97 Taurus Tranny Problem....need Knowledgable Help!

outlawbull97 · 03-06-2007, 05:08 PM

OK, this is my first post here, and although I've been searching like crazy, I can't find these answers and I only found one thread of a guy with this problem and nobody answered him so here goes.

I just bought a 1997 Taurus with the 3.0 Vulcan and the AX4N transmission. The car has no forward or reverse gears at all. The guy I bought it from said it never had problems at all and then one day it just didn't work anymore. I know this to be true because I watched him drive it into the parking lot (in front of our job) and after that I towed it to my house.
I haven't gotten into the tranny yet because I want to make sure it isn't a sensor first, so here's my questions:

Does anyone here have the operating voltages for the sensors that they should test at? you know, like between 400 and 700 millivolts or whatever it may be. I read a thread where the guy found his pump shaft had snapped and he has a good write-up so I plan to check that but before all that work I'd love to rule out the easy things first. I couldn't find an online manual if there is one to find the answer so if you guys could help, I'd be eternally grateful.

Thanks guys.

CustomPerfSys · 03-06-2007, 07:26 PM

id bet a few bucks that a pin that commonly fails and tears up the gears has gone. im no expert on the ax4n tho haha.

outlawbull97 · 03-07-2007, 08:27 AM

Thanks for the idea, anyone else have some input?

I don't think it's the gears though as there is no grinding or anything.....basically, it''s nothing happening, when I shift through the gears the RPM rise and fall slightly but no engagement.

shoz123 · 03-07-2007, 01:53 PM

Pump shaft or TC. You can see if it is the pump shaft by disconnecting a cooler line and see if any fluid is pumped out.

outlawbull97 · 03-07-2007, 09:23 PM

Thanks for that idea SHOZ123, I'll have to check that out for sure.

gohim · 03-07-2007, 11:15 PM

You want to check under the hood and make sure that the bolt that secures the transmission shift cable is correctly and securely attached to the transmission linkage. If it isn't you can shift the gear level inside the car all day, and the transmission is not going to change gears.

You can check under the hood for coorect operation of the shift cable and gear linkage by getting someone else to sit in the car, and shift gears while you watch the shift cable and linkage to make sure that the transmission is being shifted.

outlawbull97 · 03-08-2007, 01:41 PM

thanks gohim, that was the first thing that I checked, it is all operational.

kool002 · 03-08-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

OK, this is my first post here, and although I've been searching like crazy, I can't find these answers and I only found one thread of a guy with this problem and nobody answered him so here goes.

I just bought a 1997 Taurus with the 3.0 Vulcan and the AX4N transmission. The car has no forward or reverse gears at all. The guy I bought it from said it never had problems at all and then one day it just didn't work anymore. I know this to be true because I watched him drive it into the parking lot (in front of our job) and after that I towed it to my house.
I haven't gotten into the tranny yet because I want to make sure it isn't a sensor first, so here's my questions:

Does anyone here have the operating voltages for the sensors that they should test at? you know, like between 400 and 700 millivolts or whatever it may be. I read a thread where the guy found his pump shaft had snapped and he has a good write-up so I plan to check that but before all that work I'd love to rule out the easy things first. I couldn't find an online manual if there is one to find the answer so if you guys could help, I'd be eternally grateful.

Thanks guys.
[/b]

I have 98 taurus with similar problem in tranny.

outlawbull97 · 03-08-2007, 10:00 PM

I'm going to be figuring out the problem soon, I just haven't had the time to work on the car since I asked the question because I've been working so damn much but I should be able to get to it by this weekend.

shoz123 · 03-09-2007, 01:47 AM

The sensors have a 5V input signal. As the item being sensed changes so does the signal

The solenoids should be getting 12V. What you really need to know is the solenoid coils resistance........

