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-- Ford's Official Message Re: Escape Tranny & Torque Converter (http://www.escape-central.com/1forum/showthread.php?threadid=6284)

How much are you using overdrive?

Originally posted 01-17-03.
That post kinda died, so I thought I'd put it here:

I'm curious.
After keeping an eye for on this thread for a while, there's not a lot of mention of "cancelling" the overdrive around town.
Are most of you that are having the problems, leaving the overdrive on all the time?

In fact, it was my wife that brought this question up. Her words....
"How come you have to turn the overdrive off, instead of vice versa, especially when you shouldn't even be using it around town anyway?"
This comes from both of us reading several articles/bulletins/discussions/owner's manuals, etc etc,
touting the problems of leaving overdrive on, especially around town.
We've gotten in the habit of turning it off before we even put it into gear.
Once on the highway or, freeway, we then turn it on.
I know it's hard as heck on a tranny to go keep going in and out of "lock-up" at speeds under 50mph.
Is this one of things that being kept track of for your research, justagirl?


Just another viewpoint.
No problems with ours, and it's getting it's first oil change in a couple weeks.
Sittin' at just over 2,000 miles right now.

__________________
WD40 Reverend GripShift
2003 Escape XLT 4X4 Popular 2 - Moonroof, Bugflector, SS Scuffguards, Cabin Air Filter.
2004 SVT Focus - Weekend Cone Carver

I drive mine the same way - the overdrive gets locked out before I even leave the driveway. It's too much wear (leaving the OD "active" and continuously searching) on a tranny that already has it's fair share of trouble. Only disengaged the button for highway driving.

And yes, I had the tranny shudder problem a while back when I would forget to lock out the overdrive around town; I don't forget anymore.

That's not to say that there isn't a problem with these transmissions. Technically, should it bang/shudder when going between Drive and Over Drive and back again? No.

__________________
2002 XLT 4x4 Premium; Oxford White, graphite leather. Fog lamps, running boards, side impact airbags, Mach III sound system, moon roof, Ford moonroof air deflector, Ford brushed pewter radio bezel, No Boundaries receiver hitch cover, low profile VentShade bug deflector II, 4 pc. VentVisors, Escape door sill guards, Euro Antenna, Cabin air filter, WeatherTech cargo mat, Husky custom rear seat mat, Michelin Cross Terrain SUV Tires. A new, fully-dressed motor @ 34,800 miles.
---------------
1993 40th Anniv. Triple Ruby Red Corvette Convertible. Designated "garage queen".

WOW!!!!! I DIDN'T UNTIL TODAY THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE!! WOW WOW WOW!! I AM NOT ALONE!!! HELP SHOULD BE ON THE WAY THEN?? I HOPE!

__________________
2005 XLT Escape V6 4x4 Norsea Blue

I have a 2002 Escape and had a tranny failure at 18000 miles. After a cold start, the transmission would only go forward while it was in reverse. We thought we could drive it a few miles to the Ford garage but the tranny would not shift into the higher gears and the OD light started to blink. We had the vehicle towed to the garage. When the vehicle arrived at the dealer the transmission worked OK. The dealer said that there were codes for transmission shutter and failure on the speed sensor. After talking to the Ford Hotline they replaced the sensor and the transmission. After reading the posts in this forum I asked the dealer which ATF they used. They said they filled the system with Mercon V. They said that it did'nt matter which fluid they used. Both Mercon and Mercon V will be fine. I have two questions:

1) When a REMFG tranny is shipped from Ford is it filled with ATF? If it is then my system is filled with both Mercon and Mercon V ATF. My manual says that these fluids are not compatible with each other.

2) According to a previous post from Justagirl
I am trying to track down the info regarding Mercon vs Mercon V. Everything (documentation) I have found so far is Mercon only. I can tell you for sure that they are DESIGNED for Mercon only.
Is any of that documentation available that I can take it back to my dealer. I would really like to have it flushed and filled with Mercon.

I really like all the information that can be found at this forum. Thanks in advance for any help.

Lamar

There is a post on one of the trans discussions that is a document from Ford's web site.

It includes all the tranny types and all the fluid types.

It clearly indicates that our tranny CD4E (?) using Mercon and NOT Mercon V.

This was within the last 2 months, I believe..

Also, I have 30K on my Trib and have flushed yearly with Mercon.... all works fine.

Good Luck,

Greg

Here's the link

That I mentioned in my message above....

http://www.ky-escaper.com/misc/fluids_usage.pdf

And here's the thread:

Wrong transmission fluid and dipstick?!? jeffnf Engine and Transmission 41 707 02-25-2003 10:26 PM
by earlier apex

If you do a search on Mercon it's the third thread....

Good luck,

Greg

justagirl,

Since you are in the know on the tranny. I posted a message a while back about my tranny shifting too much. I think you made one reply to someone about disconnecting the battery. Is there something I can do about it shifting all the time. It seems to upshift too fast only to want to downshift toofast also and on the slightest little grade. It drives me crazy, luckily my wife drives it most of the time except weekends. With it shifting all the time I gotta wonder if this tranny is going to last even 100K. It doesn't seem to shudder like the others on here are complaining about, but it does have a vibration that comes through the gas pedal at about 45 mph to maybe say 65. The frequency increases with speed.

Thanks,

__________________
GONE! 2002 Silver Escape XLT 4X4 3.0
1998 F150 Lariat Supercab 4X4 Off Road 5.4

1993 Ford Taurus SHO
2003 Chrysler Town and Country

Mercon Tranny fluid

I have the correct fluid requirements as per AllData as well as Mitchell's on Demand;

The CD4E transmission requires Mercon fluid,
part # XT-2-QDX (Quarts).

Do NOT use Mercon V.

I sure hope this resolves the issue.

__________________


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hey missyd, yes you should most certainly ask for some assistance from Ford, we had out first motor go out at around 35700 miles and Ford paid the whole bill, and gave us a (cheap) rental, when we got the new motor, it came with a 24K/24M warranty, the second motor went out at around 65000 miles, around 6000 miles out of the 2nd warranty. we complained to Ford and they agreed to pay everything but a $500 deductable. We have a little pull with Ford since we liquidate accessories for them on ebay and our website, but i dont think it came into play in this situation. if you complain enough they will do something for you, especially this close to your warranty period. good luck.

billy
bones enterprises

Is it my imagination, or am i about to buy an Escape which is made with a transmission that is incapable of lasting 30,000miles. I have never heard so many stories of catastrophic failures, transmissions replaced two, sometimes three times. I really want to buy an Escape but after a day on the internet I am begining to think that only a fool would buy one. Can anybody enlighten me!!

quote:

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Originally posted by jdh1965
Is it my imagination, or am i about to buy an Escape which is made with a transmission that is incapable of lasting 30,000miles. I have never heard so many stories of catastrophic failures, transmissions replaced two, sometimes three times. I really want to buy an Escape but after a day on the internet I am begining to think that only a fool would buy one. Can anybody enlighten me!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by jdh1965
I really want to buy an Escape but after a day on the internet I am begining to think that only a fool would buy one. Can anybody enlighten me!!

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So it is untrue that the CD4E Transmission is poorly designed and unreliable?

jdh1965 Nope