EA 1990 Auto - Sticks in THIRD ... ???

12-05-2005, 02:50 PM

Anyone else come accross this problem?

It happenned to me once before, a few years back. I changed the Electronic Transmission Control Unit (2nd hand one) and it fixed the problem at the time.

I did this again recently; but to no avail on this occassion.

When the car is cold, it will run ok, switch through the gears smoothly; but after a while, when it warms up, it starts dropping out of top gear down to 3rd.

On occassion I've switched the ignition off and on whilst driving and it kicks back into top gear and runs ok - but the fault reappears not long after.

Any clues out there in car land on this quirk?

Damo · 12-05-2005, 04:57 PM

it sounds like it's going into Limp Home mode (stuck in 3rd). Maybe it's one of the solenoids on the auto, i'm sure someone here will have more of a clue then me. Good luck with it.

ClassicAU · 12-05-2005, 09:00 PM

how fast are you going when it drops down usually? i cant say that my car has eber done this, but i have had my car in LHM before (trying to do a roll-back!) and i am pretty sure it sticks in second gear rather than third, not 100% though. i just asumed this as it takes off in second from stand still in LHM, and my guess is that third would be too tall to take off in. does your car stick in third even when u stop at all?
sorry i wasnt any more help.

Sundeep · 12-05-2005, 09:56 PM

Nah it's def 3rd BargeEA. I thought it was 2nd too initially, because after driving a manual heaps I thought "How can you possibly accelerate from 3rd!".

Annyways back OT, I think it's a solenoid in the box. Get it checked out by a pro or if you have any mates that work at Ford get them to hook it up to their diagnostics tool.

I had the same problem but when it was cold, I ended up dropping a new box in after a year of putting up with it.

Sundeep

mcflux · 13-05-2005, 12:08 PM

Yep, definitely takes off in 3rd, the auto acts like a stally when it's in Limp Home Mode (slipping in 3rd until a decent speed like >30kph is reached before fully engaging... just like riding a clutch).

One time my manual 3.3L XE got stuck in 4th and I had to take off from a standing start

:

If a 90kw 0Nm 3.3L can do it, then an EA can surely do it!!!

-Dave-

ClassicAU · 13-05-2005, 03:43 PM

far out, i didnt realise it was all the way up in third. no wonder it went slow as a wet week! let me tell you, i have never dropped it into gear since, so i havent had the pleasure of stuck in third for a while thank god. i'm sure its got to be bad for the transmition having it in LHM. not that dropping into drive from reverse at 30km/h is any better!

:

13-05-2005, 06:30 PM

Thanks for the replies guys! Really appreciate the info.

It definitely gets locked in 3rd; as I can drop down to 2nd & 1st using the T-Bar.

It seems to have something more to do with the engine being warm rather than the speed -- as I mentioned, when cold it will function ok until the temp gauge starts moving up to its normal running level, that's approx 10-15 minutes, and then it starts to play up, no matter what speed.

I've been advised by a mechanic that 3rd is a 'default' setting for the onboard computer; in case of a sensor malfunction ... ??? and god knows how many sensors there are!!! ???

Being an auto-Noob I'm not sure where these solenoids a couple of you have mentioned would be located or even if I could get to them as a novice? seems i'll probably have to have someone who knows what they are doing have a look at it.

If there's anyone who knows - someone that is in the Melb., North/West side of town, familiar with the EA's, and particularly this glitch, I'd appreciate if you could leave your details ... if that's permitted on this forum? or just e-mail me.

Thanks again for the input!

mcflux · 14-05-2005, 09:13 PM

This might be a silly suggestion, but since this problem seems to happen after the *engine* is warm (tranny also warms up too), perhaps a tranny cooler checkup is needed? (or a tranny cooler installed if u don't have one)...

-Dave-

PS BargeEA, think of all the heat caused due to the friction from the slipping of the torque converter! I'm glad it only took me half a day to realise (and change) the blown fuse which caused mine to go into limp home mode!

InitialD · 14-05-2005, 09:46 PM

There a POS these auto's aint they??!!

Mine just did what I think simular to what yours did....
its got 1st 2nd 3rd but no 4th gear. But it will still find 1st and 2nd when i slow down but very roughly. I was thinking MAYBE just MAYBE its the Inhibitor switch??

20-05-2005, 09:19 AM

Thanks for all the input again!

Being an amatuer who has nightmares about changing a fanbelt; are the parts, like the solenoids some have mentioned, readily or moderately accessible? or do you really need worskshop outfit to get to them? and same with the 'cooler' and 'inhibitor switch' suggestions?

I've even heard the servos(?) that impact on, I think it's the TPS(?) - have played a part in this glitch, has anyone had a fiddle with these - results? outcomes?

Thx!