I just picked up a very cheap '92 Ford Crown Victoria [1].
When I’m not on the gas in my '92 CV, I hear a whining coming from the front end as I coast down.
My transmission seems to shift slowly between 3rd and 4th. Also, it appears that I have engine braking when coasting down, which is peculiar in a vehicle like this.
Anyone got a guess as to what’s going on?
[1] Not that I expect it matters, but it has a 3.08 rear end, single exhaust pipe and the AOD tranny (standard gearing, not the wide-ratio type).
Whining from the front would pretty much have to be from the torque converter, front pump, or a gearset. There’s a slight chance a clogged filter could be a factor, but given all your symptoms, I’d plan on an overhaul.
What kind of whine is it? Is it a high pitched EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeee or is it more of a
“you promised me an oil change”
Sorry I could not resist.
It is possible that the trans is low on fluid, and is sucking air past the filter which will cause a whine. Low fluid would also cause a slow/ retarded shift, and possibly engine braking. I would have to see a power flow chart to be sure on that last part. You could check the oil level and if low top it up. If that helps you could then try an oil and filter change for the trans, but as Gary T says there is probably an overhaul in your future.
Fluid level is textbook, and while I haven’t had it tested in a lab, the fluid looks beautiful and smells like brand new ATF.
ATF and filter were changed about 5 months ago, shortly after which the driver died, so I suspect the fluid/filter combo probably has 2K on it.
Thanks, Rick and Gary. This confirms my suspicions.
At the price, if I get 2 or 3 months out of it, I’ll be happy. Spare parts seem plentiful in these vehicles, so I may find a nice low-mile tranny at a boneyard for it.
It’s not out of the question that it will continue to operate with three forward speeds for a long time. I’ve seen one case where the tranny lost overdrive (4th), but otherwise functioned normally for over a year. If you still have the whining, I wouldn’t count on that, but there’s a reasonable chance you’ll get the three months out of it.
It died Monday evening. Right around the 45 day point.
If I’d taken it into the transmission shop when I made that first post, it would have been a free repair.
Apparently a small nylon piece attaching to the throttle valve linkage had failed, resulting in a constant low-pressure situation within the tranny.
