2003 Windstar - slips out of overdrive

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

02' Windstar. On highway in 4th, 2200 RPM at 70 MPH. The slightest uphill incline and the tach will slowly climb to 3,200 RPM. Not fast like you dropped it into 3rd gear regarding RPM, but that is exactly the 3rd gear RPM.

My mighty Snap-on MT2500 scanner says still in 4th gear but RPM's say third. No codes.

I replaced the torque converter clutch solenoid and 3-4 gear solenoid. Fluid pump shaft/bearing is fine. No change in operation. Shifts smooth, fluid smells wonderful, if you like the dead fish smell of Mercon V. Nothing burnt. Never did, even before refreshing a few times.

I think the lock-up overdrive function in the torque converter is failing. Internet indicates this is common (torque converter failure) but also talks of a few other internal gizmo's that are probably out of my league to fix.

Anyone experience this?

John Rogers · 04-26-2015, 03:11 PM

My wife's 2003 Caddy DTS and my 2007 HHR handle hills differently. I think there are several things in play, the weight of the car as the Caddy is way heavier, it has a big 'ol V8 engine and different cruising RPM range for the highway as opposed to the lighter HHR with a 2.4L four cylinder engine. Both change RPM on hills but the HHR is different due to being newer and RPM's climb some and then it will down shift at a different point.

I checked with the Caddy and also HHR forums and they both seem to be operating correctly so I check to see if there are any Windstar forums and see what they say?

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by john rogers

I checked with the Caddy and also HHR forums and they both seem to be operating correctly so I check to see if there are any Windstar forums and see what they say?

Did some of that. Deal is on the downhill the car will not slide back down to 2,200 RPM unless you play with the throttle or push the button to kill overdrive and then re-initialize it. Then it wakes up and says "Oh snap - I am supposed to be in overdrive" and drops back down until the next slight load is put upon it.

Odd thing is the car is in 4th gear per the Snap-on. The lock up function should keep shaft speeds constant. No variation in OD.