Notices
Aerostar Ford Aerostar

Overdrive question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 9, 2005 | 04:06 PM
  #1  
MikeB 88's Avatar
MikeB 88
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Overdrive question

I'm posting this for a friend. I told him about this site and he is interested in joining. This is his question:

I have a 1992 ford aerostar extended van with
270,000 miles. My transmission will not shift into
overdreive but the other three gears shift normally.
I am thinking that it is my overdrive servo, Is
there any special tools required to change out the
overdrive servo and is there anything special that I
should look for.
 
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2005 | 04:29 PM
  #2  
BarryFS's Avatar
BarryFS
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg
Does it shift when it has warmed up?
 
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2005 | 09:51 PM
  #3  
copper_90680's Avatar
copper_90680
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Club FTE Gold Member
After 270,000 miles, the clutch might be suspect. As for the overdrive servo, it's on the side of the tranny and there should be no problem accessing it. Nor does it require any special tools.
 
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2005 | 03:26 AM
  #4  
Ed's Avatar
Ed
Posting Guru
25 Year Member
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 6
From: Northern California
Change the ATF and filter in the Aerostar. When the atf fluid gets worn out, with the additive package being depleted, the OD shift becomes lazy or non-existent. BarryFS makes a good point too, if it shifts okay when warm, but not cold. All I am saying, is many times, a ATF and filter change does wonders for a transmission that has been neglected. It's much cheaper for a fluid (use a quality brand name ATF too. I have had excellent results with Chevron's ATF and relaiability in my '87 A4LD transmission) and filter change, before transmission work / rebuilt must be performed. Good luck...ED
PS Always lubricate the trans linkage when you are under your Aerostar for an oil change, etc. Nothing is worse, than on a cold, damp, rainy winter night. You come out on a friday night, after enjoying a delicious dinner with your spouse...girlfriend, etc. Start your ice cold 3.0 V6, putting the lever in "D", then "Snappppp!!" the floor mounted shifter or the newer column mounted shifter, flops around in your hand, not connected to anything...
 
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2005 | 08:48 AM
  #5  
MikeB 88's Avatar
MikeB 88
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Thanks for the replies. I will pass them along. His transmission shifts just fine in all gears except for overdrive. This van is on a pretty good maintenance schedule. He drives it cross country several times a year.
 
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2005 | 11:06 AM
  #6  
BarryFS's Avatar
BarryFS
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg
I'm saying that because I believe that the OD is inhibited when it is cold. We get -40c here, and I noticed, going into winter, that the OD was nogo untill it had warmed up, then worked fine.
 
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2005 | 07:26 PM
  #7  
cbr900's Avatar
cbr900
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: brooksville, florida
barryfs, what exactly do you mean by inhibited? inihibited by what? the reason I ask is because my van does the same thing, works fine when warm but makes a horrible noise when cold when shifting to OD and takes for ever to change.
 
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2005 | 09:53 PM
  #8  
Kruse's Avatar
Kruse
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Originally Posted by copper_90680
After 270,000 miles, the clutch might be suspect. As for the overdrive servo, it's on the side of the tranny and there should be no problem accessing it. Nor does it require any special tools.


I'm with Copper on this one. With that many miles, I'd bet anybody that the
trans has major internal problems. In stock form, (before a rebuild) the A4LD does not have a tough reputation anybody. Be lucky that you got as many miles as you did.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Feb 11, 2005 | 02:51 AM
  #9  
blangland's Avatar
blangland
New User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I would pull the trans oil pan first and see how much trash is on the bottom and how much metal is stuck to the magnet on the bottom of the pan. Trans fluid is so neglected and should be changed at regular intervals. Also, never pull extreme loads with the overdrive engaged. I found out the hard way. The ld in a4ld stands for light duty. I would recomend a complete overhaul. I overhauled my a4ld and spent $400 in parts. That included the complete overhaul kit, an overdrive band, a new overdrive clutch drum, a good used overdrive servo piston, a 2nd to 3rd gear planetary assembly[good used], and a rebuilt torque converter. I also had to replace a needle thrust bearing that disintegrated, taking out the planet gear assembly and making a big mess. I did price a rebuilt a4ld at a nearby trans shop for $1,295.00 and an additional price of $250.00 for removing the old and installing the new one.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sea2seajt
2004 - 2008 F150
9
Oct 8, 2014 01:32 PM
1979F350/460
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Sep 5, 2013 11:15 AM
fiction1990
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
4
Feb 16, 2010 02:08 PM
MRStace84
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
0
May 11, 2007 01:21 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:26 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE