2000 3.8-Neutral SftySw-Is this the shaft?

[mark_gober]

Check your transmission fluid level. Check it with the engine and tranny at operating temp. Cycle from park down into low and back to neutral. Check the fluid in neutral. Don't forget to use your parking brake.

[WindstarMommy]

Originally Posted by mark_gober

Check your transmission fluid level. Check it with the engine and tranny at operating temp. Cycle from park down into low and back to neutral. Check the fluid in neutral. Don't forget to use your parking brake.

Ok, Mark. I will check it tomorrow morning. When you say "cycle from park down into low" which low are you speaking of? Sorry for me being so dumb. I am not technical just yet but I will get there.

Hi, northern_piper. Yes, it was doing this before I replaced the TRS but the CEL came on but after I replaced the TRS I thought all would fixed.

[olopezm]

Originally Posted by mark_gober

Check your transmission fluid level. Check it with the engine and tranny at operating temp. Cycle from park down into low and back to neutral. Check the fluid in neutral. Don't forget to use your parking brake.

That's a good idea. He meant to say you should cycle through every gear and wait a second at each gear until you get to 1, after that switch back to neutral.

Sorry about the technical stuff, when the van shudders you mentioned the engine wouldn't accelerate at all, if the RPM's go up but the van doesn't moves then it would be a transmission problem. If the van doesn't moves at all it will be a different problem more likely an engine problem.

Regards,

Oscar.

[MARZBX157]

I would do a full flush of the transmission and change the filter and see how she runs afterwards.

[serge_saati]

Originally Posted by WindstarMommy

1. After coming to a stop when I go to make my turn I will press on the gas and then she will start jerking...feels like I am driving a stick shift car with no experience. (I know how to drive a stick, tho' )

2. When I finally get her going to speed limit on the road she will just lose speed (slow down) right while I am driving in traffic or in a flow. I can see the speedometer drop from 60-65 down to 40 within seconds --all while my foot has the gas pedal all the way down!

I am terrified that this will cause an accident. It almost DID while I was going through the hills and mountains in West Virginia I do a lot of back and forth traveling from Michigan to North Carolina.

It seems to be a weak fuel pump problem. Or an EGR valve, EGR port or DPFE sensor problem.
You may also have a lean mixture codes if EGR is stuck open.

It will be good if you scan your new OBD 2 codes. Because you like to work on your Windstar, it'll be a good idea that you buy an OBD2 code scanner.
You don't need the professional CAN-BUS scanner for a 2000 Windstar, a simple universal OBD2 reader is enough.

[WindstarMommy]

Originally Posted by olopezm

, if the RPM's go up but the van doesn't moves then it would be a transmission problem.

Hi, Oscar...that's exactly what's happening. The engine will rev then the speedometer will go up but she slows down.

MARZBX157...here I go sounding dumb again, but do you mean a transmission filter? I know, bear with me please.

Is a transmission flush something I can do myself or should I go to a transmission shop?

Hi, serge_saati...I feared that something might be wrong with the fuel pump when it first started to happen. But then I checked a price on the pump $225 and then found out labor cost $210 and said to myself "nah, that's not the problem."

[serge_saati]

Originally Posted by WindstarMommy

The engine will rev then the speedometer will go up but she slows down.

Oh so the rpm goes up... I thought your engine lack of power. So don't mind what I said about pump, EGR, DPFE... etc. It's a transmission problem.

It's seem that the problem is either the clutch pack, clutch bands or servos for gear sets of 4th gear.
The "3-4 shift valve solenoid" shifts the trans from 3th to 4th gear by opening an integrated valve that allow trans fluid to activate the clutch pack.
If clutch pack is not working, it's like if you were in neutral.

If you drive with O/D off, it still slowing down? The O/D off light is still on your dashboard?

When the PCM (computer) detects the transmission problem, it prevents the trans to shift until you stop.

Your engine code can tell you if you have a trans solenoid problem, but you need a high tech OBD reader to scan trans codes.

Or, you still have an issue with your TRS. Maybe the alignment is still incorrect.

[MARZBX157]

WindstarMommy,

Yes, you will need a new transmission filter as well as about 15 to 18 quarts of transmission fluid. There are many posts here on the procedure, but basiclly you will
1. remove one of the transmission lines (return line) and connect that to some clear tubing which you can get at Home Depot.
2. Run the clear tube into a bucket to catch the fluid.
3. Run the engine and let the fluid run out then shut the engine off.
4. Remove the trans. pan and change the filter, replace the pan.
5. Put fluid in through Trans. the dip stick (about 6 QTs.)
6. Repeat step 3. until you see the color of the fluid turn nice and red (clean looking) Through the clear tubing.
7. reconnect the trans. line and check fluid levels.

