Got another one for you guys (transmission and idle problems)

754 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by stevew, Nov 19, 2005

Black306_2

Discussion Starter · Nov 3, 2005

I've got a couple problems that I feel might be related.

One: For a while now....once in a blue moon, the car won't idle. I have to push on the gas a little bit to get it started and stay running. I notice that it only happens during a hot-start and not a cold-start. I have to wait for the car to cool before the idle problem goes away. Also, I have to keep the gas pressed a little ALL the time. Even on the freeway, if I let go of the gas, the engine will die. I've tried running several code scans, even one while it was happening, and nothing came up. I'm guessing its not the IAC as it dies on the freeway (the engine should keep the engine rotating). Something is telling the computer to disengage the converter lock-up.

Two: This one just started recently. Not sure if they are connected, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were. When accelerating moderately, the tranny has "skipped" a few times. Almost like blipping a clutch really quick or putting it in neutral and back to drive real quick. The car has about 80k miles and I changed the fluid/filter at 60k miles. Fluid level is good and the fluid doesn't look abnormally dark or smell. But again, no codes during a scan.

Any ideas?

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Broke_Two_Foci

· #2 · Nov 3, 2005

well as far as the car not idleing when was the last time you changed the air filter and cleaned the fule injectors? also if the iac is stuck shut it could cause that as well.

did you wait untill 60k to do the first fluid change on the trans or were there other intervals that you did it at? if you did wait and you only changed the fluid in the pan then there is still a lot of old fluid still there. new a/t fluid is bright red. if you havent done it yet I would have the trans completly flushed. of course the dammage may have all ready been done. the bands and the clutch packs might be toast. did you see the fluid before it was changed?

good luck.

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Black306_2

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 7, 2005

Re: Got another one for you guys (transmission and idle problem

well as far as the car not idleing when was the last time you changed the air filter and cleaned the fule injectors? also if the iac is stuck shut it could cause that as well.

The air filter is OK. And I highly doubt that the problem I'm having has to do with dirty/clogged injectors. I've experienced clogged injectors before and the car doesn't respond in this fashion. Everything that I've read, in terms of a failing IAC, is that the idle tends to rise, not fall like in my case. Although I don't dispute it, I'm not completely convinced that is my problem. With a Mustang, which I'm more familiar with, unplugging the IAC will cause the idle to stabilize (either high or low....but it'll run stable). That trick didn't work with the Focus.

did you wait untill 60k to do the first fluid change on the trans or were there other intervals that you did it at? if you did wait and you only changed the fluid in the pan then there is still a lot of old fluid still there. new a/t fluid is bright red. if you havent done it yet I would have the trans completly flushed. of course the dammage may have all ready been done. the bands and the clutch packs might be toast. did you see the fluid before it was changed?

I bought the car with 37k miles and the trans fluid/filter were changed at that point. With daily driven automatics, I typically change then every 24k miles (hence the change at 60k). I've read that the recommended transmission fluid change interval for these cars is 150,000 miles......which I think is insane. The color/odor of the fluid doesn't suggest that poor fluid is the problem. In any case, I am just shy of 80,000 miles on the car. I'll probably just change the fuild early and see if that helps.

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Jake_svt

· #4 · Nov 9, 2005

Re: Got another one for you guys (transmission and idle problem

Is your transmission problem only when it's cold?
My guess is it's a sensor problem inside the tranny.. I have the same prob on my focus

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Black306_2

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 9, 2005

Re: Got another one for you guys (transmission and idle problem

Is your transmission problem only when it's cold?
My guess is it's a sensor problem inside the tranny.. I have the same prob on my focus

No, this problem has happened when it was hot too.

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Black306_2

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 14, 2005

Re: Got another one for you guys (transmission and idle problem

Well, the idle problem has happened again today. While trying to find the problem, I inadvertently started the car without the intake tube (MAF to TB). Surprisingly, it started and idled. So I'm starting to think that it may be a problem with the mass-air. I pulled it out, cleaned it, and again the car started and idled, however, not very well. This is a graph of my car idling for about 90-seconds:

http://wcfords.com/ubb/attachment.php?postid=283966

Not exactly the smoothest idle, but it idles.

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LT1s10

· #7 · Nov 14, 2005

Re: Got another one for you guys (transmission and idle problem

try adjusting the shifter linkage mine was doing the same thing and i had mine adjusted and it was out of adjustment a little.

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stevew

· #8 · Nov 19, 2005

Re: Got another one for you guys (transmission and idle problem

How do you adjust the shifter linkage if the linkage is out of adjustment ?

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