1995 5.8L V8 w/E4OD E150 conversion van w/187K showing. On going transmission leak used to flash "OFF" light on the shifter stalk when fluid was low from leak. It would start hard shifting from 1st-2nd and adding fluid would make OD light go out and normal shifting returned until fluid got low again. Today it started the hard shifting from 1st-2nd but no light blinking on shifter. Also when first starting out and putting into reverse it hits hard into reverse gear. Feels normal when putting into drive though. Fluid was topped off and it still hits hard going from 1st to 2nd and alot lesser bump when going to 3rd and OD. Tranny dipstick shows fluid is full with van on level ground. The 1st-2nd shift is not as hard when slowly accelerating and is harder with increased acceleration. So far it has not refused to upshift but the 1st-2nd is very hard. Always shifts all the way to up OD when on the interstate. Thoughts? Thanks.

 

It sounds like a bad TPS to me. Does the van seem to have a flat spot, or hesitate on acceleration? It may just be time for a rebuild. The light blinking was indication that there was a problem with the elctronics in the transmission.

 

If the TPS is bad I need to run my scanner on the van to see if there is a code stored right?

 

It may not have set a code yet. It could be the TPS but I would first vote for the MLPS (manual lever position sensor), located on the side of the transmission. They can cause this issue.

Most importantly, get it fixed QUICK! Driving it in this condition could ruin an otherwise perfectly good transmission.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

The engine accelerates smoothly but it slams into 2nd hard. No flashing "OD" light and it's full of fluid according to the dipstick....on level driveway. I assume you are referring to the TPS (throttle position sensor)?
Thanks.

 

ptt - I had exactly the same problem you described for a few weeks before I finally got a code 122 (TPS error). Replaced the TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) on my 1995 5.8L V8 w/E4OD E350 van with 125K. It is now shifting smoothly again. Like I said, I was noticing the hard shift before the check engine light started showing the error code and storing it. Hope this helps as a possible cause. I would also heed ClubWagon's advice since he knows transmissions from what I have read on this forum..

 

Well, unbeknownst to me, the little woman took the van up to the post office early this morning without telling me and she said it hit hard when she shifted into reverse backing out of the driveway as it has been doing but it started shifting just fine all the way to the P.O. so she went on a few errands and it seems to have "fixed" itself! It shifts normal as it ever has now. Maybe something internally was stuck and got unstuck? Doubtful. I'm baffled........ Still need to fix that leak. The leaking fluid does appear on top of the casing mostly around the coolant line but I can tell if it has been blown there by the air when driving or not. Gotta wipe the casing down and set it down off the jacks and let it idle and jack it up to see the leak pattern I guess. I remember putting a tube wrench on the cooling lines about a month ago and they seemed tight. Some fluid is around the solinoid connector (behind that little shield) on the passenger side of the tranny casing but not in the amount that would make me suspect the leak is there. The fluid seems to have run around to that connection on the pan flange/rail. This van grew up in the Detroit area and got alot of salt in the winters there. I wonder if the cooling line could have a rusty spot that may be the culprit? I had to replace the steering while in FL one year and the Ford stealership charged me extra because the nuts and bolts were rusty!!! I still need to run the scantool for codes. Will post results. Thanks.