Good Morning folks,
Haven't been on here in awhile. Okay, here is the weird issue. Thought originally I was out of luck. To begin with I originally went to back out of my driveway. Put it in reverse. Engine would rev with the throttle and nothing. I then decided to push in the overdrive button to off (light on). Guess what? If I do this then make the van go forward a couple of inches the van can then be placed in reverse and it backs up. Not without a bit of struggle though but, it moves. Say then I'm backed out of my driveway. I stop, place it in drive and I'm on my way. As long as I have the overdrive off (light on) it drives normal. I can even build up speed on the highway. Say I'm up to 60, I then let up on the gas a bit and engage the overdrive button (light off) it can go down the highway in overdrive. Forget it though if there is a head wind. It will then slip and so I quickly take my foot off the throttle and press the overdrive button to off (light on).
I have read where the valve body can become loose and allow weird shifts if not run down tight.
This van had 160G on it when I bought it from a police auction 3 yrs ago. It now has 225G on it with the 3.0 ltr and 4.10 rearend. The right side axle has always howled under a load but never gave up the ghost. Has been totalled twice and twice I have put it back together. I changed out the trans filter, pan and gasket at 170G and also put in a new radiator since I never knew how this van has been treated. I've pulled a lot of weight with it. This has been going on for 2 months as I'm down to just this van. The computer connector won't process any info. Shows nothing. Maybe the ecu is bad. I had the cat taken off but kept the boss in place for the oxygen sensor. It runs rich and only gets 10 mpg. I know something is inherently wrong some where. I do have a 1997 shorty parts van with only 100G on it with everything on it the same for a swap out if need be.
I'm just wanting to see if there is something I've overlooked. The van is ready to be put to bed but, id love to fix it if I had any idea about what it might need. I'm hoping that one of you folks have either had the same issues or might have an starting point for me to go off of.
Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Again, sorry haven't been on here in awhile. I've got about 10 of these van and could write a book about everything else I've experienced. I look forward to belonging to this awesome site once more and contributing.
I'm just looking for some guidance here.
V/r
Tim Boswell "Bozzzz94"

 

I wish I had an answer for you but instead, I'll add my recently developed problem. I've also got a 97 Aerostar, 3.0L/Auto. First thing in the morning when I start off, I get to the end of the street where I have to stop and turn. The Aerostar's frontend is a couple of feet higher than the rear at the stop. The transmission slips out of gear like I pulled it into neutral and the engine revs when I try to go again. Then it will catch and I'm good to go the rest of the day. It acts like I'm low on transmission fluid but the stick shows it's full. I talked to a friend of mine that used to rebuild transmissions and he thought it was something called a "sprag" causing the problem. I doubt if I can get him to fix it for me though.

I'd be interested in what the fix is. I've seen rebuilt engines but can't locate any rebuilt transmissions - only boneyard stuff. I rebuilt a torque-flite many years ago but don't think I'm up to tearing this one down.

 

Ah, carte blanche. Just what I was hoping for.
You can take a tour of the tranny over on Frankentranny, showing a few things that can go out, and the scope of a rebuild.
Also, recently I had what appeared to be a blow out on the torque converter while doing 0-60 runs.
I mention this only because it said to me that TC (seal?) condition can be a factor.

*****
Checking fluid level.
- Flat ground.
- Warmed up, like 10+ minutes of driving.
- Tranny in park, engine running.

 

Thanks gents for the advice. No real answer to age. Im parking it and pulling the motor from a 1997 shorty parts van. Only 105 G on the motor and trainy. I have had computer problems too. No download coming out of the connection under the dash-NIL!
225 G on this Aero. Its been totalled twice. It was a prison van from Hollis Ok. New it cost n.a. k in 1997 27 G. I bought it for $201.03. Originally had 160 G on it. White, blue cloth interior, 410 rearend. Axle always screamed on pass side but the Air was never serviced and has always blown cold.
What a machine it has been. Was T-boned in the pass side of door and fender and pushed in the firewall on Nov 30 2016. I promised myself I would be driving but again before the ball dropped in New York. I made that quota by 4 days with corrected salvage paperwork.
I'm attached to it and will never turn it in or have it crushed. I'd drive it off a cliff before that happened. Guess what? I own over 20 Area's and just bought another one for $201 dollars on Oklahoma gov auction site with 105 G on the clock. Steering loose so it was parked. Also they said rabbits have eaten the wiring. No problem for me on either of those issues. It is up in Fort Supply Ok and I'm down here in Burkburnett Tx some 225 mi away.
Aeros are basic but I love them. In fact I think I've only seen two other ones cartingbaroumd other than mine.
tnx for the help Tim
ps-I will be posting soon with this new 1997 white shorty find. $201? Yepperzzzz 😁

 

Did you say you have 20 Aerostars?? Have, or have had?

