1987 T-bird transmission problems. Any mechanics out there?

First, check the fluid levels. Second, I would check to see if your vehicle has a TSS and VSS which work together to shift the tranny - this assumes that the vehicle has an ECU...

I am not saying it is Aliens, but ............
Maybe its time to swap the transmission for a rebuilt one due to all the Aliens?

Last Edited by TastyThoughts on 06/30/2014 10:30 PM

shift solenoid, going bad.. common in these no vacuum operated tranny on that one.. try changing the fluid and filter often that will help fords are finicky that way and gives you a reason to look in the pan (for metal, clutch material(dark fibrous material).. if there is any metal your trans is toast ..easy to remove though..get it out in about 2hours or less ..

but dont forget
transmission fluid is known to the state of california to cause cancer and other nasty things.

haven't seen one of those series t-birds for a while

vacuum modulator
that gave your age away big time

Check the rod that comes from the the carb or tbi depending, and hooks to transmission, it controls shifting.
It has a plastic garment that breaks and rod becomes unhooked. just a idea.

I checked the fluid. Its full and really clean.
I am the third owner of the car and the 2 people before me kept it stored during the winter so its in really good shape. Only 83k miles on it. I dont think I need a rebuild.

Heck yeah!


Poor a quart of oil in that old hoss.
Good to go.

What does that tell you about my age?

The damn thing is pimpin I tell ya! Whitewalls, spoke hubcaps lol.

they stopped using them in the 80s didnt they?
it aint no 350 turbo

Hell if I know... but my car is from the mid 80's so.... Just because I have an old car doesnt make me old. I'm not even 30 yet.

I have an 87 Tbird also... 302 V8 / Automatic.

Yes it's an AOD. That's about the year range they started using them.

They're a good tranny, but the one thing to watch with them is that downshift cable that runs up to the throttle on the engine that the trans uses to set line pressure and as a reference to how much load the unit is under by gaugin it via throttle opening.

If that cable became misadjusted or disconnected you can very easily destroy the tranny in a matter of only a few miles.

They can also have band issues, usually the friction material wears away after so many millions of cycles and you lose 4th or OD and then you'll lose 3rd too as it gets worse, and that's rebuild / replace time.

My best advice is take it to a tranny shop that knows what they're doing, but generally at this age my guess is it's toast.

No vaccum. Your kickdown cable is stuck in full throttle. Get under the car on the drivers side and find the gear shifter. The kickdown cable will be there as well. Spray with your fav lube and work it. Have someone from up top work the trottle as you watch the operation. I had a crown vic that shared the same trans and had to do this every 6months to a year. Poor girl laster 380 k miles untill michigans salty roads cancer rotted it away

Put a few teaspoons of ground up glass down the fill tube. The ground glass will restore the transmission to "like new".

You won't lose yr trans because of this.your engine yes but not your trans

did anyone make a decent overdrive tranny back then? they were all junk
throw in a c6

Wow, the mid to late eighties t-bird was one of the first significantly digital cars produced. this is where you want to hear it was the greatest, WRONG they were junk heaps.

they didn't get it right for years. good luck with that car.

I beg to differ. The mark series of those year are kinda nice

I really should know better than to cast the pearls of 30+ years experience before the average swine here I guess...

Never mind, I'm done trying to help idiot know it alls...

Good luck with whatever you arrive at.

You'll need it.

Hey this being the first major problem in what 27 years? I wouldnt exactly call it a junk heap. I mean it has power everything and a digital dash and everything runs great. How many cars do they make today that you will be able to say the same about in 27 years?

had a 80s sunbird in the 90s - stalled out at deceleration at stop signs and tolls quiet a bit - good car other than that - had it in garage and friends tried to determine problem - no avail - gave it away - still a good looking 80s convert - straight lines which I like - but too dangerous - figured it was a go to or loop lock up in the original programming somewhere in a chip but didn't have diagnostic equip to determine. wanted a 60s 70s dodge dart convert but was dissuaded because of rubber erosion failure - next car will be a doosey - it will cost a bunch but Sunset dreams don't fade so easily.

After 230k just ball joints brakes and oil changes i had no problems at untill the tv cable getting stuck because of a washer going bad.i promise you your trans is fine as long as you did not drive long distances at high rpm.
Work the lever a your tv cable end into the trans

So,, drinking it is out of the question.