YACT: Need help diagnosing tranny problem

[malbojah]

On a 93 Ford Festiva (hey, it's a great delivery car)

112k miles, Auto, starts fine. Put it into drive and lightly apply gas and the car with buck like it's a standard being abused by a driver's ed student. Gas it and no problems. Come to a stop and the engine will sputter unless it's put into neutral. Drive the car onto and incline (a curb in the mall, or someones steep driveway), put it into park and the car will cough a couple of times and stall out.

Considering I didn't pay for it (what a job, boss pays for the car and repairs 🙂), boss wants the car to make it through the summer with very little investment in repairs.

Thoughts??

 

[tm37]

sounds like an engine problem and not a tranny problem. Check the plugs and wires

 

[IGBT]

You might check any vacuum lines from the engine to the trans..if one is leaking or a check valve is bad it could cause erratic behavior. Some ford auto trans.use vacuum operated valves to control the shifting..

 

When was the last time the vehicle was tuned up ?

That is a part throttle stumble.

Trouble code procedure, follow it

You have OBD I.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: tm37
sounds like an engine problem and not a tranny problem. Check the plugs and wires

I don't know jack but yeah I'd also say it sounds like an engine problem. My sentra did things somewhat like this, though not nearly as bad, and then I got the plugs and wires replaced and booyah brand new car.

 

[malbojah]

Originally posted by: Roger
When was the last time the vehicle was tuned up ?

That is a part throttle stumble.

Trouble code procedure, follow it

You have OBD I.

Actually just came back from the shop yesterday. Had the oil changed (was going through a LOT of oil due to warped head gasket), cat. converter unclogged (this is where a lot of the oil apparently ended up). Strange that the check engine light never came on when the problems were happening...

 

Actually just came back from the shop yesterday. Had the oil changed (was going through a LOT of oil due to warped head gasket), cat. converter unclogged (this is where a lot of the oil apparently ended up). Strange that the check engine light never came on when the problems were happening...

Are you saying that the repair shop yanked the head and replaced the headgasket ?
If so, look very carefully for disconnected sensor wires, not all trouble codes will trigger the check engine light, this is why it is important to always check for trouble codes first.

 

[malbojah]

Originally posted by: Roger

Actually just came back from the shop yesterday. Had the oil changed (was going through a LOT of oil due to warped head gasket), cat. converter unclogged (this is where a lot of the oil apparently ended up). Strange that the check engine light never came on when the problems were happening...

Are you saying that the repair shop yanked the head and replaced the headgasket ?
If so, look very carefully for disconnected sensor wires, not all trouble codes will trigger the check engine light, this is why it is important to always check for trouble codes first.

No. Apparently the mechanic (who's good friends with the boss, only charges him for parts/ not labor) just shaved the head gasket a little

(trying to remember from my bad memeroy of yesterday)

All of these problems were happening before the car went to the mechanic.

 

No. Apparently the mechanic (who's good friends with the boss, only charges him for parts/ not labor) just shaved the head gasket a little

(trying to remember from my bad memeroy of yesterday)

All of these problems were happening before the car went to the mechanic.

Well if he removed the cylinder head, he better have replaced the headgasket 😉

A blown headgasket/cracked cylinder head will cause stumbling, if combustion gasses make thier way into the cooling system or vice versa, the vehicle will trip a trouble code and go into limp mode.

Check the codes.