03-06-2007, 07:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
CustomPerfSys Senior Member Member Number: 5206 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lake Zurich, IL Visit: My Garage Posts: 3,167 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	id bet a few bucks that a pin that commonly fails and tears up the gears has gone. im no expert on the ax4n tho haha. __________________ Ken Perrone 84 Mustang 5.0 Convertable.... "make your insides feel funny" fast. Taurus SHO- Welcome to the Dark Side RIP 91 Mocha/Mocha SHO N/A Wheels 185hp RIP 97 Vulcan N/A Wheels 161hp 184ft/lb tq. (N20 Wheels 210hp and 229ft/lb tq. www.cpsauto.us

03-07-2007, 01:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
shoz123 TCCA Technical Advisor Member Number: 125 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ashkum, Illinois Visit: My Garage Posts: 15,197 Trader Score: 1 reviews Rep Power: 0	Pump shaft or TC. You can see if it is the pump shaft by disconnecting a cooler line and see if any fluid is pumped out. __________________ Paul Nimz '10 Red Genesis Coupe '08 Hyundai Accent

03-09-2007, 01:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
shoz123 TCCA Technical Advisor Member Number: 125 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ashkum, Illinois Visit: My Garage Posts: 15,197 Trader Score: 1 reviews Rep Power: 0	The sensors have a 5V input signal. As the item being sensed changes so does the signal The solenoids should be getting 12V. What you really need to know is the solenoid coils resistance........ __________________ Paul Nimz '10 Red Genesis Coupe '08 Hyundai Accent

03-06-2007, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
outlawbull97 Member Member Number: 11533 Join Date: Feb 2007 Visit: My Garage Posts: 64 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	OK, this is my first post here, and although I've been searching like crazy, I can't find these answers and I only found one thread of a guy with this problem and nobody answered him so here goes. I just bought a 1997 Taurus with the 3.0 Vulcan and the AX4N transmission. The car has no forward or reverse gears at all. The guy I bought it from said it never had problems at all and then one day it just didn't work anymore. I know this to be true because I watched him drive it into the parking lot (in front of our job) and after that I towed it to my house. I haven't gotten into the tranny yet because I want to make sure it isn't a sensor first, so here's my questions: Does anyone here have the operating voltages for the sensors that they should test at? you know, like between 400 and 700 millivolts or whatever it may be. I read a thread where the guy found his pump shaft had snapped and he has a good write-up so I plan to check that but before all that work I'd love to rule out the easy things first. I couldn't find an online manual if there is one to find the answer so if you guys could help, I'd be eternally grateful. Thanks guys.

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03-07-2007, 08:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
outlawbull97 Member Member Number: 11533 Join Date: Feb 2007 Visit: My Garage Posts: 64 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the idea, anyone else have some input? I don't think it's the gears though as there is no grinding or anything.....basically, it''s nothing happening, when I shift through the gears the RPM rise and fall slightly but no engagement.

03-07-2007, 09:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
outlawbull97 Member Member Number: 11533 Join Date: Feb 2007 Visit: My Garage Posts: 64 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Thanks for that idea SHOZ123, I'll have to check that out for sure.

03-07-2007, 11:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
gohim Senior Member Member Number: 5485 Join Date: Jun 2005 Visit: My Garage Posts: 1,577 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	You want to check under the hood and make sure that the bolt that secures the transmission shift cable is correctly and securely attached to the transmission linkage. If it isn't you can shift the gear level inside the car all day, and the transmission is not going to change gears. You can check under the hood for coorect operation of the shift cable and gear linkage by getting someone else to sit in the car, and shift gears while you watch the shift cable and linkage to make sure that the transmission is being shifted.

03-08-2007, 01:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
outlawbull97 Member Member Number: 11533 Join Date: Feb 2007 Visit: My Garage Posts: 64 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	thanks gohim, that was the first thing that I checked, it is all operational.

03-08-2007, 10:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
outlawbull97 Member Member Number: 11533 Join Date: Feb 2007 Visit: My Garage Posts: 64 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	I'm going to be figuring out the problem soon, I just haven't had the time to work on the car since I asked the question because I've been working so damn much but I should be able to get to it by this weekend.