OK..I have a '94 Aerostar, Extended, XL, 2 wheel drive, 3.0L and as far as I know the A4LD tranny. Its got 150,000 KMS on the clock and has been an excellent vehicle. We got it when it was about 2 years old. Done all the routine maintenance and that. No major work on anything, still original motor and tranny. Runs like new. Now a couple of things. I decided last week to give the tranny a new filter and some fresh oil. There wasn't any problems with the tranny, and I didn't add any "Tranny Flush" type fluids first. Just dropped the pan and let about a gallon of fluid drain out. First thing was trying to find the right filter. I took the old one to Lordco Autoparts store locally. They pulled out two Fram filters and neither was the same, or would fit from the look of them. The holes in wrong place, etc. Mine was a narrow, wedge shape (similar to the shape of an airplane wing, narrower at one end). The ones on their computer and in the Fram catalog were rectangular or more square, even the wrong gaskets too. She had the correct information in front of her, I was watching. It said A4LD tranny, for that year and engine. Then she looked on a bit and saw in the Bronco II column, it also listed an A4LD tranny. It also covered a Mustang and something else. She went to get it, and it was an exact match. So I stuck with it and installed it, being the van had the same one since new. That filter is a Fram FT1088. Anyone else ran into this, or did Ford run out of the "Aerostar" trannies for mine and grab a Bronco II's instaead?? My build date is 03/94. The sticker on the door jamb states the Trans code as a T.
So I then put in about 4 liters of Quaker State Dexron III/Mercon fluid. Went for a long drive, topped it up to full with it hot. It seemed OK. Used it a fwe days. Anyway here I am a few of days later, and the weather here (Canada, near Vancouver) is mildish. And has been just above freezing in the mornings. I notice now when its cold, when I get to the end of the driveway on the farm, and stop at the street, then accelerate up the slight incline onto the street that the transmission now slips. The engine revs up a bit more and the van doesn't move right away, then after a couple seconds at most, it goes. It never had any problems before. I didn't do anything but give it a new filter and some fluid as a treat. What have I done? Should I have gone to Ford for their fluid? Anyone recommend anything better? Synthetic even? I never tow a trailer and no hard driving. Easy foot all its life. Hardly ever sees hills. Just around town and down the highway, etc. Can't see why it would suddenly be going out on me. Thanks guys.

 

You know, I have had almost the same problem with my 92 AWD with an A4LD, but mine has a happy ending. One day the tranny started slipping in reverse and when starting out in first. The problem was worse when cold.

Everyone I talked to said the tranny was history. I added another half quart of tranny fluid, drove around for another few weeks and decided it was time to replace the tranny. I was very literally on my way to the scrapyard to buy a 95 tranny for $650 when I noticed the problem was gone. I have been driving for about 2 weeks now, and not even a hint of slipping.

This also is the time that I noticed the rear springs had given out and the whole van had a rather backwards tilt to it. I have now replaced the springs. I am wondering that if the backward tilt was enough to somehow create an air pocket or something in the tranny. I just cannot understand how this problem could have magically cleared up. In reading about other similar tranny problems, I wonder how many of them were legitimate problems, or just some other fluke occurrence?

Regan

 

I registered just to send you a message. My Aerostar 1994 AWD 4.0 had the same problem. The first problem occured when the transmission would start slipping. (77k miles) It did this at normal operating temperature. The transmission shop test drove the vehicle and it acted up. (I know that usually does not happen when you bring a vehicle in for repair) It was slipping all the time. Then it started acting normal. End of test drive.

We decided to replace the filter, it was dirty. It was worth spending $35.00 as a first test.

Well it ran good for awhile. Then the weather started getting cold and in the morning it would slip and hestitate, or pause before going into drive or reverse. When warmed up everthing would be ok. I decided to add a half quart additional transmission fluid and the problem is now gone.

After reading the experiances of what people have had with this transmission, I am keeping my fingers crossed. Good Luck

 

Thanks for your responses. I will check it out tomorrow and maybe add a little more fluid to it. Maybe that'll help. Unfortunately I did not know where the fluid level was on the dipstick before I changed it. All I know was it was in the safe area since I checked it a few times over the years and it was always in the safe area, so I never made a note of exactly where the level was. Then I hadn't checked it for a while before the fluid change to maybe give me an idea. It might have been closer to the full line for years, and maybe now I have it in that safe area it hasn't got exactly the same amount of fluid as before. We'll see what happens. I am tempted to blame the brand of fluid, its the only thing thats different. It is not the factory Ford fluid, but now its Quaker State Mercon and it don't like it! Its all the exact same I thought. If it continues after adding a bit more, I may be tempted to get some from Ford. (same thing anyway, but hey it might work OK.) Its not like I changed fluid and then drove 5000 KMS before the slipping trouble started. I only did a few miles to warm the fluid and top it up a few days ago. Then the next time I went out when it was cold, it slipped. Was OK as it warmed. So that makes me think more about the fluid thickness cold, and the timeframe this happened in. It never did anything like this before, and this is what I was hoping to prevent by changing filter and fluid.

