Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8 (Read 1923 times) previous topic - next topic

AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8

Just picked up a low mileage 87 Ls 3.8, it has been a few years since I sold my 20th, so alot of the info on these cars I've forgotten.  I just want to make sure I am not missing anything, there is no TV cable on the 3.8's for that year right?

The car shifts hard in every gear, and it seems "stupid" for a lack of better terms.  Is the tranny just letting go?

The fluid doesn't smell burnt, but I don't kn ow that the previous owner didn't just change it to sell the car.

Any advice is appreciated, any additives recommended, or should I have it flushed?

AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8

Reply #1 –
There is a TV rod. Check your throttle linkage. Chances are you will already have burned up or damaged the tranny if it is off. My wife had her's fall off 1/2 mile from home. Now it slips between gears.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8

Reply #3 –
Well I investigated the problem and found it was the TV rod disconnected.  I ordered the new bushing and just put it on today.  It is like night and day, shifts so smooth now.  My question is when will I know if I damaged the tranny, should I be able to tell now, or in the near future?

AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8

Reply #4 –
Even if it continues to work fine for awhile, the tv cable big off would have accelerated its internal wear dramatically. You would know if it's terminal pretty quick. I had a TV cable problem before and it was fine for another 3 months or so before it would begin having problems moving in 1st and 2nd. It was okay until I changed the fluid, then all went downhill quick, immediately.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8

Reply #5 –
Well luckily my fluid is fresh, and still has no burnt smell, so hopefully I can get more than 3 months out of it, I can't believe a $3 part may have ruined a 70000 mile tranny, poor design.

AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8

Reply #6 –
If your fluid smells good, get it into overdrive and slowly apply the gas.  Don't stab it so it upshifts, apply as much torque while remaining in OD.  If it doesn't flare (RPMs climb without noticeable increase in speed), your probably OK.  OD tends to take a beating with the TV cable off.  It's a weak design to begin with and slipping it constantly deteriorates it quickly.
My car is a gravity hybrid.  The gasoline engine gets me up the hills, and gravity gets me down.

AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8

Reply #7 –
now you have the tv rod connected,
adjust the set screw on the rod to min / max.

when it shifts the hardest, leave it there.

you dont really want a "smooth" aod because that means it is in its comfortable for the user setting but not actually best for the transmission.

if its smooth, then the clutch pads are taking longer to grab each other.
if its just a tad harder, it means the pads engaging quicker an thus less slipping.

smooth shifting is for comfort only,, harder shifts are actually better for the aod.

if i recall correctly from my old 3.8, your set screw should be all the way clock wise to experience harder shifting.  with it at max, more transmission fluid flows more quickly to fully engage the clutch packs of the various shift cycles.
 

AOD Shifting Hard on 87 3.8

Reply #8 –
Quote from: jcassity;335939
stuff

Agree - give a transmission as much fluid pressure are you can, but not enough where downshifting to 1st when coming to a stop is extremely harsh also - the torque from this can be a safety concern. Mine's setup this way because I have a control issue at closed throttle in higher gears so I have to give it more pressure, but the 2-1 shift when stopping is pretty bad...

I don't think that's an issue with the AOD though.
1988 Thunderbird Sport