94 with weird tranny problem
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Senior User
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94 with weird tranny problem
At 212K miles my Aerostar is still running fine, it's got the 3.0 and the only problem is that I have to run a lot of tranny fluid through it.
I talked with a tranny repair shop owner and the guy owns two Aerostars himself so he "knew just what I was talking about".
I explained that my tranny works flawlessly as long as the fluid is full, however when it starts to get low the van hesitates to engage in forward gear. If I add fluid this behaviour disappears and it runs correctly.
He told me there is a diaphram that works by vacuum that has something to do with shifting & actuating. He said that sometimes the material gets old, damaged or otherwise leaks. Then the fluid can travel up the vacuum line into the engine.
There is no leakage of fluid at all under the van, but I continue to add about a gallon of trans fluid a month.
Questions:
1. does this sound like a good & reasonable explanation?
2. if so what is needed to fix it?
3. inevitably my crankcase oil has been replaced in whole or in part with trans fluid, what are the possible problems that can come from this?
I haven't added crankcase oil in quite a long time but it is always full.
Thanks!
I talked with a tranny repair shop owner and the guy owns two Aerostars himself so he "knew just what I was talking about".
I explained that my tranny works flawlessly as long as the fluid is full, however when it starts to get low the van hesitates to engage in forward gear. If I add fluid this behaviour disappears and it runs correctly.
He told me there is a diaphram that works by vacuum that has something to do with shifting & actuating. He said that sometimes the material gets old, damaged or otherwise leaks. Then the fluid can travel up the vacuum line into the engine.
There is no leakage of fluid at all under the van, but I continue to add about a gallon of trans fluid a month.
Questions:
1. does this sound like a good & reasonable explanation?
2. if so what is needed to fix it?
3. inevitably my crankcase oil has been replaced in whole or in part with trans fluid, what are the possible problems that can come from this?
I haven't added crankcase oil in quite a long time but it is always full.
Thanks!
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Georgia
It's called the a vacuum modulator. There are a lot of different threads on the subject. Use the Search this Forum to find them.
I had the same problem but didn't go through near that much fluid. Change it or have it changed. It worked for me.
Again, do the search. It will help.
As far as question 3? How did it get replaced with tranny fluid? Are you saying the tranny fluid is leaning into the oil pan??????
I had the same problem but didn't go through near that much fluid. Change it or have it changed. It worked for me.
Again, do the search. It will help.
As far as question 3? How did it get replaced with tranny fluid? Are you saying the tranny fluid is leaning into the oil pan??????
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
On the 3.0L tranny, it's really easy to change. Just unbolt one screw and pull it out, making sure you don't lose a small black pin (a few inches long, 1/8" diameter). Put that black pin inside the new modulator and push the whole assembly in. There is only an O-ring seal around the modulator, and it's already installed on the new one. Then put the retainer and the bolt back on, and you are done. Let me guess, when you accelerate or go uphill, the engine makes this pinging/clacking sound, right?
It's a common problem, for the 3.0L A4LD since there is no heat shield around the modulator to shield it from the hot exhaust, which is very close to it.
All in all, I would say it's a 15 min job.
It's a common problem, for the 3.0L A4LD since there is no heat shield around the modulator to shield it from the hot exhaust, which is very close to it.
All in all, I would say it's a 15 min job.
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Senior User
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Urgent
I got the unit from NAPA yesterday, started the R&R today.
Got the old one out, pulled the pin & put it in the new one then reached up over the cat. conv. to insert it...
Seemed like something was not right so I pulled it, look inside, NO PIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Felt all over the work area - NO PIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Got our, checked clothing... NO PIN!!!!!!!!!!!
My pin is gone. I wonder where it could be? Is there enough clearance for it to slip into the hole where the modulator goes & off to black hole territory?
Where do I find another pin? (This sucks)
Got the old one out, pulled the pin & put it in the new one then reached up over the cat. conv. to insert it...
Seemed like something was not right so I pulled it, look inside, NO PIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Felt all over the work area - NO PIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Got our, checked clothing... NO PIN!!!!!!!!!!!
My pin is gone. I wonder where it could be? Is there enough clearance for it to slip into the hole where the modulator goes & off to black hole territory?
