Ford F-4EAT transmission
The F-4EAT was a 4-speed computerized, electronically controlled automatic transmission produced by Ford Motor Company. It was also called the F4A-EL by Mazda and Kia.
It was developed mainly for the Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer but was also used in the Ford Focus, Mazda Protege and Kia Sephia. It was an ATX with the exception that it's controlled by electonic solenoids instead of hydraulics and now has a 4th-speed overdrive.
Applications:
- 1991–2002 Ford Escort
- 1998–2003 Ford ZX2
- 1991–1999 Mercury Tracer
- 2000–2004 Ford Focus with 2.0L CVH engine only
- 1990–2003 Mazda Protege
- 1994–2001 Kia Sephia
The F-4EAT Automatic transmission(also called the E-CAT) was really not a very dependable transmission until it had been properly rebuilt and the plastic interior pieces(used by ford to save 16 cents over metal pieces)have been removed and replaced with sturdier metal parts, other than that the E-CAT transmissions put in the ZX2 Escorts were extremely well suited for more speed/acceleration oriented car with a lower gearing than both the Chevy Cavilier and the Dodge Neon the E-CAT helped the ZX2 blow by both GM and Dodge on almost every performance aspect.
The advice I have for any one with an E-CAT equipped ZX2 1.Is to refrain from neutral dropping because the E-CAT is not built to withstand the abuse, and 2.Make sure you check your O2 sensors periodically because if it screws up it will send the wrong signals which will very likely burn up the E-CAT.
The F-4EAT was also good on the 1997 Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer compared to 1991 to 1996. The 1.9L CVH engine could not handle the transmissions performance and would not shift in time for passing on the highway and they had a tendency to break down. The 2.0L CVH is a better match to the F-4EAT due to the horsepower increase and torque.