I got an R reg Ford Mondeo which has almost totally lost forward drive. First thing I have been told to do is check the transmission fluid level in the gear box but I don't know how.

Webbedhop, September 2007

Checking the transmission fluid on your vehicle is straight forward however check your vehicles handbook for where the stick is fitted and what marks are on the stick.
The trick is to start the vehicle and allow it to run 1 minute or so this is so that the transmission fluid is picked up from the sump and taken into the Torque Converter. Check the fluid level while engine is running at idle.
If you check the fluid with the engine stopped you will get a false reading so if the fluid level is low before you start your car then its going to be scavenging for fluid when it is started, This could cause slipping as well as some damage to the gear box.

Carlito Corway, October 2007

Sorry i did not read the full question Almost lost forward drive?
If you mean it is slipping that i mean the engine slightly revving as it goes into gear is the forward clutch or even the one way clutch.
The forward clutch is fitted inside the gear box together with a top and reverse clutch. Basically if the drum were removed by a transmission specialist and taken apart it would consist of a one way clutch a number of plates in the bottom of the drum there would be a piston which moves up or down when pressure is delivered to a certain part of the drum. The piston moves forward against the plates the piston is sealed via a rubber O ring around the edge which gives an airtight seal. The plates are set up as a thick steel plate there might also be a number of smooth steel plates and between each steel plate you have a lined disc which is anti slip the piston moves forward so that these linings are trapped between the steel plates. The same thing as when you push the clutch pedal on a manual the release bearing pushes against fingers on the clutch cover which allows the clutch plate to move away from the flywheel or towards it so you get motion or no motion at all.
The plates in an automatic gearbox are paper lined. It is important that transmission fluid is changed regularly. Any contamination in the fluid could give rise to the paper plates to slip. A good indication of this is the fluid colour itself usually if the fluid is a nice reddish colour and has a distinct smell of marzipan when hot then usually the box is ok. However if the fluid is a dirty brown colour and smells burnt that is the lining you can smell from the lined plates in most cases the fluid should be of a redish colour usually dark red if not changed for a while. Dark brown is not a good indication.
I used to rebuild Automatic transmissions and we rebuilt many gearboxes from all types of vehicles Borg Warner 35,45,65 Aisin Warner, ZF3hp22 ZF 4HP 22, GM400,GM180,C3,C4,C6 and many more.
The C3 years ago was fitted on the Ford Granada's 2.3 2.8 as a rule if these cars were ever used for towing it was always advised to have a seperate cooler fitted for the transmission this would ride piggy back on the front of the radiator or somewhere behind the grill.The cooler pipes to the automatic would run to the cooler and then a new set of pipes would run to the transmission so the fluid was always cold. The reason for this is that Ford had put a sepperate tank in the bottom of the Radiator which would often break down or perforate. Under heavy loads ie towing water would seep into the cooler which would then be taken into the gearbox. The water would then meet the hot gearbox inside and would be turned to steam this high temperature steam would steam the lining of the friction plates causing the gearbox to fail. The transmission fluid would turn from a nice cherry colour to a thick milky pink fluid. If you tow with your Mondeo and it does have cooler pipes going to the radiator i would suggest you adapt this set up with an external cooler.
As for your problem i would hazard a guess that it is a box out and rebuild you are going to need the top and reverse clutch as well as the forward clutch overhauled with new friction plates and seals.Depending on how much damage there is you might also be into a new Torque Converter. This unit is bolted to the fly wheel or flexplate which inturn is bolted to the back of your engine the Torque converter increases engine output for the gearbox.

Carlito Corway, October 2007

Sorry i did not read the full question Almost lost forward drive?
If you mean it is slipping that i mean the engine slightly revving as it goes into gear is the forward clutch or even the one way clutch.
The forward clutch is fitted inside the gear box together with a top and reverse clutch. Basically if the drum were removed by a transmission specialist and taken apart it would consist of a one way clutch a number of plates in the bottom of the drum there would be a piston which moves up or down when pressure is delivered to a certain part of the drum. The piston moves forward against the plates the piston is sealed via a rubber O ring around the edge which gives an airtight seal. The plates are set up as a thick steel plate there might also be a number of smooth steel plates and between each steel plate you have a lined disc which is anti slip the piston moves forward so that these linings are trapped between the steel plates. The same thing as when you push the clutch pedal on a manual the release bearing pushes against fingers on the clutch cover which allows the clutch plate to move away from the flywheel or towards it so you get motion or no motion at all.
The plates in an automatic gearbox are paper lined. It is important that transmission fluid is changed regularly. Any contamination in the fluid could give rise to the paper plates to slip. A good indication of this is the fluid colour itself usually if the fluid is a nice reddish colour and has a distinct smell of marzipan when hot then usually the box is ok. However if the fluid is a dirty brown colour and smells burnt that is the lining you can smell from the lined plates in most cases the fluid should be of a redish colour usually dark red if not changed for a while. Dark brown is not a good indication.
I used to rebuild Automatic transmissions and we rebuilt many gearboxes from all types of vehicles Borg Warner 35,45,65 Aisin Warner, ZF3hp22 ZF 4HP 22, GM400,GM180,C3,C4,C6 and many more.
The C3 years ago was fitted on the Ford Granada's 2.3 2.8 as a rule if these cars were ever used for towing it was always advised to have a seperate cooler fitted for the transmission this would ride piggy back on the front of the radiator or somewhere behind the grill.The cooler pipes to the automatic would run to the cooler and then a new set of pipes would run to the transmission so the fluid was always cold. The reason for this is that Ford had put a sepperate tank in the bottom of the Radiator which would often break down or perforate. Under heavy loads ie towing water would seep into the cooler which would then be taken into the gearbox. The water would then meet the hot gearbox inside and would be turned to steam this high temperature steam would steam the lining of the friction plates causing the gearbox to fail. The transmission fluid would turn from a nice cherry colour to a thick milky pink fluid. If you tow with your Mondeo and it does have cooler pipes going to the radiator i would suggest you adapt this set up with an external cooler.
As for your problem i would hazard a guess that it is a box out and rebuild you are going to need the top and reverse clutch as well as the forward clutch overhauled with new friction plates and seals.Depending on how much damage there is you might also be into a new Torque Converter. This unit is bolted to the fly wheel or flexplate which inturn is bolted to the back of your engine the Torque converter increases engine output for the gearbox.

Carlito Corway, October 2007

Checking the transmission fluid on your vehicle is straight forward however check your vehicles handbook for where the stick is fitted and what marks are on the stick.
The trick is to start the vehicle and allow it to run 1 minute or so this is so that the transmission fluid is picked up from the sump and taken into the Torque Converter. Check the fluid level while engine is running at idle.
If you check the fluid with the engine stopped you will get a false reading so if the fluid level is low before you start your car then its going to be scavenging for fluid when it is started, This could cause slipping as well as some damage to the gear box.

Carlito Corway, October 2007