Check Transmission Light On

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JER2001LS

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I have a 2001 V8 LS. It has 65K miles on it. A couple of weeks ago the "Check Transmission" light came on. I did not notice any slipping or problems with the automatic transmission changing gears. I immediately took it to the dealer and he stated he wasn't really sure what was activating the error code. He thought maybe it was a faulty MLP sensor. In the end the MLP sensor was change, new transmission fluid was added (with additive), and the the PCM was reflashed. Costs = $530. Within 24 hours of taking it home the "Check Transmission" light came on again. I talked to the dealer and he thinks the throttle body valve needs to be changed. He suggested I get a used one to save costs. In the mean time the dealer stated I could drive it until he gets a used one in. Now after a week of driving it the car understand what is actually going on with the car. For some reason it is having trouble shifting into 5th gear. It will shift into 5th when the motor is still cool, but after it has warmed up it won't shift into 5th. I tried using the SST to get it into 5th and it won't shift into it. When I shift from 3rd to 4th in SST, the 4 is displayed but it doesn't shift. Then I shift it from 4th to 5th and 5 is displayed but it is actually in 4th (2500 rpm at 50mph).

Does this appear to be a throttle body problem??? Could a throttle body cleaning fix this??
 
I seriously doubt it is the TB that is producing this check transmission light. IIRC there is a TSB floating aorund for this problem on the 03 or 04 LS'; I will see if I can find it as it might lend a hand in cornering the problem. I would suggest finding a other lincoln shops and interview them for the job. I had to go through the same process over a trnsmission problem I had that failed to go away after 3 repair attempts by the same dealer. I looked around and finally found another the dealer that had a clue and guess what... they fixed it and the problem never returned.

Below is the pinpoint diag chart that a shop would be looking at for a 4 to 5 gear shift problem in automatic mode.

4th to 5th PPDC.gif
 
eL eS said:
I seriously doubt it is the TB that is producing this check transmission light. IIRC there is a TSB floating aorund for this problem on the 03 or 04 LS'; I will see if I can find it as it might lend a hand in cornering the problem. I would suggest finding a other lincoln shops and interview them for the job. I had to go through the same process over a trnsmission problem I had that failed to go away after 3 repair attempts by the same dealer. I looked around and finally found another the dealer that had a clue and guess what... they fixed it and the problem never returned.

Below is the pinpoint diag chart that a shop would be looking at for a 4 to 5 gear shift problem in automatic mode.
Click to expand...


Thanks for your help.
 
man id make a issue on that money. talk to the service manager. Tell them you paid $530 to repair the car and the car is still the same.
 
2k2ls said:
man id make a issue on that money. talk to the service manager. Tell them you paid $530 to repair the car and the car is still the same.
Click to expand...

Well they could say that it was a problem and according to the procedures it says to make repair(s) in order to clear any DTC the proceed with troubleshooting. I have been down this long road and it never bore any fruit. Fial a complaint with bbb or take them to small claims court. In some states the person that is filed against has to show not a rep or an atty. Check your local rules to see.
 
Oh Great...

My "check transmission" light just came on this morning.

btw - I bought it a week ago.

2002 V8 - 35k miles
 
2k2ls said:
man id make a issue on that money. talk to the service manager. Tell them you paid $530 to repair the car and the car is still the same.
Click to expand...


Talked to the service manager. He apologized and hoped I would bring it back so they could try to fix it again.

I took it to another Ford dealer. The service tech doubted it is the throttle body causing this problem. Stay tuned, I will let you know what he thinks is causing this problem.
 
Yeah they were way off on the throttle body. Is the light still on? If so did you get the DTC code? If not do you have an autozone nearby? Have them read it for you.
 
eL eS said:
Yeah they were way off on the throttle body. Is the light still on? If so did you get the DTC code? If not do you have an autozone nearby? Have them read it for you.
Click to expand...


Yes it is still on. It still comes on after the car warms up. Right now it is at a second Ford dealer. I had to drive it about 30 miles to get it to this second dealer. On the interstate the car was running 3100 rpm at ~ 65mph. Ouch.

Hopefully I will hear something back from them tomorrow. If I don't like their response I guess I will take it to autozone to learn what I can.
 
Well if the dealer diaged the car they should be able to give you the diag trbl code. I would ask after all you are the customer what can they say. You have every right to know what is wrong and the onus to get other opinionis on you.
 
eL eS said:
Well if the dealer diaged the car they should be able to give you the diag trbl code. I would ask after all you are the customer what can they say. You have every right to know what is wrong and the onus to get other opinionis on you.
Click to expand...


Second dealer has looked at the problem. He thinks the valve body may be damaged. The bottom of the tramission will have to be removed to get to it. Also a solenoid pack may be damaged and it will have to be replaced. Estimated cost ~ $800 - $1100.

Does this appear right and reasonable??
 
That sounds about right for the cost. Contact Maxx at 5 star and see if they can do you better on the parts prices. It would certainly be wise to replace them both else you will face the same thing in a year or two.
 
these are the list prices a delaer might charge

Solenoid Pack XW4Z7G391AC $308.84
Valve Body 2W4Z7A100AA $386.78

Labor is over 3 hours.
 
eL eS said:
these are the list prices a delaer might charge

Solenoid Pack XW4Z7G391AC $308.84
Valve Body 2W4Z7A100AA $386.78

Labor is over 3 hours.
Click to expand...


The problem was a spring broken in the valve body. The valve body was replaced. So far it is riding good with no problems.

