[LXDriver]

AT WITS END!!! I bought a car with a blown head gasket for my mother-in-law. After rebuilding the engine (runs perfect now), I drove it for the first time and it seems to start out in high gear and won't downshift when coming to a stop. I can move the shifter to low gear and it starts out in low. Fluid level was fine.

First thing I tried was to swap out the shifter position sensor on top the tranny - No Change.

Second thing I tried was to swap out the ECM - Again no change.

Third thing I did was swap the transmission with a known good one - also no change.

Finally I messed with the kickdown cable to no avail.

Any Ideas what could be the problem? Are there any modules or relays that have to do with the transmission? I need to get this car done before Christmas since it is a present for my mother-in-law.

Thanx, LXDriver

 

[zzyzzx]

How are the transmission mounts and the cable that goes to the shifter?

Exactly what gear is it in when it starts?

Does it have a tachometer?

 

[LXDriver]

The mounts are good, the cable is fine and it starts out in 3rd. Yes it has a tach.

One other note of possible interest, it has a transmission cooler instead of the coolant lines going to the side of the radiator. Could that cause a problem if it were restricted? (not sure if it is, but it's a possibility)

Thanks, LXDriver

 

[juggalo]

a transmission cooler won't cause any problems. all it will do is keep the temps down cus heat will rob u of gas milage and torque and heat will also kill an automatic. having a tranny cooler is a great investment. i think the problem ur having is with the throttle position sensor which actually acts like the tranny's ecu.

 

[zzyzzx]

One other note of possible interest, it has a transmission cooler instead of the coolant lines going to the side of the radiator. Could that cause a problem if it were restricted? (not sure if it is, but it's a possibility)

I would think that you would have a different problem if there was a restriction. That if if you are anywhere near me right now, a restriction would probably not cause any problems with it being as cold as it is.

 

[LXDriver]

Well, no change after swapping out the TPS. My guess is, something in the wiring harness is bad.

Are there any fuses, modules or relays under the hood or dash that I may have overlooked?

Thanks for the input so far, LXDriver

 

[zzyzzx]

Does it have cruise control and if so does it work?

A bad VSS could cause this problem. The cruise control also uses the VSS, so if cruise is not working than I'd check the VSS.

 

[zzyzzx]

Good webpage on VSS:

http://www.freeautomechanic.com/vss-veh ... ensor.html

 

[LXDriver]

The car does have the "dealer" aftermarket cruise control on it. It doesn't seem to work. The VSS was changed when we swapped the tranny. The aftermarket cruise does tap in to the wires going to the VSS. since my MIL does even use CC, we are going to try unsplicing those wires and unhooking all the connections to the CC.

I also notined in my Chiltons that it shows a

"4EAT CONTROL MODULE (AUTOMATIC)"

and also a

"TURBINE SPEED SENSOR (AUTO.)"

It doesn't tell me where they are located or what they do. Any ideas?

Thanks, LXDriver

 

[zzyzzx]

Factory Cruise control module is in passenger side floorboard area behind a panel where the passengers right foot would be, just up from the door.

 

[Enigma]

I had the same problem after I swapped the transmission in my 95 LX Wagon. It would be stuck in 3rd, but manually shifted fine. Turned out that the front wire harness contacts were dirty. It's the harness that plugs into the front of the transmission that controls the shift solenoids. Once I cleaned those, and plugged it firmly in, everything was right as rain.
Have you pulled codes to see what the car thinks is wrong.? That's what lead me to the harness. It gave me codes that there was a problem with all three solenoids. The odds of all three being bad at once is slim, so I looked at the harness. Also make sure all your ground wires from the engine and trans are hooked up. I've had that gremlin bite me in the butt before, also.

 

[denisond3]

On my 92 LX, the 4EAT control module is located on a bracket above the spot where the clutch pedal would be in a car with a manual transmission. In the Service Manual for a 94 LX it says the Transaxle Control Module is integrated with the Powertrain Control Manual.
Assuming yours has the separate Control Module for the tranny - you can see it if you either crane your neck to look up below the dashboard, or use a mirror.

The Turbine Speed Sensor is a small item mounted on the top of the tranny, at the end that is nearest the drivers side. I think you would have to either remove the battery and battery tray to see it, or perhaps by taking out the air-filter housing you might be able to see it.

In the manual for the 94 Escort LX they call the tubine speed sensor a "Pulse Generator".

They changed enough stuff between the 92 & the 94 editions of the Ford Escort manuals, that the 94 manual is about 75% thicker than the one for 92. And they both use the same super-thin paper for the pages.