Re: 1990 Mustang AOD Problems



On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 12:00:58 GMT, Backyard Mechanic
<pettyfog@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>"Sudden trans problems? Check trans cable at throttle body"
>
>
>Good lesson... but change that fluid, anyway. You have no idea how long
>you'll need that trans... put in a bottle of Lucas AT fix when you change
>fluid and it will last you longer than you'll need it.
>
>Good lesson #2: Dont fall for that 'diehard' crap! I learned my lesson
>when the brand was new in early 70's... Sears refused to replace a new
>one because tester showed it had enough amps at room temp. Problem was
>it had a near-dead cell and wouldnt crank engine fast enough for good
>start when temp was 30 deg or lower.
>
>NEVER buy a 'diehard'... it ranks right up with Fram and Pennzoil as 'all
>marketing hype'
>
>
Any recommends in place of Die Hard? I've been using them since the
early 70s when Sears exchanged them no questions asked, and only once
have had a problem.

Who makes Die Hard? As I understand it, there are really only a
couple or three battery makers who produce under many brand names.
A switch to another brand (WallyMart? Costco? Target? Les Schwab?)
might see a different name on the same battery.

>"- Captain Ahab -" <notreally@xxxxxxx> wrote in
>news:VaB9f.37739$rE2.10685@xxxxxxxx:
>
>> Found an interesitng solution to what I thought was a dying AOD.
>>
>> Had a battery problem with the car. First off, let me tell you SEAERS
>> SUCKS. Bought a 100 month Die Hard battery for my 1990 Mustang in
>> (roughly) summer of 2000. Misplaced the receipt. Sears keeps records
>> of every DUMB thing they've ever sold me and want to extend a
>> warranty on. NOT CAR BATTERIES! Apparently the advances in computers
>> and databases, record keeping etc. does NOT extend to Die Hard
>> batteries. And (of course) the battery tester did not work at the
>> facility I went to to check if it was any good. Alls I had to do was
>> pay the 84.99 for the full battery and I'm in business. Screw that...
>>
>> Went home with said battery, hooked it up to grandpa's old 6 amp
>> battery charger for about 8 hours and it worked fine. Car started like
>> a champ. Ran it for a while in the park and reved engine from the
>> throttle body....WHICH CAUSED (I THINK) transmission problems....I
>> think I popped off the clip from the TV cable to the throttle body.
>> But before I realized it....
>>
>> Went for a test drive in the stang to relearn fuel curve, get the
>> engine rolling, and see how it was and if I shouldbuy a new battery
>> (NOT A SEARS DIE HARD FOR SURE!) Got car on the highway, hit the gas
>> and pedal was soft, tranny slipping...I thought "oh ***, AOD death"
>> and got the car home ASAP. Car would not downshift and went through
>> the gears real sloppy. Ful throttle was like driving a wet noodle.
>> Scary. Got home, and checked the transmission fluid. Dark, not
>> red...dead AOD for sure. No doubts. But wait...Google just to check...
>>
>> Suire enough a search on this list (RAMFM) provided the solution. Not
>> to the darkened transmission fluid, but to the shittly shifting
>> problem. There is a clip that holds the TV cable to the throttle body.
>> That clip went missing, and transmission shifted like ***. Like it
>> was dead/ gonna die real soon. And one looke at the fluid (before I
>> knew about the clip) "confirmed" my problem. A google search of the
>> old news archive provided this from mach1man Dan:
>>
>> -----
>> http://groups.google.com/group/rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang/msg/384c7a
>> 55148d643b
>>
>> Hold your Horses Michael. I had the same symptoms from my car. got
>> real soft pedal. When I held down the pedal it would not shift then
>> fall into neutral. BUt it got real soft. DONT DRIVE THE CAR! tow,
>> push, pull it to your local reputable tranny shop. It is a little
>> bracket or connection type thing. Its plastic is in the engine Bay.
>> And cost me 25 bucks to have fix instead of the 1200 for a rebuild. I
>> talked to the guy over the phone and told him what type of car it was
>> he knew the problem without seeing the car. If you drive the car it
>> will ruin the tranny. They repaced the part with a metal replacement
>> and said it wont break any more. It is common in AOD's I guess.
>>
>> Good Luck,
>> Let me know how it goes.
>> Dan
>> -----
>>
>> THIS was exactly the problem. A couple of zip ties, and car was
>> running FINE despite discolored fluid (83,000 miles, and had car 15
>> years...time to change it? Probably not...wait for it to die and go
>> tremec...LOL)
>>
>> Ordered new TV cable from ford for 54 bucks. AND THEY THROW IN THE
>> CLIP....
>>
>> So....before you think your AOD is D-E-A-D.....check that TV cable
>> attachment to the throttle body. And keep your battery terminals
>> clean.
>>
>> Happy Halloween!
>>
>> Jimmy
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
--
Spike
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2, Vintage Burgundy
w/Black Std Interior, A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok;
Vintage 40 16" rims w/225/50ZR16 KDWS BF Goodrich
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.