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Transmission problems seem to plague EA to EL Falcons, the electronic four speed box is definately lacking when compared to it’s three-speed brother. Why that is I’m not sure, but I would like to tell you of one gearbox I found interesting.
Anyway to get on with the problem, we have a 1997 EL Falcon with the lovely shitty electronic 4 speed Automatic transmission. I have never been a fan of these gearboxes, especially after doing a 4 week stint with a Taxi company. I was ready to let fly if I was asked to pull another one out! So the EL was having an issue with not changing out of third gear when hot. 10-15 minutes of driving and everything worked fine. Drive long enough and the transmission would select third gear and stay there, no shifting up and no shifting down.
As the owner had replaced the battery recently, my first thought was that the computer needs resetting. Removed the negative terminal for about 10 mins, re-connected it, pushed the accelerator to the floor twice, once with A/C on and once without, jiggled my left ear twice, held my left leg at 15 degrees for 4 seconds, nah just kidding! Went through the steps for resetting the computer and took it for a long drive. Still got stuck in third after warming up. Next idea.
Have you seen the way to check the transmission oil in EF and onwards Falcon’s? They don’t have a dipstick like every other ‘normal’ transmission. No they have a 13mm filler plug type arrangement. So to check the fluid level you have to jack the vehicle up both ends to make it level and remove this plug. When they said “Let’s get rid of the dipstick” I think they meant the guy that designed the AU Falcon, not the transmission dipstick!!
So checking the fluid level was out of the question for me, not that I thought it had anything to do with the problem we were having though. I booked it in for a check-over at our local Auto Trans. specialist to see what they thought. They did a check for fault codes that may have been logged into the computer. No problems there, so off with the transmission pan and out with the old fluid and filter.
They found pieces of the transmission cooler in the pan, which is never a good sign. The cooler is the standard ‘in the radiator’ type set-up which often starts to fall apart internally and sends small pieces of copper back into the transmission with the returning fluid. That in itself is enough to warrant a new transmission and around $2000.00, but I was still curious as to the cause of our problem.
It seems like low fluid level will cause these transmissions to play up when hot. In my limited experiences with Auto transmissions it has been the exact opposite, when the fluid level is low they slip and carry on but as the fluid heats and expands the problems go away. At least I can say that I learnt something new today! Even though the transmission is still up for a reconditioning, it will at least drive around for a while with all forward gears functioning.
If you have found this post because of transmission drama’s, do yourself a favour and have the transmission serviced or at least the level checked before deciding which child to sell on the black market! And if you own an EF and onwards Falcon, don’t go looking for the dipstick because it simply ain’t there!
Take care and be safe on the roads.
Craig
33 Users Responded in " Falcon Transmission woes "
Its actually a preventative put in by Ford called limp home mode. If there is a problem with the box (which there was, as peices of transmission cooler were in there), it will limit slippage and heating, by sticking in third gear, so you can get to where you are going, with out any major detrimental effects. Its actually pretty smart if you ask me. That little annoyance probably just saved you the cost of a gearbox.
Hey Ralph,
I agree, great idea for preventing further damage to the box. Unfortunately it is game over for the box anyway with the cooler pieces having run through it, but yeah you’re right it is a great idea.
Craig
I just suffered the same problem but now have a cooling system full of trans fluid, anyone know how to flush the oil out?
Wayne
buy hq holden i did ya can work on them cheers rob
My EF has a transmission dipstick, its a 94/95.. Maybe it was changed in the later EFs?
Yeah Andrew, apparently all Falcon’s produced after Febuary ‘96 have the factory sealed transmissions without the dipstick.
Craig
Talking about problems..
Mine is a 98 el Auto with only about 135 000 km on the clock.
Out of the blue, and under normal conditions it started losing power (slipping).
Before I could get home, lost power all together and not even one of gear settings would engage.
Imagine getting stuck in the middle of a busy intersection, at night, while lights turning red and car is moving backward instead of forward!!
Bloody dangerous scenario, especially if you don’t expect it.
Now if I turn engine off and wait for a few minutes gears would engage, but only for about half a mile’s drive, and then same thing all over again.
Went looking for dip stick but it looks like designers forgot to put one in!!
Haven’t been to a mechanic yet, but has anyone else experienced same problem?
I would appreciate any feedback..
Hi Craig
I had to totally rebuilt transmission.
Apparently clutches had disintegrated and
transmission fluid turned to sludge, although level was correct.
Limb Home safety feature never kicked in, and never had any warning symptoms prior to catastrophic failure.
This wouldn’t had happened if there was a dipstick there to at least periodically check condition of fluid.
These transmissions are badly designed and have to be serviced (fluid flushed out) every 20k Km’s or so.
My previous Toyota 4 Runner I had done 350k KM and Auto transmission had never been touched or ever needed to be topped up. Fluid was still clean and bright red the day I sold it.
So, a warning to every one out there: While at hoist, get mechanic to check condition of fluid at every service and replace fluid every year. Then you might get a longer than 140K KM life out of it.(!
