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Skipping 2nd gear in auto |
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Stately 
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Joined: 01-July-2024 Location: Uk Status: Offline Points: 16 |
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 Topic: Skipping 2nd gear in autoPosted: 08-July-2024 at 12:26AM |
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Hi All,
I have a 71 Torino gt, 351 Cleavland. The auto gearbox seems to not fully engage when in 2nd gear, but seems to work fine if I put the shifter manually though 1st to 2nd and then into D to get into 3rd. I have changed the transmission oil and filter and checked the vacuum hose but no change. Any ideas?? I’m in the UK so finding a good local garage who can fix issues is pretty hard, but if I have things diagnosed they might have a better shot at it! I have millions more questions, but this is the most pressing atm. Thanks for any advice. I will post pics of the car once I can figure out how to do it.. Cheers |
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Rockatansky
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Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 6398 |
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Posted: 08-July-2024 at 1:07PM |
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what transmission, C4, FMX, C6? column or floor shift, cable or mechanical linkage? have you or somebody done work on the shifter or transmission recently before this started? is the linkage loose, worn, wobbly?
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72 GT Ute
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Stately
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Posted: 08-July-2024 at 8:53PM |
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Ooooo - all good questions! And I’m afraid I don’t have a lot of the answers…
How can I tell what transmission it’s got? It’s a column shifter - and linkage is quite loose I’d say. It drops into reverse very easily and quite dangerously when idling in park. Luckily the emergency brake seems to hold it in place when this happens. Cable or mechanical linkage, again I’m afraid I don’t know. As you can tell, I’m no mechanic I’m afraid! Car was sitting a fair while during British winter. Then this spring it seemed to run strangely and almost stall when accelerating, but only when in gear. Motor was gunning smoothly in neutral. Local garage said we should maybe try changing transmission oil so did that, and now it has this issue of seeming to almost miss 2nd gear. Gear changes are smooth and not clunky, (so much so it took me ages to figure out it was not engaging 2nd properly as I barely noticed the switch from 1st to 2nd). I’ve frequently had problems with the vacuum tube that goes into the transmission oil sump just falling out and that affecting gear changes, but that now sits tightly in there. Sorry I don’t have more info - would the VIN number help to know what transmission it’s got? Cheers Jules
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72 RS 351
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Posted: 09-July-2024 at 2:18AM |
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That extra information tells you that the issue is the shift linkage very likely. The joints are worn out, bushings will need replacing. The linkage controls the internal manual valve inside the automatic, it has to be located in the exact position for each gear. That's also why the trans is falling into reverse when the selector is in park. There is a procedure for adjusting the shift linkage on each automatic. You need to find that and be familiar with it, and/or give that information to your shop who you have do the work. Given the age, it surely is in need of linkage bushings(hopefully that is all), plus being adjusted. The adjustment is simply noting the position of the shift lever versus the trans case(often there are marks on each), and placing the shift lever in a certain gear. Then with the column shifter set to that gear carefully, you tighten the linkage, and it's done.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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Rockatansky
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Posted: 09-July-2024 at 11:26AM |
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i'm thinking the manual valve may be out of position for whatever reason, otherwise it's an internal problem and as you know, All Automatics Must Come Out!
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72 GT Ute
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 10-July-2024 at 4:24AM |
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Check the door jamb for the door data tag. It should have the transmission code (and other great info) on there. Take a pic and post it here and we can help you decode it. Or, if it's missing, take a photo of the transmission pan. We have lots of info, year by year on this page:
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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handsofstone
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Posted: 10-July-2024 at 3:35PM |
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Following this one. Fingers crossed for you.
