Transmission Slipping- Help September 08, 2011, 08:20:10 PM My '88 Cougar 5.0 with 29,500 miles developed a bad transmission slip. It started yesterday and I can't tell if it is just 3rd gear or other gears as well. The car will take off fine from a stop or low speed, but on the highway at a constant speed and you gas it, the engine revs - but the car stays the same speed. While driving at about 60 mph I shifted from Overdrive to Drive and the RPMs climbed fast to 4500 rpm -probably higher if I didnt start to brake and put back into Overdrive. You can feel the slippage too when the cruise is on, and accelerates, say up an incline. If you are in second gear, and you floor it, the car is reluctant to drop a gear and even sometimes won't. And in second gear I can get the transmission to slip a little too. I checked the fluid first thing when I got home from work - about a 13 mile trip, and the tranny fluid was in the hash marks and still looked pretty good in color. Is it the old tranny fluid - not a lot of miles, but old - thats needs to be changed or, as I am afraid, it is a lot more? Common issue or not? The car has been babied it's entire life and never driven hard for any length of time and was my father's car he gave to me. I am sick over this and would appreciate any input. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #1 – September 08, 2011, 09:05:10 PM Change the fluid and filter first of all. If that doesn't help then take it to a shop. Ford Dealership or a very reputable transmission shop would be the best. If you have problems getting it their you can drop a cap full of brake fluid in there to tighten up the bands and keep it from slipping so much. It won't be a permanent fix, but it can get the car around for 2 or 3k miles. This is not something to dick around with, make sure you get that filter changed and if needed, the car to a shop. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #2 – September 08, 2011, 09:25:48 PM FIRST THING. CHECK THE THROTTLE LINKAGE FOR THE TRANNY AND MAKE SURE IT HASNT FAILED, it will ruin your tranny in short order.There is a plastic bushing that often fails. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #3 – September 08, 2011, 11:02:46 PM +1^^^ If the TV cable is disconnected or not adjusted right you may not be getting the right line pressure or downshifts. It runs from the throttlebody down to the driver side of the transmission where the linkage is. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #4 – September 09, 2011, 02:48:14 PM Quote from: mcb82gt;367100FIRST THING. CHECK THE THROTTLE LINKAGE FOR THE TRANNY AND MAKE SURE IT HASNT FAILED, it will ruin your tranny in short order.There is a plastic bushing that often fails. Quote from: bryan163;367116+1^^^ If the TV cable is disconnected or not adjusted right you may not be getting the right line pressure or downshifts. It runs from the throttlebody down to the driver side of the transmission where the linkage is.+2Ford also sells a brass bushing and hairpin to replace the plastic bushing. Get one of those. That's what I have and there is no chance of it ever falling out. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #5 – September 09, 2011, 06:22:54 PM I don't do Auto's, that's why my suggestion is to take it to a shop, lol. I do remember hearing about that little bushing wearing out, but I don't know about them from personal experience. :) Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #6 – September 09, 2011, 11:35:39 PM Thanks to all - I would like to check the linkage first - but in the case of sounding dumb, can you tell me what I am looking for with the linkage. How will I know if it is out of adjustment or broken? What will it look like if something is wrong. It is most definatley going in for a filter and change. Thanks again! Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #7 – September 10, 2011, 04:29:29 AM Look at the throttle body,theirs 2 cables attached or should be. It will be obvious if it's not connected. Find a friend and go under the car where the linkage connects to the trans have him push the gas pedal to be sure the arm is moving on the trans. Do a search on google for aod tv cable adjustment to get an idea about it. Here's a link with pics.http://www.txchange.com/aodadj.htm Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #8 – September 10, 2011, 11:44:18 AM Here is a good write up on how to adjust, has both types of linkages as well. good luck. http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00138.html Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #9 – September 11, 2011, 08:40:48 PM Okay - first, thanks to all for the help and suggestions, I would not have figured it out on my own. Everyone was right, the TV cable is broke. After giving a thourough look over, the cable has broken off right at the throttle body linkage. It looks like the plastic, or grommet used, broke off the top, and the cable no longer stays in the hole on the lever itself, and the cable is hanging there attached to nothing. I was able to push in the cable in the hole on the lever so it would just hold, and volia - the arm on the transmission started moving when the accelerator was floored. So, do I need a whole new cable, or can I get just the piece that broke? Is it hard to replace? And my main question is - do you think the cable just broke making the transmission act up , or based on the symptoms I have, has it been broken for a while, and now the transmission is damaged. I never really flogged the car, so I really didn't have the car downshift a lot, or get into passing gear frequently from OD, so if it has been broken for a while, I might have never noticed it. I know I will know the answer when I replace it, but just thought I'd get everyone's opinion so when I replace it - I can be relieved or still nervous. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #10 – September 11, 2011, 09:09:48 PM Is it the little plastic bushing that broke? If so, just replace it. You may have caught it in time. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #11 – September 11, 2011, 09:51:32 PM Can I get just the black bushing? Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #12 – September 12, 2011, 03:01:07 AM They sell them at ford, there bronze replacements. I have a few extra around. I can send one to you if you can't get them. Hopefully no damage was done. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #13 – September 12, 2011, 08:40:28 AM Get one in there ASAP. It is a cheap part. Quote Selected
Transmission Slipping- Help Reply #14 – September 12, 2011, 09:10:26 PM I got the part today at the local Ford dealership, a whole $4.18. I am going to try to install tomorrow or the next day, the car's gonna have to sit for a while longer. I plan on getting the bronze replacement - just wanna get it fixed for now. What is the best way to adjust the TV cable so I know its adjusted correctly after I replace the bushing? By the way, if a $4.18 part was the culprit that damaged my tranny - I'm gonna FREAK! Quote Selected
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