(Yet ANOTHER...) Solenoid Problem?

BigJohnson

BigJohnson

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I have been combing though posts the last 3 hours and have come to the conclusion that I have a bad solenoid. Let me first say that I am not mechanically inclined, in fact, I am mechanically illiterate.

Stats:
2003 Lincoln LS V8 120k miles

Problem: :(
Car kinda had a rough shift into 'R' ever since I bought it with 90k miles, didnt think a whole lot of it being somewhat of an older car with that many miles. It was raining the other day so I took the Lincoln to work (been driving the Ninja to save gas $), and noticed that it literally "slam/bang/pops" into fourth gear. Besides slamming into fourth, the car operates just fine.. shifts nice and smooth, plenty of power, no noises or grinding sounds. Only reason I am second guessing myself is because the transmission guy said "oh I knowwwww it aint yewr solenoid". Well, I knowwww he also wants my money... I guess my questions are, what are your opinions? I read something about a 5 dollar spring and replacing a few other parts while Im having work done to save my a headache in the future, so what would be a few parts you suggest replacing along with the solenoid (if thats the problem)?
 
Fourth gear hard shift sounds like the 4-5 valve spring. Harsh engagment of reverse is usually cured by replacing the solenoid.
 
Ivan_D said:
Fourth gear hard shift sounds like the 4-5 valve spring. Harsh engagment of reverse is usually cured by replacing the solenoid.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, driving for very long with either or both problems leads to much bigger problems.
 
Ivan_D said:
Fourth gear hard shift sounds like the 4-5 valve spring. Harsh engagment of reverse is usually cured by replacing the solenoid.
Click to expand...

It is shifting hard going INTO fourth, from third gear. Does this still apply or is there a 3-4 valve spring? (Dont laugh, I honestly have no clue!)
 
Well... transmission guy is puzzled for now. He says that it is not throwing any codes except for a "theft security code" (which could be why the LS shuts down and the alarm goes off sometimes when I first start it?). Thats another problem in itself, but for now its staying in the shop over the weekend. He said he will take another look at it on Monday but he is gonna drop the pan and look at a few things. He thinks I will need the trans rebuilt... :eek: God I love the Lincoln but it costs me more than the wife.
 
BigJohnson said:
Well... transmission guy is puzzled for now. He says that it is not throwing any codes except for a "theft security code" (which could be why the LS shuts down and the alarm goes off sometimes when I first start it?). Thats another problem in itself, but for now its staying in the shop over the weekend. He said he will take another look at it on Monday but he is gonna drop the pan and look at a few things. He thinks I will need the trans rebuilt... :eek: God I love the Lincoln but it costs me more than the wife.
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It's a known problem, it doesn't have to throw codes. My car behaves the EXACT same way your car does. I'm already planning for the full rebuild. The solenoid is just under $500 by itself, might as well go all the way.

There is a rebuild tutorial posted on this site. I suggest you find it, print it out, or email it to your transmission guy...

Also, you may want to find someone more familiar with the LS. It's no where close to your ordinary car.
 
Delayed engagement between "D" and "R" and between "P" and "D" is a dead give away to a failing solenoid pack. By delayed I mean anything over a second or less. Mine was taking almost 2 seconds to complete the shift before I replaced the solenoid. When it did decide to shift engagement was quite harsh.
 
Hmmm, I wouldnt say its a "delayed engagement"... just very harsh. Actually goes into R pretty quick. The car will be sitting on a flat surface though and rocks front to back and you can tell something isnt right. Ive been reading threads all morning though... im prepared to either replace or rebuild the trans, I have the $ and like ol boy said, if I do replace solenoid through a shop might as well do the whole cake and icing. I plan to keep my LS for a long time anyways.
 
BigJohnson said:
Hmmm, I wouldnt say its a "delayed engagement"... just very harsh. Actually goes into R pretty quick. The car will be sitting on a flat surface though and rocks front to back and you can tell something isnt right. Ive been reading threads all morning though... im prepared to either replace or rebuild the trans, I have the $ and like ol boy said, if I do replace solenoid through a shop might as well do the whole cake and icing. I plan to keep my LS for a long time anyways.
Click to expand...

There is some slack in the driveline......
 
When my car shift into reverse, it feels like if your foot isn't on the brake good, you're going to be half way across the parking lot in a couple seconds as the car takes off. It's nearly instant... delayed shift is a sign of low fluid, or fluid not moving where/how it should...
 
