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Author Topic: C3 not backing up  (Read 2129 times)

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Offline grouchyandugly

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C3 not backing up
« on: April 13, 2013, 09:20:41 AM »
I have a 1973 Pinto 2.3L with C3 tranny.
got home after buzzing around (on the roads) and my dumb dirtyword cotton-picking
nose-sucking finger-licking tranny will not back up.
goes into reverse, backs up "slowly" for approx. 4 or 5 feet, then just revs, going
nowhere.  dropped the tranny pan and replaced the filter and poured 3 qts "F" tranny
fluid in, but results the same.  checked dip-stick (and yep, it still looked like a
dip-stick.......not me!....it).....levels where it should be.
what are my options?
thanks
grouchyANDugly

Offline Reeves1

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Re: C3 not backing up
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2013, 09:56:12 AM »
New member, with a cool user name ..... but has a funny side  ;D

You do have a special way with words to describe a trans though !  ;D

Offline HOSS429

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Re: C3 not backing up
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2013, 10:37:41 AM »
always park in the direction you need to go from now on ...foward ....

Offline D.R.Ball

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Re: C3 not backing up
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2013, 11:43:23 AM »
Sounds like two things, one the linkage on the transmission needs adjustment , two the  reverse band need replacement. EBay has a relined band for $55.00 or so .  When you changed the fluid did it smell burnt etc?  Did the car get an engine swap? 1973 Pintos had a 2.0 etc, I think.

Offline grouchyandugly

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Re: C3 not backing up
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2013, 01:33:56 PM »
trans fluid did not smell burnt (altho I most certainly did....)
drivetrain was already in a "kit car" I purchased about 3 weeks ago, and owner told
me it was a 1973 Pinto, definitely a Ford, has 2.3L on top of valve cover.  it drove
without problems those 3 weeks or so, and then after I got home, it would not go
backwards on its own power (....reckon it did not want to leave home again?....)
13 bolts on and around the tranny pan.
contacted Oreilly and asked how many quarts were supposed to be in the tranny
pan after I emptied it.....was told 3 quarts.....so put 3 quarts in it.....but just ran the
engine minutes ago, and the dipstick (again....not me...) showed approx. 1 quart
low.  reckon when I go to town I will acquire another qt of tranny fluid and see
if that solves my issues. (...doubt it, but hope so anyways...).
the dumb dirtyword tranny has been giving me a difficult time getting it to go in the
"park" position.....i t will not quite go all the way into "park", thus  not engaging the safety
switch.....but if the car is moving very (!) slowly I can get "park" to engage correctly.
then the problem of the car facing the wrong way when I want to go that way.......
no problems experienced at this point in time about moving forward in any gear.
thanks
G&u
grouchyANDugly

Offline D.R.Ball

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Re: C3 not backing up
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2013, 11:23:12 PM »
Those parts guy's are idiots....The total required to refill a Ford C-3 on a Pinto is 8 quarts.. Yes that includes the converter .So you should need 4 or more in the pan...This info is according my owners manual for a 1976 Ford Pinto. The fluid should be DEXTRON/MERCON III Ford spec ESW-M2C33-F (Type F) make sure that on the bottle it says for pre 1986 or so cars....As for your shifter problem. Not to ask a dumb question but are you pushing in the button on the T handle of the shifter when you shift ? On newer cars you do not have to do this but on the older Fords you do....If your are and still have issues check to see that there is no carpet interfering with the shifter.Next check on the transmission there should be either a rod/cable that goes from the shifter into a lever on the drivers side of the transmission. It has notches for P,R,N,D,2,1( they might be covered in grime/ grease etc) check to see if it's binding etc. Also check to see if your car has the transmission kick down rod attached, it should start on the carb and go behind the engine and down the tunnel to the transmission if you do not have on it could fry the transmission. I hope this helps.I will double check  to see whats on my bottles of transmission fluid to be sure about the Ford spec...

Offline grouchyandugly

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Re: C3 not backing up
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2013, 08:27:21 PM »
thanks
my torque converter did not loose any of its fluid; so I only had to replace what the
pan took......I did add an additional quart, and checked, but my dumb dirtyword
tranny still afraid of backing up.....I did use "F" tranny fluid......my shifter does have
the button which I utilize my thumb to engage/disengage as wanted/needed, and
works like it should whenever I pressurize it.....the tranny has the rod shifter, I
checked it underneath, and all tight.....the kickdown rod is connected to the carb.,
and works as needed.
maybe I should just give up and hook up a Chevy tranny to it !! (KIDDING....)
tomorrow will check and find out what options are available to getting it
repaired/replaced.
thanks for all the tips/info/help
(((....when I wuz BORN, I wuz so UGLY.....the MaMa Breast fed me......
thru a STRAW !!....)))
grouchyANDugly

Offline D.R.Ball

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Re: C3 not backing up
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2013, 11:04:34 PM »
Hey, grouchyandugly any luck ? I heard that the only good Chevy tranny is a powerglide. If it's not going into reverse then it's the band if everything else works IE, drive, 2, and 1 work I do not know what else to look at...

Offline grouchyandugly

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Re: C3 not backing up
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2013, 10:03:52 AM »
any luck?
yep.....all bad.....please read my comments on the general.....
thanks
grouchyANDugly