Thanks for your help.
Regards Zachary.
Forget all these problems listed above & below.I can still remember what cheezed me off most about that car and that is that my brand new standard AU Falcon did not come with a clock.
I did not realize it didn’t have one untill about the day after I took ownership.I know it was way back in 1998..But!!….. Who designed that car,Fred Flintstone maybe?
Graig
I had the same problems with my Ford today, but I write to say …
You made me laugh a couple of times.
Give up your day job and go into comedy.
Ross
Geez thanks Ross…I think?! Best of luck with your Ford.
i have recently bought a second hand 97 EL falcon. and from second to third gear it has been slipping as soon as it gets over about 2700rpm. it will sit in nuetral, but shortly after it will kick back into gear. my EL has only done 107,000 k’s on the clock and has always had recent services done by ford, i have checked all oil in diff, gear box itself and all oils looked fine. does anyone know wat this problem could be?
Hey was wondering if anyone knows how i can put trans fluid into my 96 Ef ive read theres no friggin dipstick…..(Stupid Idea That Was) went looking for the 13mm plug stated at beginning of this blog but couldnt find it please help if you have been able to fill up your trans fluid or do i need to take it to mechanic?
my ef has 460,000klm on the clock and even though i have done a transmission service not long ago I have just encountered the limp home mode senario and flogged it home in third gear,the one it gets stuck in,mind u, for 400ks at 120kph.I have also a perfectly rounded filler plug on the gearbox so access through this is imposible.to fill the box after service I place a hose over the return pipe,the one at the top of the radiator and funel in the fluid like a doc.and it dont take long.I usually put in 4lts and a splash if I got it,but if this is incorrect please corect.To correct the limp mode problem–I flush the transmission throughly,service kit it,threw in an aftermarket trans cooler and eliminate the radiator one altogether,,, as its a temprature thing with all its compications,,and my gears are back and ready to flog for another 400,000 klms.AND dam them front bumpers,pain in the ass to get off.stuff the filler plug,take of the pan,put in a filter kit and doc it in the return line
Hi,
Gotta love a bit of ingenuity! I agree with you on the trans. cooler issue, fitting the biggest aftermarket one you can find and bypassing the radiator seems to help them no-end, even if fitting them is a pain in the backside.
By our book 4 litres is the correct amount of oil needed after servicing the transmission.
Good luck for another 400,000km!
hi,craig,thanks,and i am also surprised that front bumber only took 20min not 4hrs, to remove on ef and have quik instructions if anyone needs them and with the coolers,,yes isaid coolers, I bipassed the the radiator cooler into a ed falcon trans cooler from the wreakers for a measly $35,, then into an smaller aftermarket one to the right and lower than the first one, $50 new on ebay,and back to the return,have photo set up if anyone interested,and they sit clear in the airdam opening with no ajustments or cutting.I would suggest, as i am going to do, is for the sake of a few dollars a transmission service as regular as the engine oil service,which i like to do every before or on every 5000klm.Transmission service kits are on ebay for TWELVE (12) of them about $90. THE taxi fleet knew best………..reguards … TINNTTER
**IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW PAUL FITTED HIS TRANSMISSION COOLERS SEND ME AN EMAIL TO AUTOFIX@AAPT.NET.AU AND I WILL PASS IT ON TO PAUL. CRAIG
I own an EA falcon and the auto transmission slips when it is cold, will flushing help? TIA Ben Qld
I seem to suffer a different problem to all you guys
For some reason my car seems to whine when it engages 4th gear…..it sounds like a worn out diff, but i later worked out that its actually the gear box, as it would only start when fourth gear engages. And for argument sake, i service the trans every 30,000kms
thats ford for ya….thankfully this will be my last ford…..they have just turned to rubbish from the late 80’s
hi guys me bro inlaw has a ba falcon that slips[flares] when cold, when shifting from 3rd to 4th. local ford dealer claims can be fixed with trans reprogram…..feedback please.
Our 2002 Falcon has the fourth gear whine and also in first and reverse. Ford expert thinks it is the diff and two transmission shops and a diff shop think it is the transmission. Seems the same gear is used for fourth as well as first and reverse, from what I’ve been told, whereas third is straight thru so no whine in third when decelerating from about 80 k’s.
The car has done 114,000k’s with a trans cooler fitted at 80,000k’s.