 

Aerostars
(Gone) 1st 1990 3.0 extended grey
(Have) 2nd 1994 4.0 ext. Eddie Bauer All wheel
(Have) 3rd 1993 4.0 ext. Eddie Bauer All wheel
(Have) 4th 1993 4.0 ext Sport
(Have) 5th 1997 3.0 ext XLT
(Have) 6th 1997 3.0 shorty XLT
(Have) 7th 1997 3.0 shorty XLT
(Have) 8th 1997 3.0 shorty XLT
(Have) 9th 1997 4.0 All Wheel FLY
(Have) 10th 1993 4.0 Eddie Bauer XLT
(Have) 11th 1993 (1989 Front end) ext. XLT
(Have) 12th 1994 ext Panel Van
(Have) 13th 1993 shorty Panel Van
*Just bought need to pick up from Ok auction
a cherry 105k white shorty XLT 3.0 Tinted window.
bought for $201 May 2nd. Loose steering rack and possible wiring issues (hungry rabbits parked 1 yr).
---------
sorry I lied. Seemed like more. Let's see-2 went to the crusher in To. and I have a 1997 shorty parts van with 105k on the odometer. This one will be the donor for the motor & trans transplant for my daily driver.

ps----A new interest of mine NOW is a 2001 PT Cruiser I bought at Dallas Auction online. Wrecked, changed out bottom S-3arm on D side. Driver door and fender replaced too. Have 220K on the motor. Its a 5 sod. 2.4 twin cam. Has a turbo from the factory and is rated 260 hp from the factory. Black with maroon ghost flames. A cherry lil car. Custom air induction hood with scoop, custom duel exhaust, custom wrap around facia rear bumper panel, chrome strut supoort bar. Custom front alligator seats. I paid $300 back in Jan 18. Almost have it on the road. New facia and horns then paperwork. It has a rear hatch (like an Aerostar). Rear seats and passenget front seat lay down. Gas mileage isn't great for a little car like this. An automatic gets 21 city 26 hwy but this manual 4 sod might get 30 mph. Having fun. WHAT it all about RIGHT?
I'm a mini van hoarder. IT'S IN MY BLOOD!
Tnx Tim

 

Wonderful news for my slippage problem! I tried adding a bottle of Lucas AT treatment after drawing out a quart. Got back in to try it out and it was worse than ever! After thinking about it for a couple of weeks, I came to the conclusion the treatment which was thicker than molasses in January must have plugged the filter so I ordered a replacement. I changed the filter yesterday and while doing so, drained between 3 to 4 quarts of the old fluid. With the new filter in place, I added 3 quarts of fluid back to make up for what was lost while changing the filter. The van wouldn't move at all. Before changing the filter, the fluid level showed over full. I figured I'd add the 3 quarts back and ease up to the full mark but when I checked the fluid level, it didn't show on the stick. I added another quart, still noting on the dip-stick but the van just barely moved when I put it in gear! I bought 2 more quarts and added them one at a time. After the first quart, still nothing on the dip-stick!! After I added the now 5 quarts back, the van would move itself again! I drove it around the block and up some pretty steep hills without any problem. I bought some more AFT and added about 3/4 qt more to put the level back a little over full.

So the problem all along was the old filter was plugged up so bad, fluid couldn't get to the pump and backed up in the pan making it appear the transmission was over full all the time. That fits perfectly with the symptoms because it was acting like it was low on fluid all along but the dipstick said otherwise and threw me off.

Changing the filter is no big deal. It takes a 13mm socket to remove the bolts holding the pan in place. Be sure to have a big pan ready to catch the fluid as the pan starts dropping. I saved the cardboard from the water heater I'd just changed and that REALLY came in handy to keep the concrete clean. Next time I'll know - in fact, I think I'll be changing the filter at least once a year from now on as a preventative. I'd really like to try flushing the old fluid like I saw somewhere here awhile back. They said it was possible to connect a hose to the transmission pump suction with the filter removed and put it in a 5 gallon can of ATF. Then run the engine until the fluid coming back starts looking good - probably about 3 gallons are needed to flush the torque converter. Flushing this way should cause no harm as opposed to the flushing machines that reportedly cause trouble afterwards. I tried to have this transmission flushed this way right after I bought the van but the shop owner flat refused to do it no matter what I said.

 

DFord, I missed your first post, but went through the same thing w/my '92. Also, on cold mornings, it wouldn't want to engage, unless I let it warm up a couple minutes. And in the afternoon, coming off the highway to the stop light, it would slip. I generally take the conservative approach, and just replace what fluid drains out with the pan. I think I got another year out of it before it blew.