BigJohnson said:
Hmmm, I wouldnt say its a "delayed engagement"... just very harsh. Actually goes into R pretty quick. The car will be sitting on a flat surface though and rocks front to back and you can tell something isnt right. Ive been reading threads all morning though... im prepared to either replace or rebuild the trans, I have the $ and like ol boy said, if I do replace solenoid through a shop might as well do the whole cake and icing. I plan to keep my LS for a long time anyways.
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Solenoid assembly.
Note that it is normal for any rear wheel drive car to squat or rise a tiny bit when you shift between park/neutral and reverse/drive.
 
joegr said:
Solenoid assembly.
Note that it is normal for any rear wheel drive car to squat or rise a tiny bit when you shift between park/neutral and reverse/drive.
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Only independent rear suspension cars do that. Live/solid axle vehicles don't squat.
 
Elemino said:
Only independent rear suspension cars do that. Live/solid axle vehicles don't squat.
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Actually no, they will squat when the weight transfers. Dragsters set up their suspension to maximize this to keep the rear tires glued to the road. When the front comes up, the rear squats down. The only real difference between independent rear and solid rear cars is the tires will stay planted better on uneven surfaces with an independent rear.
 
Telco said:
Actually no, they will squat when the weight transfers. Dragsters set up their suspension to maximize this to keep the rear tires glued to the road. When the front comes up, the rear squats down. The only real difference between independent rear and solid rear cars is the tires will stay planted better on uneven surfaces with an independent rear.
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Every car I've had before the LS and Navigator had live axles and didn't do that. That includes a town car, two crown vics 87 & 2000, and an F250. I've never seen it in a live axle car...ever.

But you put your foot on the brake on the Navigator or the LS and get on the gas and the more you do, the lower the back will go.

Dragsters are a different animal. They have enough power to flip the vehicle. All kinds of crazy stuff can happen there.

Edit: I even remember the first time I ever noticed that. My friend had an LS before I did, and I remember seeing his car do that and I was sitting there wondering why, because I had never seen it... I never drove anything with rear independent suspension before my two current cars.
 
Elemino said:
Every car I've had before the LS and Navigator had live axles and didn't do that. That includes a town car, two crown vics 87 & 2000, and an F250. I've never seen it in a live axle car...ever...
Click to expand...

That's funny, my three Grand Marquis all did this, as did my Mercury Monterey (73).
 
joegr said:
That's funny, my three Grand Marquis all did this, as did my Mercury Monterey (73).
Click to expand...
Suspension problems maybe? :D

I don't know, we'll just agree to disagree. I never saw it until the LS and Navigator came along. (and I was still driving those other cars at the time) The Navigator will actually do it sitting still at a light or in a drive through... When you get off the brakes the back of the truck raises slightly.
 
Every rear wheel vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot of them, has had the rear squat a bit on takeoff. No idea why you've never seen it before. Every front wheel drive vehicle I've ever owned, who cares if it has weight transfer or one side squats on takeoff because it was a stinkin' front wheel drive piece of crap!!! I'm proud to say that as of right now I personally do not own a front wheel drive piece of crap. Although, my daughter has a 2001 Malibu, but my name's not on the title and it's not on my insurance, it just parks in my driveway.

I've only had two RWD vehicles with an independent rear, the other dozen or three have had solid axles. My favorite rear suspension configuration is the triangulated 4 link with progressive springs.

Here's a nice little writeup that describes the action on acceleration.
 
Elemino said:
Suspension problems maybe? :D

I don't know, we'll just agree to disagree. I never saw it until the LS and Navigator came along. (and I was still driving those other cars at the time) The Navigator will actually do it sitting still at a light or in a drive through... When you get off the brakes the back of the truck raises slightly.
Click to expand...

The navigators do have air ride.....
 
I've had 2 Camaros, an older GMC truck, used to drive a Dodge Ram, new Ford F150 and newer Ford van for work and they've all had the squat.
 
BlackLS06 said:
The navigators do have air ride.....
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Which is why after it dips, it'll level itself out again. It has nothing to do with it. The engine transfers more torque to the wheels at idle than those cars do. Hold the brakes on the LS and get on the gas (like all those exhaust videos) and it does the same exact thing.

Also, so did the Crown Vic, but only on the rear wheels.
 
So the official verdict is in now, trans guy again says that he would recc the whole trans be rebuilt. Says there is no metal shavings but that the trans fluid was black and his conclusion is that everything is just burning up. Says the official cause of the 3rd into 4th gear slamming is a compression valve of some sort. He said its probably the solenoid is also bad and the cost for just those two is a little shy of having the whole thing redone. $2495 plus tax?!? Man Ive got some decisions to make... dont want to see the LS go but still need to replace wheel bearings in rear and when I had it up to look at things I seen all the boots are busted and will prob need new suspension parts soon too. Ughhhhhhhh
 
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