 

A couple more thoughts on this. I had noticed some leaking tranny fluid before this slipping on my 92 Aerostar with A4LD (also a "T" transmission code) started. I have 115K on it now. Oil will expand when it warms up. I am really starting to believe that these problems are related to the oil level just being a little to low. Could there really be much harm in adding an extra 1/2-1 quart??? The entire system uses something like 10 quarts.

Regan

 

I guess an extra 1/2 quart or more shouldn't hurt. I tried to find out how much these things hold when I started out, all the book says is to add two pints after changing the filter. Must be for older transmissions cause I had a gallon come out of mine. I put the same back in. I guess the oil expands, this is why its suppost to be checked hot, so it doesn't get overfilled. But I'll check mine hot and see where exactly it is now, and try add a little bit extra if its not already over full. I am sure I had it close to the full line already, thats what I'd aimed for. I know that as I topped it up that day, I added 1/2 a liter (in Canada!)and it only brought it up the dipstick a little bit, and I think another splash brought it close to full and I called it quits that day.

 

Now I'm starting to use my brain!.... thinking about it, the cold fluid in the mornings, and the slope at the end of our drive. It seemed OK reversing at the house and driving down the drive. But the cold fluid would flow to the back of the oil pan on the slope of the drive, maybe a little extra fluid would help at that time, without being too full when its hot. I mean how accurate is a centimeter safe zone on a dipstick, when the fluid sloshes back and forth on hills etc anyhow. All I know is the filters pickup hole is low in the middle of the pan, and I would have assumed it would get fluid at all times, this is the design. 1/2 liter more wouldn't make much difference..???...its getting late. Brains had it now!

 

Hello from Vic BC
I don't know if this is your problem but when I changed the filter and tranny fluid myself it was a waste of time because all I was doing is diluting the new stuff with the oil left in the torque converter for $70.00 you can get a tranny flush done and it saves you the time and replaces the hole tranny with new fluid
Just a thought, Wal mart $70.00
Anyways this was my problem
The replacement filter I used was not the same thickness as the original and when I install the bolt in the recessed hole it bottom out, You could not tell that this happened because the bolt fit I a recessed hole and the holes lined up and fit right so there was no play, it was not until a few days, a week later while driving that I would heard strange noise and slipping in the tranny that I started to get worried. I was referred to a tranny shop by my co-worker that he uses and it was there that the problem was discovered the bolt was bottomed out which aloud the filter to work losses and fall half way out of the ports, sort of tilted, anyway I replaced the new 1 with a premium filter # 2 and the replacement bolt can with it with a note on the package stating to us this bolt with this filter
Long story short make sure your filter is seated home and not work out of the ports

 

Thanks jrktms5. I know that the filter I put in was identicle to the one that came out. The bolt hole was exactly the same as far as thickness of the filter where it goes in. I am sure it never bottomed out. This was the original bolt, and there wasn't a new bolt with this Fram filter. (Like I mentioned in the original post that when I told Lordco what model,year and engine size, I almost got the wrong filter then.) They were noticeably different shape altogether. Where as yours was still the same shape, but the bolt bottomed out.
Also, you are right about the old oil being left behind. I knew that much. My old oil wasn't burned smelling or dirty. I just decided to give it a treat. So I wouldn't expect the little left over old oil to cause slippage, since it never slipped before. My assumption. I had also looked into that complete flush at "The Great Canadian Oil Change" they just built here. They have a special $59, and use Petro Can fluid. But I had to do the filter myself, and add fluid to drive it anyway, so I thought for one that I may as well just leave it at that, with mostly new fluid, and maybe do it a gain in the spring time. Forget the flush from somewhere else. The fluids cheaper to buy and do myself a couple of more times anyhow. Plus I think I read a Post in this forum discouraging the flush, can't remember why though. I'd have to look it up again.
I checked the level last night. It is right at the top of the criss crossed area. It says on the dipstick not to add fluid if the fluid level is in the hatched area. Also there are two holes below that area, I assume are the LOW and FULL marks. I don't know what to do, since if I get too much fluid, it has to be taken out. Look at it next week.

 

I found this at another website:

Question: I have a 1993 Aerostar with an A4LD transmission. Recently in the morning after reversing the car out of our driveway and slipping into drive the transmission will not engage for a few seconds. Upon engagement, it drives fine all day long. Is this a band adjustment, or a symptom of worse trouble on the way? If this is a band adjustment, what is the band adjustment procedure and specifications I should use? Thanks in advance for our help. P.S. It has been a few years since I turned wrenches at repair shop!

