2000 windstar 3.8l tranny issues

gmcclure72 · 10-23-2009, 10:01 AM

i know, iknow, its a windstar, just replace it and get over it....id still like to know whats goin on...ill be as quick to the point as i can.
back in march, my 3 yr old daughter fell and split her head open so we scooped her up and took her to the ER 18 miles away. when we neared our destination, i approached the off ramp at around 65mph and meant to push the o/d button on the shifter and instead, not thinking, i down shifted into second. the tach redlined and i threw it back into drive. it went fine to the hospital about two miles from the exit. when we left the hosp it was fine til we got home. stop at end of ramp and turned and when i accellerated, it shuddered horribly thru first and second then was fine. next day i dropped the pan and replaced the filter and gasket and topped off with new fluid (yes, i used the proper stuff) this made it not shake as much but still a problem. Im broke and didnt have much choice, so we've been babying it since. its now mid october and its drivivng the same way, no better, no worse. we hope to nurse it along til tax time when it will be paid for and gotten rid of. no codes, no flashing lights, no smells or sounds, just shakes like hell on first and second, actually its kind of convenient cause i have top gears and it goes on the highway with no prob at all...hasnt left us stranded yet any thoughts?

theoldwizard · 10-23-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmcclure72

...hasnt left us stranded yet any thoughts?

YET ! Key word.

Nothing you can do short of a rebuild is likely going to solve the problem.

The shuddering sounds sounds like the clutches/bands slipping. It could be one or more bad solenoids, but that is just a shot in the dark. Besides, if there has been slippage, the damage is already done.

Keep watching the fluid. It it starts turning dark or smelling burned, the end is near.

freakinbox · 10-23-2009, 05:51 PM

We had a problem with our transmission shuddering through certain gears, usually at higher speeds. Fearing the worst news we took it to ford anyways who found it was only a loose sensor on the transmission. Been fine since then.