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Rockatansky
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Posted: 12-July-2024 at 10:50AM |
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visual ID chart by pan shape
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72 GT Ute
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Travis91
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Posted: 13-July-2024 at 1:32AM |
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Great info Rock. Thank you for posting. The visuals make it much easier to identify which transmission
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 14-July-2024 at 1:10AM |
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Did you check your door tag yet for the Transmission code? The post Rock shows does not have the FMX, which you car may have. Check out this Ford specific chart which includes the FMX.  |
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Rockatansky
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Posted: 14-July-2024 at 5:39AM |
well ain't that a kicker. i saw the Ford section and trusted that on All Cylinders would come through, not so much. i should've just gone to my stash of stolen images, here's what i would've won but i got zonked. not sure where i got it, but i got it, know what i mean?  |
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72 GT Ute
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Stately
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Posted: 15-July-2024 at 9:21AM |
 Hi Guys,Thank you so much for all the info. Sorry I didn’t reply, I was waiting for emails to tell me when there were replies and I didn’t get any. I’ll get the hang of this forum thing soon! I’m still failing to post a pic, will try again and check the door jam tomorrow for that info. Cheers Jules
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Stately
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Posted: 17-July-2024 at 8:57AM |
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I can’t find any plate on the door jam unfortunately.
Just the VIN number further up on the dash. Is that any use?? I’ll look under at the trans sump and see if I can get a pic
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Stately
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Posted: 17-July-2024 at 9:03AM |
 Here’s the pic of the pan
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 17-July-2024 at 10:20AM |
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It looks like a C4 to me from that picture. Does second work if you manually shift into second? Based on your symptoms it could be that the second gear band is out of adjustment. You could have the shop adjust the band to stock specs. It also could be the band is completely worn or broken, which will involve a more serious repair and /or rebuild.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Stately
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Posted: 17-July-2024 at 11:42PM |
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Hi there. - yes it shifts into 2nd manually. I’ve basically been using manual shifting for the past few months and then into Drive for 3rd gear.
Is the band totally different from the linkage that was discussed earlier? Cheers Jules |
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handsofstone
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Posted: 23-July-2024 at 4:59PM |
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I would guess there is a sticking valve in the valve body but it has been almost 40 years since my Aamco days.
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Stately
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Posted: 23-July-2024 at 11:16PM |
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Thanks for that. Is a sticking valve an easy fix?
Is there a good exploded diagram anywhere of how the auto gears work? I feel I should educate myself.. have just taken off the starter motor and ordered a new one as it seems that has gone as well! Cheers Jules |
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 24-July-2024 at 12:14PM |
Yes the band is totally different. It is the fraction device that applies pressure to the drum so second gear engages. This video shows C4 servicing and band adjustment. |
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Stately
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Posted: 10-August-2024 at 3:16AM |
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Thanks for that one. I’ll try and show to my garage when they have time!
Cheers |
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Stately
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Posted: 17-August-2024 at 9:35AM |
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UPDATE;
I appear to have lost all forward gears completely now! Something is amiss… Reverse seems to work fine. Was stiff to put into reverse when leaving home, then drove 2 miles and seemed to lose any power to the forward gears. Managed to get into a lay-by and switched off. Restarted and just won’t slip into gear. VERY slight power when put into 1st. Not enough to get anywhere. Reverse seems to work. Can too much transmission oil do anything bad? It’s been slightly over the mark for a while… But this seems worse than that… |
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72FordGTS
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Posted: 17-August-2024 at 12:33PM |
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It sounds like you are into a full tear down and rebuild. Are there any shops capable of rebuilding the transmission in the UK? You can order the parts from the US. Summit Racing ships internationally, and would have rebuild kits.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Stately
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Posted: 18-August-2024 at 3:13AM |
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Damn!
Sounds expensive! I’ll start asking around for who could manage that Thanks for all your help guys. Much appreciated .
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72 RS 351
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Posted: 18-August-2024 at 5:37AM |
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Yeah, sorry to hear that the trans has given up. Don't drive it anymore, it is likely very fixable right now, only main wear parts should need to be replaced. Find any trans shop or person who has built a Ford transmission, and ask them what they can do with that C4 trans. The rebuild kits are not expensive for those, paying for the labor to R&R the trans, plus the rebuild on the bench, those are the highest costs. If nothing else got hurt inside such as the hard parts which take more to find and buy, then you could get it fixed in a short time.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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Stately
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Posted: 18-August-2024 at 9:13AM |
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Gotcha. Have a new guy picking it up tomorrow who has a link to a specialist gearbox place not to far away, so hopefully will get her back on the road soon.
Thanks again. I’ll print off the advice from here and show it all to the new guy tomorrow in case it leads him to try a few things before a rebuild. Cheers all
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72FordGTS wrote: