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98 Contour transmission...fault??

H

HoosierDaddy

New CEG'er
Joined
Jun 24, 2007
Messages
14
After the engine light came on (camshaft sensor),the timing belt, water pump,
plugs and cables were replaced. After taking it home, it has started to hesitate on takeoff and bucking at speeds usually starting around 40mph.
After the mechanic rechecked all his work and found everything fine, he took it on a test drive. He told me it is a tranny problem. The clutches are kicking
in and out of overdrive. Anyone heard of this? Is there something that can be checked before rebuilding or replacing tranny?
Thanks.
 
Last edited:
98 Contour transmission...fault??

That's just it, the o/d light is not flashing on and off and the speedometer is still keeping the right speed. I've even turned the overdrive off and still get the hesitation and slight bucking at 40+.
 
First off, your ID is priceless. :cool:

Second, the VSS was the first thing that came to my mind, too. I can't speak dash lights accompanying the failure, but I'm more familiar with them in Taurus SHO ATXs. In that case, the car would bang into gear occasionally, not only under acceleration, but also deceleration. In one of its more elegant moves, it would dump into first while coming to a stop. It certainly felt like actual transmission malfeasance, but the replacement of the sensor cleared things up nicely.
 
Since they just worked on the water pump I'd check the transmission lever position sensor. It's on the top of the trans right near the waterpump. if they dumped coolant into it when they took the hoses off the pump it can cause a failure.
 
twocontours said:
Since they just worked on the water pump I'd check the transmission lever position sensor. It's on the top of the trans right near the waterpump. if they dumped coolant into it when they took the hoses off the pump it can cause a failure.
Click to expand...

its a zetec, water pump is on the passenger side of the engine, I figured it was a zetec when he said "timing belt"

It doesnt sound like a trans issue, when a CD4E auto trans fails, usually the O/D light is flashing, which obviously indicates a trans slipping issue.

VSS is what im going to say.
 
Some extra info-it is a 98 SE,auto,4 cyl. w/75.5k.
The hesitation on takeoff seems to be an intermittent thing.
Just enough that it is annoying. But, the bucking/jerking (sometimes slight)
at 40mph is all the time.

With the o/d light not flashing or speedometer going crazy, is there a
possibility that it still could be the VSS?

Thanks.
 
Get the car scanned first. At a minimum, for CEL codes. If nothing shows up, get a tranny code scan (has to be done before engine is turned off). If it is truly a tranny issue (or other), CEL codes will give a hint as to what it might be. Post the exact codes here.
 
i know that this is a really old thread but i'm just wondering if the OP ever fixed his problem? i'm having the exact same issue with the same, a 98 ATX Zetec with 178k. slight hesitation when i take off, then sporadic bucking above 40 and once in a great while at 35. it usually happens after about 50 miles of driving and if i stop and let it sit for a few minutes it seems to go away. i'm thinking that it has to be a sensor of some sort on it's way out, or maybe a vacuum leak. anyone have any other ideas? thanks.
 
Trans troubles

Trans troubles

After it acts up, do you turn off the key and restart the car and (like a reboot for your PC) the shifting is perfect again for about 1/2 hour? My car will slam the 1-2 upshift after about 20 miles at 70mph on the highway, when I stop and then go again at the end of the off ramp.
 
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