Answer: A low fluid level in the transmission may cause the problem you describe. Check for external leaks (oil on garage floor). Also, check the vacuum modulator for a blown diaphragm (fluid in the vacuum line at the transmission). Another cause could be the torque converter draining back into the transmission overnight. If the converter is draining back, the "fix" is very involved. We do not think a transmission adjustment will help.

www.2carpros.com/topics/tranflui.htm

Regan

 

 

Got round to fixing this tranny slip problem. I added a bit extra fluid, slightley above full, to the transmission a few days back, to try get rid of that slight slip on a cold morning, and it was only one slip, then the rest of the trip was fine. Anyway, the slip seems to have gone! Great. But the weather has warmed up slightly on the West coast of Canada this weekend. It wasn't below freezing at all when it slipped before. So its not actually not that much difference in temperature, but somethings fixed it for now. Bye for now.

 

You guys wanna read about another van owner type in"a4ld rebuild" in your msn brouser.Theres a story about a guy who,s trany slipped that will interest you.HE spent $$$thousands$$$.Yeah the dealyed reaction in your transes is from improper hole sizes drilled throught the programing plate.I just did my own rebuild on this trans(unsuccesful) and found a tech update with the kit.I showed where to drill out the programing plateto cure a delayed revese problem.The factory hole was 1/16th...the tech update was to redrill it 1/8th.I did...it worked. MAkes me believe the pressure orfice for 1st is to small as well. Yeah...my rebiud worked great for 150mi.I was so proud of me.them bam was if i had taken it out of gear.Slipped so bad it wouldnt pull itself in any position.I let it col down and it works until you select O/D.Then back to slipping.Oh yeah ...the new oil filter replacements (depending on wich filter you buy) comes with a spacer for the new bolt supplied with the filter.Otherwise the bolt bottoms out before it tightens the filter.Mercon3 is the correct fluid for this trans in any brand.Anything else you put into it can cause the lockup clutch in the torque converter to slip.and it applies in 3 and 4th gears.One more thing I have the 4.0 4x4 ranger and the proper rpms at 65 are about 2000.If yours runs in the neighborhood of 2400-2500rpm,s...your torque converters lockup selenoid is faulty and your trans is running too hot because of the exxess slippage in the converter. ,,,,,jon

 

Unfortunately I've no tach on my Aerostar. I never had any slip in reverse at all though and still don't. I never had any troubles at all before I decided to change filter and fluid. Then after I changed it I had a slight slip in what was first gear every morning when it was cold, and seemed to go away immediately. I added more fluid over the full mark, and it seemed to have helped for the last week. Although since changing the fluid it seems to have gotten another wierd slip type action still, only once in a while when its warmed up, like when you slow to cross a set of train tracks for instance, and you slow way down for the STOP sign, then coast thru. But then accelerate, there is some sort of a hesitation, like its "taking a breath" first! Then off it goes. The engine revs up fine, the tranny seems at fault. This has developed in the few weeks since changing the fluid. Its like it is hesitant to change into lower gear as I'm slowing down, then accelerating again from the Stop signs and that. I used Quaker State Mercon/Dexron3 fluid. Maybe I should get Fords and put that in. It had worked good since new with theirs in it! Why did I bother to change it, and start this trouble?? As far as I know the engine and fuel and ignition system are good (but anything can go wrong!), since the van was just into Ford dealer a few weeks just prior to me changing tranny fluid. The van broke down and would not start. When it did start, it stalled immediatly. Got it to Ford. They pulled several codes! They replaced the Canister Purge Solenoid (or something like that), and were going to put a new MAF sensor, but cleaned the old one for the same price! (or something like that). They did full diagnostics, etc, and said it was in full working order, good tune, etc. It also had failed emmisions test recently and I spent a fortune on that too, so everything is upto par. The only thing that has never been done was the plugs and wires, and dist. cap. (I have 150,000KMS in Canada here). Although I asked Ford about these items, they said they tested them and they were great. The plugs are platinum. I'd pulled one out a couple of years ago, and was surprised about the great condition. I was told to not worry about changing them. They said they last forever (?). They say they do fleet pickups service for companys at the Ford dealer, and they pull the plugs after 200,000KMS and they are still like new. So they put them back in.
Anyhow. Thanks for the responses.

 

I checked the manual on your condition myvan .The onlycondition that seems to fit is:engine overspeeds on 3-2 downshift.Im not sure if they mean forced downshift(kick down) but they dont mention any kickdown cable fixes as they have in other causes pertaining to downshifting.The book says :linkage out of adjustment(make sure the positions in the selector match those on the trany,s arm down below.:intermediate band out of adjustment. you got mucho miles so its a possibility.:Improper band or clutch application,and one way clutch(maybe new oil is keeping worn one way clutch from applying quickly?)or oil pressure control system.:damaged or worn intermediate servo(external fix).olished,glazed band or drum.:dirty or sticking valve body.Since at city speeds(25-35) the trans in going between 2nd an 3rd,this condition seemed logical.I know my trans did the same.It would downshift into second at say a left hand turn onto another street without stopping so it would be going about 15 mph and that would be normal but,it seemed to "let go" for a secong and the engine RPM,s would increase unexpectedly, then drop, and the trans would settle for 2nd.Is that what yours does myvan?