litt1111

It will not shift into second gear until 30 mph.
It will not shift into third gear until 50 mph.
When you slow down it downshifts like somebody slammed on the brakes. We
have checked the transmission fluid level. What else could be wrong?

Louis M. Brown

On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 17:51:58 -0400, "litt1111" <litt1111@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>It will not shift into second gear until 30 mph.
>It will not shift into third gear until 50 mph.
>When you slow down it downshifts like somebody slammed on the brakes. We
>have checked the transmission fluid level. What else could be wrong?


Is that a ATX/FLC transmission? If so, sounds like your TV
cable/linkage may be out of adjustment.

-LMB

Tom Adkins

Louis M. Brown wrote:
> On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 17:51:58 -0400, "litt1111" <litt1111@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>>It will not shift into second gear until 30 mph.
>>It will not shift into third gear until 50 mph.
>>When you slow down it downshifts like somebody slammed on the brakes. We
>>have checked the transmission fluid level. What else could be wrong?
>
>
>
> Is that a ATX/FLC transmission? If so, sounds like your TV
> cable/linkage may be out of adjustment.
>
> -LMB
>

Yep. More specifically, the link between the throttle lever and the trans (TV
linkage). The bushings wear and the link falls off. If it is the upper bushing, the TV
lever will jam in the down {full Throttle) position. I've seen this a few times. If
the linkage is intact, the Throttle Valve in the transmission valve body often sticks
in ATX transmissions. This requires removal of the TB to repair. Replacement valve
assemblies are no longer available, but I've had good luck removing the valve,
cleaning off the burrs and using a small amount of valve lapping compound between the
valve and bore.
The Escort\Tempo ATX trans was pretty solid but the sticking TV plagued them
somewhat for their entire run. It wasn't "common" but happened often enough that most
techs know about it. Not being a tranny guy, I replaced a bunch of ATXs on used cars
before I learned to check the throttle valve first.
It's not a difficult repair, but it can be daunting for a DIYer. If you find that
this is the problem (linkage intact and adjusted properly), post back here and I'll
help you through it.

Tom Adkins

Tom Adkins

Tom Adkins wrote:
> Louis M. Brown wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 17:51:58 -0400, "litt1111" <litt1111@yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> It will not shift into second gear until 30 mph.
>>> It will not shift into third gear until 50 mph. When you slow down
>>> it downshifts like somebody slammed on the brakes. We
>>> have checked the transmission fluid level. What else could be wrong?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Is that a ATX/FLC transmission? If so, sounds like your TV
>> cable/linkage may be out of adjustment.
>>
>> -LMB
>>
>
> Yep. More specifically, the link between the throttle lever and the
> trans (TV linkage). The bushings wear and the link falls off. If it is
> the upper bushing, the TV lever will jam in the down {full Throttle)
> position. I've seen this a few times. If the linkage is intact, the
> Throttle Valve in the transmission valve body often sticks in ATX
> transmissions. This requires removal of the TB to repair. Replacement
> valve assemblies are no longer available, but I've had good luck
> removing the valve, cleaning off the burrs and using a small amount of
> valve lapping compound between the valve and bore.
> The Escort\Tempo ATX trans was pretty solid but the sticking TV plagued
> them somewhat for their entire run. It wasn't "common" but happened
> often enough that most techs know about it. Not being a tranny guy, I
> replaced a bunch of ATXs on used cars before I learned to check the
> throttle valve first.
> It's not a difficult repair, but it can be daunting for a DIYer. If you
> find that this is the problem (linkage intact and adjusted properly),
> post back here and I'll help you through it.
>
> Tom Adkins

I just remembered. If Your Tempo is a 4 cyl, it uses a metal link to the TV. If it's
a 3.0 6cyl, it uses a cable. The TV concern happened on both configurations, but was
more common on the V6, cable operated cars. At least in my experience.

Louis M. Brown

On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 04:44:31 -0400, Tom Adkins
<newton5@remove.comcast.net> wrote:

>Tom Adkins wrote:
>> Louis M. Brown wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 17:51:58 -0400, "litt1111" <litt1111@yahoo.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> It will not shift into second gear until 30 mph.
>>>> It will not shift into third gear until 50 mph. When you slow down
>>>> it downshifts like somebody slammed on the brakes. We
>>>> have checked the transmission fluid level. What else could be wrong?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Is that a ATX/FLC transmission? If so, sounds like your TV
>>> cable/linkage may be out of adjustment.
>>>
>>> -LMB
>>>
>>
>> Yep. More specifically, the link between the throttle lever and the
>> trans (TV linkage). The bushings wear and the link falls off. If it is
>> the upper bushing, the TV lever will jam in the down {full Throttle)
>> position. I've seen this a few times. If the linkage is intact, the
>> Throttle Valve in the transmission valve body often sticks in ATX
>> transmissions. This requires removal of the TB to repair. Replacement
>> valve assemblies are no longer available, but I've had good luck
>> removing the valve, cleaning off the burrs and using a small amount of
>> valve lapping compound between the valve and bore.
>> The Escort\Tempo ATX trans was pretty solid but the sticking TV plagued
>> them somewhat for their entire run. It wasn't "common" but happened
>> often enough that most techs know about it. Not being a tranny guy, I
>> replaced a bunch of ATXs on used cars before I learned to check the
>> throttle valve first.
>> It's not a difficult repair, but it can be daunting for a DIYer. If you
>> find that this is the problem (linkage intact and adjusted properly),
>> post back here and I'll help you through it.
>>
>> Tom Adkins
>
> I just remembered. If Your Tempo is a 4 cyl, it uses a metal link to the TV. If it's
>a 3.0 6cyl, it uses a cable. The TV concern happened on both configurations, but was
>more common on the V6, cable operated cars. At least in my experience.

It can happen on the link type too. Fortunately, the repair is pretty
simple.

(place in Drive position, loosen the trunion nut at the top of the
linkage, push TV lever all the way forward until it hits it's stop,
then put the nut back on, and tighten)

-LMB

Berkshire Bill

"litt1111" <litt1111@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:14843e5f3d7229f0080ea1370ac68105@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> It will not shift into second gear until 30 mph.
> It will not shift into third gear until 50 mph.
> When you slow down it downshifts like somebody slammed on the brakes. We
> have checked the transmission fluid level. What else could be wrong?
>
Valve body or the gear set for the governor - speedometer drive.

Bill