Again, if you search in this forum you will find tons of info and probably more detailed than what I put up here. this is just a run-down of it.

[serge_saati]

According to Dekeman, it's not a good idea to flush the trans fluid if it's more than 2 years old. It could damage the trans. It's better to just let drop the old fluid and add new. Or not change it at all.
Cause the dirt can cumulate at clutch bands and damage them.

[WindstarMommy]

serge_saati...I thought you could only pull codes when CEL was on? Before I bought my own scan tool everyplace I took it to told me "we can't read anything if the CEL is not on (Autozone, Mechanic Shops, etc) so are you saying it is possible?

I will drop the old fluid and replace it. That seems easy enough for me but first I will research the forums, do the gear test that Mark told me to do and hold onto the info that MARZBX157 gave me tomorrow. Thanks, guys.

I'm off to bed now...it's 1053pm. I will check the boards before I go "mechaning" in the morning. Good-night, fellas.

[mark_gober]

Originally Posted by WindstarMommy

serge_saati...I thought you could only pull codes when CEL was on? Before I bought my own scan tool everyplace I took it to told me "we can't read anything if the CEL is not on (Autozone, Mechanic Shops, etc) so are you saying it is possible?

I will drop the old fluid and replace it. That seems easy enough for me but first I will research the forums, do the gear test that Mark told me to do and hold onto the info that MARZBX157 gave me tomorrow. Thanks, guys.

I'm off to bed now...it's 1053pm. I will check the boards before I go "mechaning" in the morning. Good-night, fellas.

Windstar,

You are correct. There are no codes unless the CEL is on. (Although a code that cleared would still show in the history, even though your CEL isn't on)

Not to start overriding other's suggestions here, but just check your tranny fluid first before you start doing flushes/change outs etc. A tranny low on fluid would act very similar to what you're describing. Solenoids failing would mean your engine would run at very high RPMs because the transmission would never engage the higher gear. (Similar to driving down the road with your car in L1 or L2)

Not to toss fear around, but let me tell you my experience. I bought a 2000 w/ 3.8l and thought it was a good idea to put new fluid in the tranny. (This is something most people NEVER do and it's supposed to be done regularly). I threw down for the Mobil 1 synthetic "good stuff" and put it in. I drained what was in the pan and replaced the filter. Filled it back up and drove it around. (Doing it this way does NOT get all of the old fluid out because approx. half it resides inside the tranny and not in the pain, but if you do it frequently, you'll be fine) Anyway, less than 2 weeks later, my transmission started acting terrible. I had hell getting it to shift gears when you driving. If it ever did make it OD, it'd be fine, but sometimes I couldn't make it up to OD.) Anyway, I took it in to a transmission shop and had them diagnose it. It was a busted band in the transmission (or so they told me.) The repair was around 2k w/ only a 6 month warranty. (AAMCO) I was able to get a new tranny from Pep Boys for around $1600-$1700 and I installed it myself. This is a MAJOR swap. I'd never done a transverse mounted tranny swapout, but it was murder. The entire subframe came out and the engine was held up by an engine hoist. (The subframe is what your wheels/suspension and everything else under the hood is connected to.)

Autozone had it for quite a bit cheaper (~$1300), but it wasn't in stock.

Hopefully your problem is easy. I'd hate for you to have such a good success and then be thwarted by an unrelated tranny problem.

[serge_saati]

I thought that your CEL was still on, my mistake. I just re-read post #22.

[WindstarMommy]

Oh, no problem serge_saati.

OK, guess what?! I just went through the gears and let Big Burgundy get to operating temp. I checked the tran fluid while she was running in Neutral...the very tip (the rounded part) of the dipstick was the only part of the stick that was wet.

The level was no way NEAR the crosshatch area
I thought that tran fluid never ran out. Does this mean there is a leak somewhere?

[serge_saati]

Yes, inspect trans pan, torque converter and trans seals. It's something critical.

[WindstarMommy]

OH, SNAP!!!! Really, serge_saati?!?!

I took these photos just now...tell me is this the pan you are talking about?
I know that the one with the red markings is the oil, I mean the one behind it.

==> http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/3435jj/01_07_7.JPEG

==> http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/3435jj/01_07_8.JPEG

==> http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/3435jj/01_07_11.JPEG

Exactly what am I looking for when I inspect it? Do I just loosen those bolts that hold the pan up there? Please let me know.

I know when I got my oil changed about 2 weeks ago I went into the bay while she was hoisted because I could see all this oil on that exact pan in the photos. The guy told me "you got a leak somewhere" but he couldn't determine if it was an oil or tran leak . ((I can't wait until I learn how to change my own oil)) We looked at the color but it was so dirty that I couldn't determine it either.