AOD transmision trouble

[Lord Iffy]

I was quite scared by the acting of the transmission yesterday (I have 89 Colony Park).

I was going uphill cca 75mph and suddenly I felt that the car was loosing a little power, slowed down to 60mph and I think that I have heard something like the transmission has been slipping (but the speed gauge did not show any ups and downs like it did last time the transmission failed). I stopped on parking lot, waited a little time and then drove carefully further, but little slower - between 65-75mph. Everything seemed OK, even when I passed the trucks it was no problem to accelerate to 80mph. However I noticed that the car was little slower uphill (60-65mph maybe little less, I know it is little slower uphill generally but this time it was even slower) but it is true that as I have been little scared I did not pressed the gas pedal so much. After the ride I checked the oil - it was red and did not smell burnt.

Before this happened I noticed that OD shifts in higher speed than usual (under half pressed gas pedal in 75-80mph, usual it was in 60-65mph).

The transmission has been rebuilt year ago, I do not do any burnouts neither race with the car. Usually I drive it 60mph outside the city and 80mph in the highway (that is the speed limit here). I do not have additional transmission oil cooler.

Maybe there is no problem and I just thought something is wrong, but I am going in few weeks on longer trip and it would be quite unpleasant to get stuck somewhere because of the transmission failure. A little odd is that it happened in exactly the same place where the transmission failed last time (however at that time it was impossible to drive further)


Could this sign any troubles with the transmission or am I just to much careful? Thanks for any ideas.

[1987cp]

I'm assuming you've already checked your fluid level and TV cable adjustment?

[Lord Iffy]

fluid level is OK. I did not checked TV cable adjustment because I do not have the TV cable bushing (however the local shop should have it availabile this week) and as I have understood I should not do any changes in the adjustment unless I can replace the bushing. Could this be the problem?

[88grandmarq]

do a visual inspection and make sure the bushing is still there.

Correct way to check the fluid level, with the engine running, at normal operating temp and the transmission shifter in Park.
level/flat ground is important too.

[88grandmarq]

Btw... are sure this is a transmission problem?

could be an engine power problem.

[Lord Iffy]

I will check it, thank you. I believe it was transmission, engine acts as usual I did not notice any changes in its operation (and with compare to other GM or town car it is quite similar) - I have to say that unfortunately hills on higway here are sometimes steeper than they should be (I remember that I had similar problems with uphills in US only somewhere in PA but nowhere else between Chicago and NYC, however it was in 1998 Escort

[Lord Iffy]

do a visual inspection and make sure the bushing is still there.

Correct way to check the fluid level, with the engine running, at normal operating temp and the transmission shifter in Park.
level/flat ground is important too.

So I have checked it. The cable is there, it is quite loose so I can move with it to sides, but not in the direction of the move of the cable (only when I move with the throttle cable). However the spring which is there is quite loose, could it be problem?

[1987cp]

You need to determine whether there is in fact a TV bushing in place on the throttle lever. If it's gone, I don't think anyone can in good conscience recommend driving the car at all until it's replaced.

[87_crown_vic]

lack of power on hills can be fuel filters are shot too. had the issue on a car here. car acted fine gunning it in park and stuff, but lost power on hills and even floored would decrease in speed on hills. ended up changing the gas tank with one i had that had new stuff in it and the fuel filter and runs great again. that reminds me... i need to do a fuel filter change again since i noticed it has lost some of its oomph.

[Lord Iffy]

You need to determine whether there is in fact a TV bushing in place on the throttle lever. If it's gone, I don't think anyone can in good conscience recommend driving the car at all until it's replaced.

The bushing was there, but yesterday I have replaced it with the brass bushing and I have also adjusted the lenght of the throttle cable (as I have written in the AOD TV adjustment thread). But I am little confused about the adjustment. OD definetelly shifts later (52mph) under light throttle but without pressing throttle pedal it still shifts in 37mph and OD-D when braking is still at 30mph independent on the adjustment.

[Lord Iffy]

lack of power on hills can be fuel filters are shot too. had the issue on a car here. car acted fine gunning it in park and stuff, but lost power on hills and even floored would decrease in speed on hills. ended up changing the gas tank with one i had that had new stuff in it and the fuel filter and runs great again. that reminds me... i need to do a fuel filter change again since i noticed it has lost some of its oomph.

I will replace fuel filter immediately. Thanks for advice. I have driven car since that many times and everything seemed OK so now I think that I have been maybe just little paranoid (I really do not want to rebuild the transmission again)