the first step to see if it comes up with any obvious error codes to narrow down where the problem may be coming from.

If it does not come up with any error codes, then it will be a process of elimination from that point.

The AODE was only used in the Mustangs during the years 1994-1995. The AODE evolved from the AOD. The AOD was strictly controlled by throttle valve and govenor hydraulic pressures. The AODE line pressures and shifts are controlled, electrically, through solenoid valves inside the valve body. The AODE was replaced by the 4R70W (in the Mustangs) starting in 1996. It is very similar to the AODE but is a much more refined version of it. (first use of the 4R70W was in the '93 Lincoln Mk VIII's).

AODE/4R70W transmissions should have the fluid & fliter changed out at least every 30,000 miles. If you do not have a (quality) transmission cooler plumbed, in-line, between the radiator and the return line to the transmission, you should. Heat is the killer of automatic transmissions and a quality cooler, to keep the trans alive, is a lot cheaper than rebuilding or replacing a burned out transmission.

If the problem is mechanical, here are the symptoms and probable cause as to what the problem(s) may be of a delayed or soft reverse engagement of an AODE/4R70W transmission:

1.


2.

[cloudwalker]

Thanks a lot! This helps quite a bit.

[Cfinchy1995]

See I have the same problem but worse my transmission will go in all gears for about 5-10 then acts like its in neutral and I can't figure out what it is.

[Cfinchy1995]

I had that same problem until yesterday. I changed the filter and fluid and put Lucas trans fluid conditioner and it runs a lot smoother