Vulcan-AXOD: No forward gears - Taurus Car Club of America : Ford Taurus Forum

OldBull · 10-16-2012, 12:53 PM

Hope this isn't the end. 1988 3.0 Vulcan AXOD wagon 260K. This is the 2d Tran, replaced 130K back, & its the only repair I haven't done myself except for brakes. At Freeway onramp metering light; at green, I start out & at about 30 feet there is a loud thunk; Engine sounds fine but I am coasting to the swale. None of the forward gears work. Reverse is fine. Towed home. Only indicator is last few months, when cold, shifting seems a little funny, at about 10-25mph, seems to shift twice and not smoothely. Fluid full, clear. Hoping this is something cheap and easy and not the end of the line. Don't know how to tell the difference between failed Tran and failed Torque converter. Pretty decent amateur mechanic, but Tran stuff is beyond me. Any insights on cause or cost of repair? Need this thing for another 12 months or so. Thanks, Jim.

downhill · 10-16-2012, 08:48 PM

Pump shaft to converter is probably toast. Solenoids for shifting could be a problem after 130K on it. You might be in for bad news. Worst case find a beater for $500 while you agonize on the next step.

Bull Geek · 10-16-2012, 09:03 PM

Does this help?
http://www.automaticchoice.com/Catal...xod-e-ax4s.pdf

Jeff K · 10-17-2012, 08:06 AM

If reverse works, then the problem is not the pump, pump shaft, or TC pump drive splines stripped.

tylerdahl · 10-17-2012, 09:59 AM

this might sound stupid but did you check your transmission fluid?

i acquired my SHO for only $150 and the previous owner swore the transmission was gone, but when i got it home i found it to be out of fluid, filled it up and it drives and shifts fine!

CAUSE: trans cooler line was cracked.

OldBull · 10-17-2012, 01:20 PM

Yep. Fluid at spec level, clear/pink.

egiroux · 10-17-2012, 03:37 PM

FWIW this sounds just like what happened to mine(2000 w/AX4S). It goes forward with solenoid 2 disabled. I think it is in third gear this way. Still don't know what's wrong with it. I believe it's a valve body problem. If you find the cause, please post the result.

OldBull · 10-17-2012, 05:13 PM

Will do.

Precision Transmission · 10-19-2012, 03:32 PM

There are no shift solenoids before 1991. Only a TCC solenoid.

Check the servo piston and shaft within the servo cover on the lower rear of the trans. The large "C" clip has been known to break and cause the condition you describe.

Don

OldBull · 10-23-2012, 06:50 PM

Thanks, Don, for the solenoid info. A glimmer of hope. Can the servo mechanism be viewed from underneath with the car on a lift or does the axod need to be removed?

10-16-2012, 12:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
OldBull Junior Member Member Number: 3458 Join Date: Jul 2004 Visit: My Garage Posts: 94 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Vulcan-AXOD: No forward gears Hope this isn't the end. 1988 3.0 Vulcan AXOD wagon 260K. This is the 2d Tran, replaced 130K back, & its the only repair I haven't done myself except for brakes. At Freeway onramp metering light; at green, I start out & at about 30 feet there is a loud thunk; Engine sounds fine but I am coasting to the swale. None of the forward gears work. Reverse is fine. Towed home. Only indicator is last few months, when cold, shifting seems a little funny, at about 10-25mph, seems to shift twice and not smoothely. Fluid full, clear. Hoping this is something cheap and easy and not the end of the line. Don't know how to tell the difference between failed Tran and failed Torque converter. Pretty decent amateur mechanic, but Tran stuff is beyond me. Any insights on cause or cost of repair? Need this thing for another 12 months or so. Thanks, Jim.

10-16-2012, 09:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bull Geek Technical Advisor Member Number: 1771 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Blythewood, SC 29016 Chapter: Southeast Drives: 87 GL Wagon, 97 SHO Sedan, 00 SEL Sedan Visit: My Garage Posts: 15,591 Trader Score: 6 reviews Rep Power: 10	Does this help? http://www.automaticchoice.com/Catal...xod-e-ax4s.pdf __________________ --Nick M. \| Blythewood, SC \| AAP/Atlanta Built Bulls --Silver MC 2000 Ford Taurus SEL \| DOHC/AX4N \| 184K --Toreador Red MC 1997 Ford Taurus SHO \| DOHC/AX4N \| 149K --Wood paneled 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis LS Colony Park wagon \| OHV/AOD \| 180K ish? Sold.... --Driftwood MC 1987 Ford Taurus GL Wagon \| OHV/AXOD \| 254K Scrapped... --Sand Beige 1987 Ford Taurus GL \|197K \| OHV/AXOD

10-17-2012, 08:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jeff K Technical Advisor Member Number: 11378 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Visit: My Garage Posts: 4,035 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 14	If reverse works, then the problem is not the pump, pump shaft, or TC pump drive splines stripped. __________________ 05 Taurus SEL Duratec - my daily driver 04 Taurus SES Duratec - wifes car 95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter car Toy #1 - 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner) - LOTS of mods Toy #2 - 88 Tbird Turbo Coupe - LOTS of mods 02 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized

10-17-2012, 09:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
tylerdahl Member Member Number: 49335 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: near Ft. Smith Chapter: Northeast Drives: 92 taurus Gl with 3.0 Visit: My Garage Posts: 228 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 1	this might sound stupid but did you check your transmission fluid? i acquired my SHO for only $150 and the previous owner swore the transmission was gone, but when i got it home i found it to be out of fluid, filled it up and it drives and shifts fine! CAUSE: trans cooler line was cracked. __________________ yes it's a SHO, make an offer! 1992 Ford taurus GL/ the backup. 1993 Ford taurus SHO/ The Toy. 2003 Ford taurus SEL/ daily driver.

10-16-2012, 08:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
downhill Devoted Member Member Number: 33869 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Montana Chapter: Pacific Northwest Drives: 2000 Taurus SE 3.0 OHV Vulcan Visit: My Garage Posts: 1,195 Trader Score: 1 reviews Rep Power: 4	Pump shaft to converter is probably toast. Solenoids for shifting could be a problem after 130K on it. You might be in for bad news. Worst case find a beater for $500 while you agonize on the next step.

10-17-2012, 01:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
OldBull Junior Member Member Number: 3458 Join Date: Jul 2004 Visit: My Garage Posts: 94 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Yep. Fluid at spec level, clear/pink.

10-17-2012, 03:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
egiroux Devoted Member Member Number: 26577 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Visit: My Garage Posts: 1,209 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 5	FWIW this sounds just like what happened to mine(2000 w/AX4S). It goes forward with solenoid 2 disabled. I think it is in third gear this way. Still don't know what's wrong with it. I believe it's a valve body problem. If you find the cause, please post the result.

10-17-2012, 05:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
OldBull Junior Member Member Number: 3458 Join Date: Jul 2004 Visit: My Garage Posts: 94 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Will do.

10-19-2012, 03:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Precision Transmission Junior Member Member Number: 24698 Join Date: Dec 2009 Visit: My Garage Posts: 6 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	There are no shift solenoids before 1991. Only a TCC solenoid. Check the servo piston and shaft within the servo cover on the lower rear of the trans. The large "C" clip has been known to break and cause the condition you describe. Don

10-23-2012, 06:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
OldBull Junior Member Member Number: 3458 Join Date: Jul 2004 Visit: My Garage Posts: 94 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Thanks, Don, for the solenoid info. A glimmer of hope. Can the servo mechanism be viewed from underneath with the car on a lift or does the axod need to be removed?

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