Taurus/Sable Transmission Problems

181 messages,  Last post on Feb 28, 2013 at 7:30 PM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Transmission, Sedan, Wagon

    
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#142 of 181 2005 Ford Taurus Torque Converter issues by awej1

Sep 08, 2010 (7:17 pm)

I was driving my 2005 Ford Taurus when it seemed to slip out of gear. I couldn't get it into any gear, even reverse. I took it to the Ford dealership and they told me it was the torque converter. After a little research I called them back and said it seemed this was a common problem. They asked me about documented upkeep which I had none since I do most of it myself. They quoted me $2,400 to fix. I took it to a mechanic who said he could fix it for $1,000. That pricetag jumped to $1,650 after they realized that my converter had gotten so hot that it exploded sending metal into the transmission which had to be cleaned. I am trying to track anyone having this problem. I have been in touch with Ford (blowing me off) and the NHTSA. I am forwarding more information I find to them. I have also created a Facebook page. Check out "F.O.R.D. Fault" if you have had similar issues.

#143 of 181 Re: 2000 sable wagon transmission [triv1] by kraus6

Nov 19, 2010 (8:08 am)

Replying to: triv1 (Aug 07, 2010 7:48 pm)
Have the same problem, what did you do to rectify it ?

#144 of 181 Torque Converter by cmoore20

Feb 16, 2011 (1:19 pm)

I have a 2004 Mercury Sable. It had 47,000 miles on it when the transmission quit working. It did not matter what gear you put it in, it was like it was in neutral. There was no shifting into any gear. I took it to Ford, and $1800.00 later they fixed the torque converter. At the time I questioned them because I knew of others that it had happened to also. I got no help from Ford.
Today my daughter called me and said her 2003 Ford Taurus was doing the same thing. Put it in any gear and it just like being in neutral. I know that its the torque converter on this one too.
Has anyone else had these problems and has anyone had any luck getting Ford to help out?

#145 of 181 Transmission Check Transaxle Sensor Light by bigtic

Feb 20, 2011 (6:07 pm)

I have a 2001 Taurus. After driving about 3 miles the Check Transaxle light illuminates and stays on until I switch the car off. The light will not come back on until I drive another 3 miles. The tranny shifts fine and appears to be working normal. Any suggestions on how to repair?

#146 of 181 Re: 2001 TAURUS WITH TRANS LEAK?? [tony2x43] by 95evo3talontsi

May 03, 2011 (5:05 pm)

Replying to: tony2x43 (Sep 30, 2008 10:11 am)
I have a 2003 Ford Taures ses v6 12v sohc and its burping up transmission fluid as well but only if it's been sitting after a long drive. I just replaced my water pump and serptine belts at the local mechanic and he said just change it and add some treatment to it and if it keeps happen buy a new dipstick so it seals tight cause they wear over time. I got 171000 miles on this daily driver cause my other car is still about 25grand from being done. The engine is done but its time for a complete drivetrane over haul, race tranny custom axles, driveshaft,clutch, lsd, and every piece including the welded body and frame are brand new engine alone minus turbo puts out 512hp with GTR4202R it can do up to 1150hp hoping to break awd 4cylinder 1/4 mile and 0-100mph record. 4 years 100grand and counting. Hope this beater lasts me another year and a half. I think she will. If u got ur car from a responsible person they will last 220000 miles easy.

#147 of 181 Re: Torque Converter [cmoore20] by kjma2

May 10, 2011 (11:10 am)

Replying to: cmoore20 (Feb 16, 2011 1:19 pm)
Yep, just happened yesterday with less than 28,000 miles on my mom's (little old lady) 2005 Sable. Just won't move, like in neutral. Called a local transmission shop. He's done a "ton of them" - Torque Converter. Do you think now that Ford is back to making millions they might come clean? At least to build consumer confidence and good will?

#148 of 181 Re: 2005 Ford Taurus Torque Converter issues [awej1] by kjma2

May 13, 2011 (11:38 am)

Replying to: awej1 (Sep 08, 2010 7:17 pm)
It appears to be a common problem with Ford/Mercury autos for this period. The splines strip out on the torque converter cog so that the output shaft no longer makes a connection. Possibly poor heat treatment/bad parts production. You can't expect that Ford would voluntarily take responsibility when a ton of these drive trains have had the problem; ours with just under 28,000 mi. but out of 3 year warranty. We got lucky though. On the phone the dealer quoted $2,400, A large transmission shop $1,800 and I got mine fixed by a transmission specialist in a small shop for $650.

#150 of 181 Seeking transmission help by rjr162

May 25, 2011 (7:54 pm)

#151 of 181 Seeking transmission help by rjr162

May 25, 2011 (7:54 pm)

Ok, sister-in-law has a 96 Sable. It started doing the hard shift into first from a stop.
 
I hooked up a Snap-On scan tool, and watched the shift solenoids as it wasn't a constant thing at first, but became more common and hit the point where when you were driving it would "drop out of gear" and into neutral, and then back into gear.
 
So when in park, the solenoids read:
A: OFF
B: ON
C: OFF
 
When in drive (or 1st), when the car *would* go the solenoids read:
A: ON
B: ON
C: OFF
 
As you drove slowly around the yard, the car would drop back into neutral and the reader showed the solenoids were in the first list.. when it started moving again it showed the solenoids were now in the second list.. and it would keep doing this for a minute or two before it just got "stuck" in neutral and wouldn't move (and the solenoids were back to the first list.. same as in Park)
 
I tried switching solenoid A with solenoid C to see if that made a difference.. and it didn't. Also, there's no Reverse anymore (this was the case even before I changed solenoid A and C)
 
The kicker to me is, if you unplug the main harness to the transmission (located right next to the side pan cover.. white plug, flat on one side, and curved the rest.. wires from this plug lead internally to the solenoids and TCS), you get drive back (I forget, but don't think reverse is there even with the harness unplugged).
 
This sound like a sensor, solenoid, or broken wire to me.. but I don't have a factory service manual to find any diagnostic steps and/or suggestions as to what may be wrong.
 
There are no codes, unless you unplug the harness which obviously spits out codes for solenoids A, B, C and also the Torque Converter Solenoid or whatever.
 
Has anyone experienced this before, and what did you do to rectify the situation? I don't want to replace the transmission as it's a car she no longer uses, I'd rather mess around with the thing and try to fix it "the hard way" lol.
 
Thanks for any info, input, help, links, whatever you can pass my way.
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