94 Ford Escort auto tranny issues

The above car I recently acquired has ~78,000 miles, and is otherwise in good shape. The former owner told me, "the transmission slips frequently." I found that sometimes it starts off just fine, and if you keep driving, seems like it will go forever. But when stopping 15 miles later or so, upon starting up again, it acts up.

What it does is act like you have it stuck in the lowest range, and if you let off the gas, it freewheels, instead of shifting. I've found if I keep the gas pedal floored, when it hits or nearly hits redline, it shifts, and then shifts up and down as it should as long as you keep driving, except sometimes a bit more harshly than normal.

I had my shop take the cover off, change the fluid and the filter, but it only works a little better, if at all. They said there was quite a bit of metal filings in there.

Any suggestions of what to do and what it could cost?

Otherwise, do you think I could put a lower mileage junk-yard tranny in myself if I found one?

 

Having found particles in the pan is a bad sign...in fact, it's the beginning of the end for that tranny. Further examination of the filter would show alot more contamination and some of the particles have passed thru the filter and are now causing binding of the valves in the valve body. To repair that trans would require a complete disassembly of the tranny, identification of the failing hard parts and their replacement as well as a very thourough cleaning and replacement of all seals and clutches, etc...an overhaul in other words. Small particles often come from the failure of the torque converter and therefore are also deposited in the oil cooler in the radiator. Replacement of the tranny with a used unit would be most cost effective (just remember that there's a reason that they call them "junk" yards) and if you repair the car in any way...that oil cooler must be thouroughly flushed or the same fate awaits the replacement trans.