2009 Escape transmission problems

[XRing]

Originally Posted by jsone

Does anyone else notice a whining sound either from the engine or transmission when its cold until it's driven and warmed up a few mionutes?

When I see a post like this, I always go away wondering what year the car was,
what size engine it had and was it a FWD or AWD?

And it this case, is this a brand new car that made this noise from day one?
(Since it could be a 2008 Hybrid AWD with 182,000 miles on it).
Or did the noise just start with the cold weather?

[jsone]

Originally Posted by XRing

When I see a post like this, I always go away wondering what year the car was,
what size engine it had and was it a FWD or AWD?

And it this case, is this a brand new car that made this noise from day one?
(Since it could be a 2008 Hybrid AWD with 182,000 miles on it).
Or did the noise just start with the cold weather?

It's a 2009 Escape V6 automatic and I've noticed it since the weather is colder.I really notice it when accelerating at low speeds . It's like a whine or moan that changes with engine speed and gets less when the Escape warms up. It sounds like it is in the engine or transmission. I'm thinking may be I'm just getting paranoid from all the issues I've seen posted on transmissions and then the engine knock TSB. Now I'm thinking this noise is more like the noise I've always had during acceleration and just louder when cold.

[XRing]

Originally Posted by jsone

It's a 2009 Escape V6 automatic and I've noticed it since the weather is colder.I really notice it when accelerating at low speeds . It's like a whine or moan that changes with engine speed and gets less when the Escape warms up. It sounds like it is in the engine or transmission. I'm thinking may be I'm just getting paranoid from all the issues I've seen posted on transmissions and then the engine knock TSB. Now I'm thinking this noise is more like the noise I've always had during acceleration and just louder when cold.

Mine is the 2.5L engine and I haven't really driven in any cold weather yet.
It's only been down to freezing one night this fall (here in the Boston area).

I don't know anything about the V6, but maybe it's just the normal cold
engine sounds you are hearing. The valves in my old CRV use to clatter
when it was really cold.
And, I do know what you mean about getting paranoid. I've have not
owned an automatic transmission for about 30 years (73 Lemans),
so I'm not even sure what an automatic should sound like or when it
should shift..

Keep a close eye on your oil and ATF, to make sure what's happening
isn't being caused by low fluid levels.

Next time you start it up on a cold morning, pop the hood and stand
out fount and listen to the engine. It will run at higher RPMs until
it gets warm, and if you hear the noise, maybe that eliminates the AT.?.

[HC53]

Originally Posted by jsone

It's a 2009 Escape V6 automatic and I've noticed it since the weather is colder.I really notice it when accelerating at low speeds . It's like a whine or moan that changes with engine speed and gets less when the Escape warms up. It sounds like it is in the engine or transmission. I'm thinking may be I'm just getting paranoid from all the issues I've seen posted on transmissions and then the engine knock TSB. Now I'm thinking this noise is more like the noise I've always had during acceleration and just louder when cold.

Relax, the sound is normal (for the 6f35)

How do I know this?

I'm on my 3rd transmission in my 2009 AWD 3.0...they all sound the same when cold.

[jsone]

Originally Posted by HC53

Relax, the sound is normal (for the 6f35)

How do I know this?

I'm on my 3rd transmission in my 2009 AWD 3.0...they all sound the same when cold.

Thanks for your reply. My still whines/moans after warm but much less . Does yours also ? Why are you on your third transmission ?

[DavePJ]

I've had the transmission flare and the dealer flashed it per TSB 09-18-3. I'm no longer noticing a flare or any other unusual tranny operation. Here's the highlights of the TSB:

"Some 2009 Escape, Mariner, 2010 Fusion and Milan vehicles built on or before 8/2/2009 and equipped with an automatic transmission may exhibit harsh 3-1 or 2-1 rolling stop downshift or downshift hesitation during throttle tip-in/tip-out 3-4-2 downshift maneuver at vehicle speeds between 20-40 MPH (32-64 Km/h). Also may have 2-3 or 3-4 upshift flare during cold starts (engine off for 2 or more hours). There is a new calibration that will improve the transmission downshift maneuver under these conditions and also improve 2-3, 3-4 upshift flare when vehicle is cold."

[HC53]

Thanks for the link.

[derekg]

I got this car from a relative who took very good care of it but they started having trouble with the transmission, they took it to a mechanic and it was put on a machine and said it was the torque converter, and sylenoid (sp?) was told they could replace the transmission or just those parts.. i drove it a couple of times and it feels like it slips some. how hard is this to fix?

[theoldwizard]

Originally Posted by derekg

I got this car from a relative who took very good care of it but they started having trouble with the transmission, they took it to a mechanic and it was put on a machine and said it was the torque converter, and sylenoid (sp?) was told they could replace the transmission or just those parts.. i drove it a couple of times and it feels like it slips some. how hard is this to fix?

If it is the torque converter you need to remove the transmission. Not a job for beginners.