[tbirdkilla]

My dad has a 1997 LX 4.6L LX bird

1) EVer since he has had this car it has had these 2 issues with the transmission. Basically before the car is warmed up and especially on colder days it is very difficoult to get the shifter out of park and into drive, reverse, anything other than park. As i said once the car is warmed up or on hot days the problem doesnt occur often. Any ideas on a diagnosis?

2) the car will shift just fine 1st to 2nd to 3rd. Sometimes while in 3rd it will come out of 3rd and the rpm's will rise a bit if you stay on the gas. It feals like it's in neutral like inbetween shifting gears. after a cuple seconds or if you stay on the gas about 500 rpm's it will shift back into 3rd. It will shift a bit hard like its got a shift kit type of feal with i let the rpm's rise 500 and it decides to go back into gear. Any ideas on a diagnosis?

Im trying to get my dad to get the trans on its regular servicing ( i think the 130,000 servicing was skipped and the car has 140 on it) but he doesnt get around to it and i work too many hours. Could it be just neglect from servicing causing this stuff or does it sound like an odd or more serious issue?

 

[Chris_Murder]

flush the trans and torque converter with merc 5, don't let a lube shop use some "additive" its not the same, take apart the center console and spray the crap out of the little cable on the passanger side toward the radio with spray oil or wd40, and maybe everything else you see, might help you, it helped me, also check the fuse for the brakes if its burnt out replace it and that will help...

 

[Chris_Murder]

if you have to get the trans flushed at ford with merc 5

 

[master486]

The "sticking" of the shifter is most likely caused by the brake-shift interlock solenoid. Basically there is a small solenoid that activates when the key is on and you press the brake and it allows you to shift out of park. Cold weather and spillage of a sticky substance in just the right place over the center console can cause the solenoid thing to stick and not let the shifter leave park. Since you mention it is especially so on colder days, I'd venture to say it's sticking because of the cold. You can try to take the center console trim piece off and spray the shift-interlock cable with WD-40 or some time of lubricant, but this may or may not help.

Also, just for the heck of it make sure that the brake lights are going on when you press the brakes on a really cold day. If the brake on/off switch on the pedal is going south, it won't activate the solenoid to release the shifter.

 

[JustinH]

The "sticking" of the shifter is most likely caused by the brake-shift interlock solenoid. Basically there is a small solenoid that activates when the key is on and you press the brake and it allows you to shift out of park. Cold weather and spillage of a sticky substance in just the right place over the center console can cause the solenoid thing to stick and not let the shifter leave park. Since you mention it is especially so on colder days, I'd venture to say it's sticking because of the cold. You can try to take the center console trim piece off and spray the shift-interlock cable with WD-40 or some time of lubricant, but this may or may not help.

Also, just for the heck of it make sure that the brake lights are going on when you press the brakes on a really cold day. If the brake on/off switch on the pedal is going south, it won't activate the solenoid to release the shifter.

you sir are exactly right.

 

[silverbird97]

Are you talking about the thing that wont let it come out of park unless you are on the brakes? If so I dont have that. I can put it in whatever gear I want without touching a thing. (Except the shifter. Duh)

 

[master486]

Are you talking about the thing that wont let it come out of park unless you are on the brakes? If so I dont have that. I can put it in whatever gear I want without touching a thing. (Except the shifter. Duh)

Then your brake-shift interlock is broken or disconnected.

 

[lightevergreenfrost]

As it was alreadey said if you do get it flushed make sure it is with MERCON V, and not MERCON/DEXTRON III with an additive. That is what we do at our shop and basically the additive keeps the two fluids from screwing (for lack of better word) up one another. And a flush will not change the filter, it is actually pretty easy to do yourself.