Where do I find another pin? (This sucks)
New User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15
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The pin p/n is e5tz-7a380-b; it is 1-23/64" long but I don't know the diameter. After you buy or make one, THEN you'll find the old one. Good luck.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
There is an aluminum "valve" inside. That valve looks like a miniature barbell, so there no chance that pin can get inside the tranny. It's there somewhere. May be on the case, right under the hole where the modulator goes in. Or maybe it fell off and is resting on top of the cat when you reach over. Or may be it's still inside the hole (use a little magnet to find out).I don't think you can find that pin in any repair shop, so look for it hard. If you are desperate, give me your address. I have an "emergency replacement" pin I made out of 1/8" steel rod and I can mail it to you for free. That pin worked in my van for about ten thousand miles before I found the original pin I had hidden so well I couldn't find at the moment, so I'm sure it'll work in yours. 
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
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From: Southern California
Originally Posted by cptn60
The pin p/n is e5tz-7a380-b; it is 1-23/64" long but I don't know the diameter. After you buy or make one, THEN you'll find the old one. Good luck.
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I took a small mirror & flashlight out there & looked all around. My work surface is clean so I would see it if it were on the floor. I even went inside & took off my clothes & shook them out to make sure it wasn't hiding somewhere.
I called a trans repair shop, the guy said to come & get one. Only 3 miles from here, thank God I have the Ranchero!
I called a trans repair shop, the guy said to come & get one. Only 3 miles from here, thank God I have the Ranchero!
Last edited by rbastedo; Jun 23, 2004 at 02:33 PM.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
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Well the guy at the tranny repair shop made a pin for me.
Gave it to me for free too. My bro in law had his Aerostar tranny rebuilt there and the guy owns 3 Aerostars himself so he knows I'll eventually be in there for more business.
I told him I was changing out the modulator & he said: "why, is it leaking?".
Anyway, I got the deed done and it shifts & runs great. Thanks all for the assist.
Gave it to me for free too. My bro in law had his Aerostar tranny rebuilt there and the guy owns 3 Aerostars himself so he knows I'll eventually be in there for more business.
I told him I was changing out the modulator & he said: "why, is it leaking?".
Anyway, I got the deed done and it shifts & runs great. Thanks all for the assist.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 61
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From: canada
Hey! Deja Vu
I had an identical problem as you. I was going to reuse the old pin...when I had it disappear in the same fashion as you did. Turns out I never had a new pin to install, or a adjusting screw for that matter, just the mod. I have sent my husband to Partsource to retrieve the pieces they neglected the first time. Using a magnet did nothing to pull it from where it's hiding, I imagine it'll fall out on the road when I hit a bump sometime in the future. I was told also to never reuse the old pin as it is part of the problem, and the new pin is necessary in the reinstallation process.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: canada
more drama about the pin.
Well, the soap opera goes on... went to parts source for the pin. The guy said,"just bring in the part and I will give you the pin. Well, no. This morning the story was different,(very upset hubby too) they as I suspected from this site, don't have a pin use the old one! Hmmm.... so, phoned Napa and they said bring in the part and we will find something. The thread on here said, use a 1/8th steel rod cut a couple of inches long. It lasted the guy 10,000 miles or kms not sure. The guy at Napa said, it probably was PLASTIC!!! What?
Plastic? Well that would explain why the magnet wouldn't work. Anyway, off to Napa to fabricate a part. Wish me luck, my daughter has Army Cadets tomorrow in Winnipeg, I sure would like to drive the van rather than the old 4x4 Toyota 1/4 ton. I'm sure that one day I will look back and the box will be following me seperately! Thanks again, I'll keep you posted.
Hammerhead
Plastic? Well that would explain why the magnet wouldn't work. Anyway, off to Napa to fabricate a part. Wish me luck, my daughter has Army Cadets tomorrow in Winnipeg, I sure would like to drive the van rather than the old 4x4 Toyota 1/4 ton. I'm sure that one day I will look back and the box will be following me seperately! Thanks again, I'll keep you posted.
Hammerhead
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Does anyone have a diagram on where this valve is at?
The instructions given here have been wonderful!
I'm having the same problems and I am getting the pinging etc.
I will order and replace this darn problem today!
BTW.. I have 92 Aerostar with a 3.0l
The instructions given here have been wonderful!
I'm having the same problems and I am getting the pinging etc.
I will order and replace this darn problem today!
BTW.. I have 92 Aerostar with a 3.0l