No Drive, So Lame

[egiroux]

I drove to a doctors appointment this afternoon, the car seemed like it was hesitating on initial take off. Came back home, it did the same thing once again. My wife went to go to the store afterwards, backed out of the driveway, put it in Drive, heard a sound like something dropped, and no forward movement. Fluid is clean, and normal level w/engine running. I pulled the electrical plug on top of the tranny, and it drives forward and reverse. I think I have a solenoid signal grounded so it is energized when it shouldn't be. I'll take out the FSM in a bit to try to figure out what it could be. Any other ideas?

[Jeff K]

I agree with you. Any codes for open or shorted shift solenoids (SS1, 2, 3)?

[OldWagon]

You might get more ideas if you tell us what year, engine and transmission you have...

[egiroux]

Originally Posted by OldWagon

You might get more ideas if you tell us what year, engine and transmission you have...

True. I kept a detailed log on this site of this tranny being rebuilt a few years back, but for the record it's a 2000 FFV wagon with an AX4S with Superior and Transgo upgrade kits installed and rebuilt Torque Converter(w/ updated spline plate). It has a tranny cooler installed too.

[egiroux]

Originally Posted by Jeff K

I agree with you. Any codes for open or shorted shift solenoids (SS1, 2, 3)?

Here's the codes after unplugging the tranny connector and TRS:

P0750 FORD - Shift Solenoid 1 Circuit Malfunction
P0743 FORD - Torque Converter Clutch Circuit
P0760 FORD - Shift Solenoid 3 Circuit
P0708 FORD - Transmission Range Sensor Circuit High Input(Pending)
P1237 FORD - Fuel Pump Secondary Circuit Fault(Pending) (TSB on this one)

Note: I did not check codes before removing connectors. Cleared codes and none returned, but cannot drive it to find out.

The P1237 has a TSB about transmission shifting for the 2000 Taurus. I will investigate further.
Also, the engine speeds up a bit when put in Drive,etc. with TRS connected, and it does not speed up with TRS disconnected so I think that works

[egiroux]

Update: it seems that with the tranny plug disconnected it is in second gear(1500 RPM @ 25 MPH). It should be in third. It does not matter which forward position it's in OD,D,1. I think it should go from 3rd to 2nd in manual if the shifter is moved to 1. Also, there are no ground faults inside the tranny.

More details: PCM Output: SS1 OFF, SS2 ON, SS3 OFF, EPC modulating all gears at idle. All 3 shift solenoids measure about 19 Ohms.

Based on this I think it has to be internal to the trans.

[behlinla]

It's an electronically controlled transmission, so with the transmission unplugged it's going to stay in 2nd (limp mode) in any of the forward gears. It's not going to shift at all unless the harness is connected.

[egiroux]

Originally Posted by behlinla

It's an electronically controlled transmission, so with the transmission unplugged it's going to stay in 2nd (limp mode) in any of the forward gears. It's not going to shift at all unless the harness is connected.

Are you sure about it going into second and not third? The FSM indicates, but does not explicitly say, it will go into third with the connector pulled.

[behlinla]

No I'm not 100% sure, but it makes sense from a failsafe perspective. Third would be too tall a gear to start from and first would limit your "limp" speed too much.

What does the FSM say exactly? I couldn't find anything about failsafe operation. Just curious.

[Jeff K]

Third gear being failsafe doesnt make sense. Starting in third would likely kill the TC in short order.