Hard 1st to 2nd Shifting

[Matt]

89 Continental--- It's first-second shift is really hard, and it is even harder the more your foot is down, lets put it this way, up to half throttle it's a reeaaalllyy hard jerk, above half (depending on how much) it will just spin the tires, well, just a squeak, it's been upto a second in length and that's at speeds over 20mph...

I'm just worried that harshness will start tearing things up.. right now I just let off the gas right before the shift, so it just hesitates then shifts, when it's all said and done it shifts almost normal, but if I were to let someone else drive it would scare them, that's for sure..

:confused: :confused: So what's wrong with it? :confused: :confused:

[Lankin]

Hello,
Have you tried changing your trans fluid and filter?That is where I would start.A clogged filter and dirty fluid can cause all kinds of symptoms.
Hard shifting on a car with some miles on it could be a little hard on engine mounts and subframe mounts.Not to mention the Taurus,Sable,Conti,have problems with engine mounts anyway.
Change that fluid and filter and see what happens.

[Matt]

quote:Originally posted by Lankin:
Change that fluid and filter and see what happens.

I changed the fluid and filter no more then 5,000 miles ago.

[Chuck98GT]

Does your car have an AOD transmisson? If so, it sounds like a failing Intermediate one-way clutch. Only solution for that is a rebuild :(

If you floor it, does it run all the way to redline without shifting?

[jmerritt]

Matt,

Does that model have the cable connecting the throttle to the transmission? Might just need an adjustment of that cable although if it is out of adjustment other shifts should be affected also.

[pro-five-oh]

quote:Originally posted by Matt:
I changed the fluid and filter no more then 5,000 miles ago.

When was the last time you changed it before that? How many miles are on the tranny?

If the transmission wasn't serviced regularly and the old fluid is replace with new fluid, the slickness of the new stuff will wear out the clutches many times faster than the old stuff. Worn clutches may cause this problem.

[Matt]

quote:Originally posted by pro-five-oh:

When was the last time you changed it before that? How many miles are on the tranny?

that's the first change I've given it, I've had it for around 3 years (that trans fluid/filter change was 1 1/2 to 2 years ago), right now it has 135000 miles, I don't know what the service intervals were, or even what was done except for the stuff that I've done...

[pro-five-oh]

That isn't too bad...but you should start looking into a rebuilt tranny just in case.

Go to 3-5 tranny shops, tell them what is happening, and get some opinions. This could be a minor fix or "TV cable" adjustment, or it could be more serious trouble.

Best of luck,

[Matt]

quote:Originally posted by pro-five-oh:
...it could be more serious trouble.

:rolleyes: :(

[pro-five-oh]

Yeah I hate saying that, but it might be the case. :(

[PeteAug]

I had a 94 Tbird that had basically the same problem. Did it happen all of a sudden? It was a valve in the tranny that regulates the fluid flow on the 1-2 shift...it went bad so it was hitting all at once. It was an easy fix for the shop, a little over $100. Don't automatically think rebuild yet.

[PeteAug]

Oh yeah, it's called the accumulator valve..not sure if your tranny has one or not.