Recently with my 1995 v6 3.0 Aerostar it has been acting like it is slipping out of gear. 178,523 miles 430 miles to the Tank !

example I was at the end of the drive way and stop there because there is a main road there, when I went to start off again it acting like it was in neutral, I shifted the automatic back and fourth with no help ... then I put it in over drive the gear I always use and gave it pump of gas little rev and it popped into gear. It has happened three time in a 2-3 week period.

Tonight another surprise when I went to the corner store, then came home I turn into the drive way a very slight slope and it seemed like it slipped into neutral again only for few seconds till I hit the gas again.

(Good News) once going down the road it shifts through all gears with no problems. This is a wonderful vehicle. I believe it has been a very long time since a transmission service ... and I have been kind of afraid as I know very little on trannys to try a service and filter change on my own.

1. worn shifter band ??

2. bad or clogged trans filter ??

3. nightmare clutch/pressure plate ???

3a. Loose shifting linkage I have about 1/4inch play at the auto shifter on the colum (I can move the shifter on either side of the over drive (D) on the shifter without shifting out of gear is this to loose ???

4. (It has fluid I always keep very close track of the fluids as she is old 1995 with 178,523 on it.)

5. Haynes has something in the book about tightning the band .. I have no idea when that was last done ...... awsome motor and exterior, and drive train.

Well that all for now please advise

 

sounds like one of two problems......
Low on transmission fluid.
One of the little ***** sticking in the valve body.

Put a can of transmission cleaner in it and run it for a week then do a filter & transmission fluid change.

 

The transmission fluid is good kinda dirty for my taste doesnt look burnt. It is at the correct level, and it only really seems to do it if the engine cold. If the vehicle has been running for awhile I have never had it happen only when it is warming up.

Even as stated above on the run to the corner store it is not even far enough for the engine to warm up enough to move the temp needle.

How hard is a fluid and filter change on the V6 3.0 automatic. The thing that scares me the most is I dont want to take the pan off the transmission and have things start fallin out on me. I believe I saw when I looked in the book on it once that there are magnetic things in the pan........... which brings to mind my wifes brother who works on vehicles alot told me the transmission has a honey comb inside so I think I can grasp how easy it would be for it to get clogged.

Any suggestions, do you think I could do it I'm a good block mechanic but have never done transmission work I am very orderly ... as to not loose pieces or items. From what I have read so far looks like if I did it I would need the Trans fluid, then Filter, and trans pan gasket --- anything else --- open to more advise.

Chris

 

Desertstorm-007

You never know until you try it.

My first transmission to rebuild was a C-4 out of my 68 Mustang. Borrowed a book from a friend and bought a rebuild kit for 100.00 (about 1980-81) The shop wanted to charge me 500.00 to do it.

If you have a NAPA Auto Parts store in your area you can get a Ford A4LD Techtran Manual by ATSG that will show you what to watch out for and how to rebuild it if you ever what to.
The best place to order parts from is www.bulkparts.com

The magnet is there to catch metal filings. About the only thing that will fall out on you when you take off the bottom pan is tranmission fluid 8O)

Good Luck

 

Thanks for the info .... I will try all the above

Thanks again

Chris/Florida