Warning: In these models of vehicles, the electric fan can operate with the ignition off. When working in the fan area, turn off its motor or disconnect the negative battery cable.
1. The automatic transmission fluid level should be maintained especially carefully. Low levels can cause gears to slip and stall, and overfilling can cause foaming and fluid leakage.
2. Since transmission fluid expands when heated, the fluid level should only be checked when the transmission is warm (at normal operating temperature). The transmission is considered warm when the vehicle has traveled more than 32 km (20 miles).
Caution: You may not be able to obtain an accurate fluid level reading immediately after the vehicle has been driven at high speeds or in city traffic in hot weather, or after towing a trailer.
The fluid level can also be checked in a cold box. It is considered cold if it has been there for 5 hours. You have not driven the car, and the fluid temperature is approximately room temperature (70-95 degrees Fahrenheit). However, to get reliable results, the fluid level should be checked in a warmed-up box.
3. Immediately after driving the vehicle, park it on a level surface, apply the parking brake, and start the engine. While the engine is idling, depress the brake pedal and move the gearshift lever through all the gears, starting and ending in "park.".
4. The automatic transmission dipstick tube is located in the rear left corner of the engine compartment, behind the air cleaner housing (see figure).
5. While the engine is idling, remove the dipstick from the tube, wipe it with a clean cloth, reinsert it into the tube until it stops and remove it, measure the fluid level.
6. If the automatic transmission is not warmed up, the level should correspond to the room temperature range on the dipstick (between the two circles), if it is hot, the level should be in the operating temperature range (between the two lines) - see the figure. If the level is below the permissible level, add special fluid for automatic transmissions through the dipstick tube - use a funnel to avoid spilling.
7. Fill the box with liquid to the required level. It takes about 1 pint of hot liquid to raise the level from the bottom to the top mark, so add in small amounts and monitor the level constantly.
8. Along with the level, also monitor the condition of the fluid. If it is black or dark red, or smells burnt, then it should be replaced (see section 27). If you have any doubts about its quality, get some fresh ones and compare them by color and smell.
(A copy of the article is available on the website: fordbook)