[glyphmon]

GorN,

Welcome to the club. Some additional information would be useful probably for people to help you diagnose your problem (unless things have changed since I've been gone). If you have the DOHC, there should be a badge just behind the front wheels that says 24V DOHC. I'm guessing as the car is a GL that it's an OHV (there is no SOHC engine for the Taurus). The DOHC should also have some markings on the top of the engine as well that say Duratec.

Usually engine type determines transmission type, as in the DOHC or Duratec is paired with the AX4N while the OHV or Vulcan is paired with the AX4S.

Unfortunately, I have no suggestions for the shifting issue you're experiencing. Some people in these forums have gone to some interesting lengths to increase power. Some searching should yield some good information, but there is generally speaking not a whole lot of extra power to be coaxed out of these engines without major investments in time and $$$. Many programmers can give you different settings for varying degrees of performance or fuel economy. Again, search is your friend.

Good luck and again, welcome to the club.

 

[glyphmon]

Again, I'm not an expert in this area and I've been away for the forums for a solid two years, but the basic difference between the AX4S and the AX4N is, if I recall correctly, the S means sequential and the N means non-sequential. The AX4S must shift in direct sequence (ie, 1-2-3-4) while the AX4N can skip gears (ie, 1-3, or 2-4).

I had an experience where hard shifts onset quite rapidly when my torque converter was failing, but that was, as I said, a rapid onset. Also, my issue was with the AX4N which is probably structured a little differently in that regard. If this is a longer-term problem, then the cause is probably something else. How many miles are on the car and is this the original transmission as far as you know?