My 1990 EA Fairmont shudders at 54, 84 and 94 kph when accelarating slowly. Last couple of days, a big clunk heard / felt in driveline. Oil is thin brown. Whole car is vibrating in 1st and 2nd. Backlash felt in reverse and drive when changing gears. My car has lost a bucket load of power when driving, but I have plenty when I need it in park and nuetral. (insert sarcasm here) Trying to figure out if I should service or replace. Engine replaced with 4.0 ltr MPEFI ED 80,000 km (2yrs) ago and is running reasonbly well. What model and type would be reccommended if changed and what amount for supply and fit if so. Liked XD as I could change in 6hrs, but EA, I still dont know where the starter or dissy is. Kind regards, Darren Robinson.
i have a ford ef falcon with trans problems trans oil and filter have been changed. after driving for about half hour engine seems to over rev speed decreases and trans doesnt seem to engage gear.after letting the car sit for a while able to start car and drive
Hi there everyone,
I also have a strange problem with my AU Falcon. It is fine one minute and then without any warning all the lights go off on the dash and the car just starts to lose power and then it just dies on the spot. I have taken my car to Ford and they replaced the fuel pump, battery and the alternater because this is what their computer was telling them the problems were. And l’m no better off after spending over $1200.00 l still have the same problems and it seems to happen more on a long drive on a warmer day. Can someone please tell me if they have had the same problem?? and how to fix it. I’m sick off my car dying in the middle of no where or in the middle of a busy intersection.
Tracey.
My transmission is totally FUBAR at the moment. It fails to engage 2nd gear most of the time and will rev in a netral like state then at certain point will snap into the gear jolting the car. I have a ford falcon forte au 2000 model apparently after about 170 thousand the transmission just goes. I think at a mechanic they charge about 1500=2000 to replace and fix. I feel pain for my bank balance.
I own a EF Fairmont Gia Auto that has developed a whine in fourth gear above 60ks in speed. Does anyone know how to quiet down the whine. I did think at first it was the diff but realised after much checking indeed it was the fourth gear. What actually causes this fault.If it were a diff I would think worn or misaligned gears.
Is there an additive that may help.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks
Hi, I have a 1990 30th Ann. EA II S, and although the title sounds impressive the car is absolutely rubbish. Since i first noticed it staying in third gear on the freeway, I’ve replaced the engine oil, twice. Flushed the radiator and replaced coolant. And changed the Transmission fluid. Yet still When it’s cold it will do nothing but sit in third gear.
It makes for a very bad and slow start off the line and makes dealing with traffic awfully dangerous. It also slips gears occasionally and has just recently started shuddering at random point’s whilst driving. Given im 16 and don’t have a job, I would appreciate some advice on what to do. Please Help Im Lost Here People!
I have a 2002 ford explorer transmission just rebuilt and already slipping I have not done 500Km ford transmissions are pathetic! Ford should have had to do something about these transmissions!
Hi there
Lucky me was returning from Chrissy holidays and my 1998 AU Fairmont decided to stop, Problem was the Tranmission. I had travelled 300 km’s without a problem over taking and sitting on 100km’s without any trouble. I Pulled up to the first set of lights in suburbia went to accelerate and no go. As I was stuck in the right hand lane with a car full of family. My main objective was to get to the left where it was safe.Tried this safety mode in 3rd, yer right this didn’t work. I Rev this baby to about 4 grand and get slight forward movement and limped across three lanes to were this baby was to be left. I’m unable to check the oil level as I don’t happen to have a car jack and stands to check the oil level in the boot, What a great idea to have left out the dipstick when building this car, total dicks.
I have reverse but no 1,2,3 or drive. Let it idle in 1st and there is a noise from the box. I waited for the RACV for a tow truck, 4 hours later to get 18 km’s to home I pulled a line from the cooler and the oil is like motor oil colour. I have booked in for a service so I’ll let you all know what the damage and cost will be. Based that this car is a company car and regularly serviced I’ll have to have a discussion with the mechanic relating to his comments on the service paper work relating to check the transmission
Hey Mark,
Sorry to hear of your misfortune, great way to end your holiday eh?! Sounds like the all-to-common overheating that these late-ish model transmissions suffer from and I dare say it will be time for a reconditioned box.
You’re right about the lack of transmission dipstick, great idea, not! For one it prevents owners from regularly checking the fluid level and condition (and getting it changed if it looks off colour) and second if the mechanic doing the servicing is even a little bit lazy it won’t get checked then either - simply brilliant.
Best of luck with getting it repaired and please do keep us updated.
Just an update on my AU Fairmont that failed on the way home from Chrissy holidays.
The mechanic has inspected the tranny and as we all guessed it, it is no longer in the land of the living. Root cause was that the oil cooler in the radiator had lost most of it’s internal bits and passed it in to the gearbox. The gears that are in the box that helps the car move forward are completly gone. Mechanic has said that it is that bad that they would not even be able to reco this unit. Total damage to replace and re fit reco box and new external oil cooler is just over $2000.00. So if anyone intends on doing some lengthy drives in their AU is maybe wise to fit a external oil cooler at a cost of around $300.00 to prevent you from cooking the tranny oil and have such a large out lay of dollars if you happen to cook your box
Cheers
Mark
Thanks for the update Mark.
there’s an easy solution to all these issues- dont be lazy, drive a manual. i’ve had 3 falcons from EA to AU, done over 250,000km all up and all i’ve changed is 3 lots of trans fluid (about 6 litres) and 1 clutch kit. no shifting issues, you just have to do it yourself…
Yeah, good point Kevin
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