When starting out, my '98 Windstar, 3.8L V-6 with Automatic O/D trans, will start to roll then feel like it's letting go, then bump or sometimes (rarely) thunk back into first before going down the road. After that, everything is fine and there are no problems on the highway.
When coming to a stop, when it shifts itself back to first there is an engine rev and a surge forward, then it settles down.
Here's maybe a clue; if I hit the gas instead of being gentle from a stop, the slip doesn't happen. It still surges and bumps when almost at a complete stop.
Any idea if this might be a shift solenoid, valve body issue, regulator? Anything? Bueller? ... Bueller?
Looking for ideas so I'm not going to the local garage with zero knowledge.
UPDATE: I had a transmission service done - new screen, gasket, some new fluid, and Lucas tans treatment. It's still doing the lurching, banging thing anyway, though it does shift noticeably better and doesn't strain on the highway.
I discovered that if I manually shift it into first gear just as I'm coming to a stop, none of the banging and lurching happens - everything is fine. Then, when I take off, I'll manually shift from first to second, then after that just put it back into drive.
SO, does that provide further clues to anyone? It seems the trans is fine, it's the whole stopping and starting that's rough.
When coming to a stop, when it shifts itself back to first there is an engine rev and a surge forward, then it settles down.
Here's maybe a clue; if I hit the gas instead of being gentle from a stop, the slip doesn't happen. It still surges and bumps when almost at a complete stop.
Any idea if this might be a shift solenoid, valve body issue, regulator? Anything? Bueller? ... Bueller?
Looking for ideas so I'm not going to the local garage with zero knowledge.
UPDATE: I had a transmission service done - new screen, gasket, some new fluid, and Lucas tans treatment. It's still doing the lurching, banging thing anyway, though it does shift noticeably better and doesn't strain on the highway.
I discovered that if I manually shift it into first gear just as I'm coming to a stop, none of the banging and lurching happens - everything is fine. Then, when I take off, I'll manually shift from first to second, then after that just put it back into drive.
SO, does that provide further clues to anyone? It seems the trans is fine, it's the whole stopping and starting that's rough.