Ford WindstarIntroduced in the mid-1990s, the front-wheel-drive Ford Windstar minivan campaigned with an emphasis on, and reputation for, safety. And in the hotly contested family minivan market of the time, that was an especially solid piece of ground to be on. As long as buyers didn't need to haul adults in back on a regular basis, the Windstar served a family's needs just fine.
I just brought my 98 windstar to the transmission expert and did a transcan and it came up with a Gear 2 incorrect ratio. Does anybody knows what it means and how to fix? Thanks.
The transmission shop didn't really explain to me what goes wrong. Just suggests to replace all the seals and rings. Not a rebuild. I just want to see if anyone have the same experience.
It all happens two weeks ago when I was driving on hwy for 30 mins or so with 120km/h at 200 rpm, all of a sudden, the rpm shot up to 3 and then 4 , then back to 2. It continues for like 5 to 7 secs with gear shifting ups and downs and then back to normal again. But once it happens, when I get off hwy, gear won't shift, just stays on gear 1 or 2 I think. Then I brought it to a mechanic, he replaced all my o2 sensors and trans fluid and filters. He said the fruid was really dirty. He advised not to use o/d and test it.
It still happened the next two days. The funny thing is it only happened after 30 mins or so on hwy. But this week, it didn't happened again. Even today when I put it back to o/d, everything was normal. Even the trans guy did a test drive of sudden accelerate and stops, the trans shifts fine. But they said its slpped a little. Then they showed me the transcan of Gear 2 incorrect ratio. I forgot the code....
Hi try taking the van to a trusted shop I have all the trans fluid/oil change using a machine the ejects all the old oil and injects new one in some times the common oil change done by removing the oil pan leaves old oil in the trans and after long time it loses is properties
Well I have a practice of doin it to my cars every 2 years and I have had good results.
It all happens two weeks ago when I was driving on hwy for 30 mins or so with 120km/h at 200 rpm, all of a sudden, the rpm shot up to 3 and then 4 , then back to 2. It continues for like 5 to 7 secs with gear shifting ups and downs and then back to normal again. But once it happens, when I get off hwy, gear won't shift, just stays on gear 1 or 2 I think. Then I brought it to a mechanic, he replaced all my o2 sensors and trans fluid and filters. He said the fruid was really dirty. He advised not to use o/d and test it.
It still happened the next two days. The funny thing is it only happened after 30 mins or so on hwy. But this week, it didn't happened again. Even today when I put it back to o/d, everything was normal. Even the trans guy did a test drive of sudden accelerate and stops, the trans shifts fine. But they said its slpped a little. Then they showed me the transcan of Gear 2 incorrect ratio. I forgot the code....
If the fluid was that dirty then the trans is likely in need of a rebuild, not just rings and seals. Your description indicates the clutches have slipped at some point, this usually means they need replacement.
The trans filter can hold just so much dirt before it slows the flow of fluid, this reduces line pressure and allows the clutches to slip.
Does it have the stock tires and rims on it? Check the connectors on the tranny and make sure they are clean(pull apart and look in them with a flash light) A Qtip and some iso heet will clean them and then dump the iso heet in the tank or you can buy a can of electric contact cleaner, If they are real bad I would spend the $5. for the cleaner!
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1991 Ford Probe LX 3.0 mtx
If you have intermittant running problems or a flat spot/buck/dying/cutting out while accelerating.
Do your self a favor and try some dedicated gas
line dryer, Double or even triple dose it, It's cheaper
then throwing parts at a problem that doesn't throw
codes!!
Thank you so much for all the advices. Again, this morning is fine after driving on hwy for 40 mins.
I spoke with my mechanic last night and he also said take the transmission apart with all the work and just replace seals and rings doesn't make sense to him too. So he suggests me to drive until it happens again and then get another trans shop to do a full rebuild.
And luckily if nothing happens from now for two months, have another transmission fruid change and see how dirty it is and will have more clue....
Btw, I think I am lucky on my 1998 Windstar as I owned it since 1997 brand new and now have 310000 km on it. I put on 110km hwy mileage everyday and its the first time that I have trans hi-cups.
I would not go back to the transmission shop who told you that, they sound shady to me. Drive it till it gets worse and take it to another transmission shop for a full rebuild.
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Mark V
Look for me on the PS3 network, I am usually playing Uncharted 2 demo right now. My PS3 name is delorean6683
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Gear 2 incorrect ratio 
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