I have an 95 Aerostar, 70k miles, V6 3.0L since two month ago and I am new to this forum.

I have some doubts about the automatic transmission:

First, the fluid level seems to be high so I want to know what are the symptoms and risks of a fluid excess. I have used a big syringe with a hose to extract some, but I have problems to be sure if it is enough, because it is not easy to determine the exact level with the dipstick.

Second, I have some problems with shiftings. When the transmission go from 1st to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd there is some rough shift but when I shift to reverse there is a very rough shift, specially when the engine is cold.

How can I solve this rough shifting, adjusting, changing some parts?

Please help me, I live in Chile where Aerostar is not a common one and I have no one here who knows about them to ask for help.

Thanks a lot, my greetings from far Chile.

Emilio

 

Before you do anything else, be sure to have the right fluid level.
If you don't have the owner's manual this is how to do it:

Cold engine (If you haven't driven for several hours or overnight):
*start engine, apply hand brake, shift through all gears forward and reverse and you should feel the gears engage. Place the shifter in "Park" with the engine running and wipe the dipstick before dipping and reading.
The reading should be between the two holes at the tip of the dipstick.

Warm engine (if you have driven 35 km or apprx half an hour)
*keep engine running, apply hand brake, shift through all gears forward and reverse and you should feel the gears engage. Place the shifter in "Park" with the engine running and wipe the dipstick before dipping and reading.
The reading should be within the hatched area of the dipstick.

Keep in mind that the fluid expands as it heats up.
And know that if you do not engage gears before reading, you will get a very high reading.

OK, if this was all known to you and already done, you better start troubleshootin'.
I've had some hard shifts on LOW fluid levels and one major overheating leading to boiling fluid and spilling half the fluid.
Also I've adjusted the bands. Do a search on the forum and you'll find it.

Good luck.

 

Thanks, I didn't know the details you express "... And know that if you do not engage gears before reading, you will get a very high reading ...". So when I return to my home I will check the fluid level considering your advice and then I will post my experience.

 

What he's saying is that you should check the fluid when the engine is running, transmission in "P" position, but only after you have gone through and engaged all the gears, one by one.

 

Thanks again, I have followed your directions and I have had a successful trans fluid level measure (cold engine). It is OK, between two hole marks, but I think it is too close to bottom, so I will do another measure, but now with warm engine. I do not use my Aero to go to work, so I'll have to wait until night.

 

Is your cold idle kinda fast? Sounds like your vacuum modulator valve is pooched. With the engine not running get underneath and pull the vacuum hose from the valve and see if there is any tranny fluid dripping from it. If so replace the valve, preferably one from a Ford dealer.