a.k.

Hello,

I have a '01 Focus Wagon 1.6 liter automatic transmission (4 spd, Mazda
developed transmission) that I bought new 5 years ago. it now has 48K Kms
and always dealer serviced. At 45K Kms transmission fluid and filter were
changed. The car is driven most of the time in city therefore it rarely
reaches speeds of 80 KMH or above. Last week on a highway trip I noticed
that torque converter lock up did not happen which would have caused rpm to
drop 200 more. Same thing happened yesterday again. It used to cruise around
2200-2300 rpms on a leveled road when going 90 KMH but instead the rpms were
never below 2500.

I tapped the brakes little bit to see if the rpms would increase but nothing
changed. So, I suspect that torque converter does not lock up.. Am I right
on this?
If I am right, is it costly to fix? I am very happy with this car and
planning to keep it at least 2 more years.

Thanks in advance,

Ahmet

Turkey

 

Paul R

a.k. wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a '01 Focus Wagon 1.6 liter automatic transmission (4 spd, Mazda
> developed transmission) that I bought new 5 years ago. it now has 48K Kms
> and always dealer serviced. At 45K Kms transmission fluid and filter were
> changed. The car is driven most of the time in city therefore it rarely
> reaches speeds of 80 KMH or above. Last week on a highway trip I noticed
> that torque converter lock up did not happen which would have caused rpm to
> drop 200 more. Same thing happened yesterday again. It used to cruise around
> 2200-2300 rpms on a leveled road when going 90 KMH but instead the rpms were
> never below 2500.
>
> I tapped the brakes little bit to see if the rpms would increase but nothing
> changed. So, I suspect that torque converter does not lock up.. Am I right
> on this?
> If I am right, is it costly to fix? I am very happy with this car and
> planning to keep it at least 2 more years.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Ahmet
>
> Turkey
>
>
I also have a 01 1.6L Focus Auto. It has done about 100Km. The manual
states that the Auto box is a sealed system, so I am surprised to hear
that transmission fluid has been changed. I also hold a lot of store by
the recommendations of www.honestjohn.co.uk whom I queried on this, and
he suggested that the box should certainly be good for a good few Km yet
- without maintenance.

Paul R (UK)

lurker

"Paul R" <paul@X1SPAM1X.alwaysfast.co.uk> wrote in message
news:43e09106$0$27807$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.com...
> a.k. wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a '01 Focus Wagon 1.6 liter automatic transmission (4 spd, Mazda
>> developed transmission) that I bought new 5 years ago. it now has 48K Kms
>> and always dealer serviced. At 45K Kms transmission fluid and filter were
>> changed. The car is driven most of the time in city therefore it rarely
>> reaches speeds of 80 KMH or above. Last week on a highway trip I noticed
>> that torque converter lock up did not happen which would have caused rpm
>> to
>> drop 200 more. Same thing happened yesterday again. It used to cruise
>> around
>> 2200-2300 rpms on a leveled road when going 90 KMH but instead the rpms
>> were
>> never below 2500.
>>
>> I tapped the brakes little bit to see if the rpms would increase but
>> nothing
>> changed. So, I suspect that torque converter does not lock up.. Am I
>> right
>> on this?
>> If I am right, is it costly to fix? I am very happy with this car and
>> planning to keep it at least 2 more years.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Ahmet
>>
>> Turkey
>>
This may not help at all, but, some automatic transmissions will not lock up
until the engine reaches a certain temp. If the weather has got colder you
will get higher RPM when you first enter the highway.

a.k.

"lurker" <non@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:G8CEf.12932$Iw6.736649@news20.bellglobal.com...
>
> "Paul R" <paul@X1SPAM1X.alwaysfast.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:43e09106$0$27807$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.com...
> > a.k. wrote:
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I have a '01 Focus Wagon 1.6 liter automatic transmission (4 spd, Mazda
> >> developed transmission) that I bought new 5 years ago. it now has 48K
Kms
> >> and always dealer serviced. At 45K Kms transmission fluid and filter
were
> >> changed. The car is driven most of the time in city therefore it rarely
> >> reaches speeds of 80 KMH or above. Last week on a highway trip I
noticed
> >> that torque converter lock up did not happen which would have caused
rpm
> >> to
> >> drop 200 more. Same thing happened yesterday again. It used to cruise
> >> around
> >> 2200-2300 rpms on a leveled road when going 90 KMH but instead the rpms
> >> were
> >> never below 2500.
> >>
> >> I tapped the brakes little bit to see if the rpms would increase but
> >> nothing
> >> changed. So, I suspect that torque converter does not lock up.. Am I
> >> right
> >> on this?
> >> If I am right, is it costly to fix? I am very happy with this car and
> >> planning to keep it at least 2 more years.
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance,
> >>
> >> Ahmet
> >>
> >> Turkey
> >>
> This may not help at all, but, some automatic transmissions will not lock
up
> until the engine reaches a certain temp. If the weather has got colder you
> will get higher RPM when you first enter the highway.
>
>
Hmmm... I wonder if it is the case for the transmission in my car.. Yes, the
temperatures are around 0C lately and the highway trip I took was a short
trip...12 kms..It may not be long enough for transmission to reach certain
temperature..Can anybody comment on if this might be the case?
Thank you for the tip..

Ahmet