One thing though, when this dealer remove the transmission pan he noticed the transmission fluid looked dirty (dark red) and it was thick almost like molasses. (Remember above, the first dealer charged me for changing out the transmission fluid). I only driven the car maybe 200 miles until the car was taken to the second dealer. This dealer felt there is no way the first dealer changed it. I confronted the first dealer but he claims it was changed. I threaten to go to the BBB but I think it would be my word against his.

Anyway I am glad my car is fixed and it won't go back to the first dealer ever again.
 
Call the Lincoln Customer Service hot line!! Tell them you paid a dealer $530 to fix a problem and they couldn't do it. Then tell them you took it to another dealer and they fixed it. Include all information you did here. Believe me...they WILL call the offending dealer in a hurry! Remember the problem I was having with my son's hard start on his LS8? I paid a dealer $334 to fix that the first time. They said it was a coil. I knew it wasn't, but my son was under the gun for time and needed the car and couldn't wait to have me work on it, so he had it "fixed". Of course it didn't fix it. I paid the bill for my son and he brought it by my shop the next weekend where I found a leaking injector...and I fixed it. So....my son gets really upset that the dealer charged all this money to fix it...and didn't. He calls Lincoln and bitches. NEXT DAY some lady calls him from Lincoln and he relates the problem to her. She calls the service manager WHILE HE'S ON THE PHONE WITH HER! Next thing we know we have a check cut back for the money! Now that's customer service!!
 
JER2001LS said:
The problem was a spring broken in the valve body. The valve body was replaced. So far it is riding good with no problems.

One thing though, when this dealer remove the transmission pan he noticed the transmission fluid looked dirty (dark red) and it was thick almost like molasses. (Remember above, the first dealer charged me for changing out the transmission fluid). I only driven the car maybe 200 miles until the car was taken to the second dealer. This dealer felt there is no way the first dealer changed it. I confronted the first dealer but he claims it was changed. I threaten to go to the BBB but I think it would be my word against his.

Anyway I am glad my car is fixed and it won't go back to the first dealer ever again.
Click to expand...
Your word and the sencond dealers against his . I say push him on it.
 
2001LS8Sport said:
Call the Lincoln Customer Service hot line!! Tell them you paid a dealer $530 to fix a problem and they couldn't do it. Then tell them you took it to another dealer and they fixed it. Include all information you did here. Believe me...they WILL call the offending dealer in a hurry! Remember the problem I was having with my son's hard start on his LS8? I paid a dealer $334 to fix that the first time. They said it was a coil. I knew it wasn't, but my son was under the gun for time and needed the car and couldn't wait to have me work on it, so he had it "fixed". Of course it didn't fix it. I paid the bill for my son and he brought it by my shop the next weekend where I found a leaking injector...and I fixed it. So....my son gets really upset that the dealer charged all this money to fix it...and didn't. He calls Lincoln and bitches. NEXT DAY some lady calls him from Lincoln and he relates the problem to her. She calls the service manager WHILE HE'S ON THE PHONE WITH HER! Next thing we know we have a check cut back for the money! Now that's customer service!!
Click to expand...

Bravo Zulu! With all the advertising that FLM are conducting right now to get folks back into the delaer shops the last thing they need is a lot of cases of disgruntled customers showing up at teh BBB or small claims court.

I know if I screw up on my job, which is a service job, then I know my company has to eat somehting and that I will be disciplined. We need to hold these fly by night stealerships accountable more often.

I had my car in for 120 days becasue it kept shutting down. the first part of that 120 days was 90 days I got my car on the 91st day. Drove it and it shutdown. They took it back for another 30 and in the end they ate the cost of a rear electronic module and labor during that 30 day period.
 
I have a 2000 Lincoln LS w/ a 3.9. I had my transmission go from 5th to 3rd after driving for 100 miles. I had it scoped and it came back as solenoid c. I had the solenoid replaced and the speed sensor. It shifts now 1 thru 3 then you have to let off the gas and it goes to 5th gear, no 4th at all. Any clue what this could be? I had all the coil packs replaced and the valve cover gaskets 6 months ago.
A dealer said it could be a servo or a spring. I appreciate any help.
 
Billmac said:
I have a 2000 Lincoln LS w/ a 3.9. I had my transmission go from 5th to 3rd after driving for 100 miles. I had it scoped and it came back as solenoid c. I had the solenoid replaced and the speed sensor. It shifts now 1 thru 3 then you have to let off the gas and it goes to 5th gear, no 4th at all. Any clue what this could be? I had all the coil packs replaced and the valve cover gaskets 6 months ago.
A dealer said it could be a servo or a spring. I appreciate any help.
Click to expand...

Okay, first I assume that you mean P0795. The letter in front of the code is important, and shouldn't be left off if you want good help.
The problem could be electrical or mechanical, but I'd go with "the other Ford shop" because when this code comes up on a Jaguar S-type, it is often the spring. You may find it in three or four pieces.

Experience, training, intelligence, and attitude are all more important than what scan tool is used.

[Since you posted it so many times...]
 
crm2kmsu said:
My "check transmission" light just came on this morning.

btw - I bought it a week ago.

2002 V8 - 35k miles
Click to expand...

holy sh!t, where did you find an eight year old LS with only 35K?

and why the f@$& is the trans having problems after only 35K?

and welcome Michigan man!
 
1LoudLS said:
holy sh!t, where did you find an eight year old LS with only 35K?

and why the f@$& is the trans having problems after only 35K?

and welcome Michigan man!
Click to expand...

That post was from 2005.
 
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