Transmission Just Went Out

Hey man, I did that with my 92 wagon. It's do-able and will save you some bucks but you need to make sure you have the guts to dive into that job FIRST!

Do your homework first:
1. Get the FORD SHOP MANUAL (on CD) and read through the removal and install procedures.
2. If you're thinking of rebuilding the transmission yourself, order the rebuild and the update manual from bulkparts.com. Read'em both completely.

The update manual covers all the things that Ford improved in them after they were built. Yes these are the main reasons for tranny failures.

I used a lift and it took me a full day for removal and another day for install.
I didn't use a bracket to support the engine; I used a 4x4 and two chains. worked great. If you can't get access to a lift, get large jack stands that will hold the car up nearly 2 ft.

It was a fun job.

If you haven't rebuilt a transmission before or have someone to supervise your work, I'd recommend sending it to a rebuilder. There's two good ones; on in AZ and one in OH; easy found on the google search.

Good luck.

Originally posted by kjw86ca@Mar 24 2004, 11:00 PM
Hey guys,


    Well as most of you know I just purchased a 1998 Taurus with the Vulcan engine.

    I stopped to make a left hand turn, then I started making my turn and accelerated, then the car just stopped going and the engine kept revving like it was in neutral. It didn't make any sounds, and no feeling was felt through the car. Just acceleration then the GROOOOOOOOOOOOM of the engine. Then after I coasted, I went through all the gears and nothing happened. Shut the car off several times and nothing happened. Revved the engine kinda high and it started to make a winding sound (like a whistle or something...) It ended up letting us go about 20 miles per hour for a few feet, then it stopped again. This time was the same thing, it just revved. The noise also stopped. Didn't hear any thing. Then shut it off, started it again. It didn't do anything. Unhooked the battery, started it back up. Same thing. When it is in park the rev-limiter hits at about 4,000 but in all the other gears it goes all the way up.

  We checked under the hood and the linkage and everything is fine.

  There was no incline or anything when turning the corner.

  The fluid is fine.

  So here are my questions:

  What do you guys think it is?

  What is the best alternative money-wise?

  What transmissions are interchangeable for a 98 Taurus? What years fit this car?

  What all can I do? Is the transmission shot, or could it be something else?

  We called one place, but they were closing. All he said was that it was going to be "really, really expensive."

  Is there any possible way I could change it myself if I got a transmission??

  Any help is greatly appreciate guys (and girls.)

  -Kyle

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That almost sounds like what happened when the transmission failed on our red 98 SE.
Here is my story of our 98 se vulcan, that was once a fleet car. The trans went with no warning at all, suddenly it stopped directing the power to the pavement.

In February 2003, after school, my father grabbed me and we went to see my grandmother. The car made the trip with no problems at all. We were there to tell the good news about payment for a completed project. We decided to grab a bite to eat, I had a pastrami sandwich and a soda pop. When we were done we all pilled back into the Toreador Red 1998 Ford Taurus SE with the pushrod motor and ax4s with about 106k miles at the time. We decide to take the route with less traffic and not facing on coming traffic. We came to a stop at the first stoplight and when it turned green the bull pulled away with out a single stutter. At the final light at the intersection we stopped not suspecting anything out of the ordinary, but that is what was waiting for us. As the light turned green my father punched the throttle expecting the car to go like usual but it quickly lost acceleration and we coasted into the left turn only lane (turn around lane). Dad was puzzled at first playing with the console shift trying to see if a gear would engage, all positions other than park acted like it was in neutral. They used the cell phone to call AAA to have them send a tow truck to the place where the bull lay stricken. Someone must have complained about the car in the middle of the left turn only lane (turn around lane) and therefore a cop showed up in an 00+ Impala Pursuit Package. He asked my dad what was the problem and why we weren’t moving. My father explained that we were having car trouble. The cop then asked if we had a tow truck coming, dad explained that yes we called AAA and were now waiting for their tow truck. The cop lit some flares behind the car to make it more visible to other cars. He said he had room for 2 people in the back of the cruiser, so my grandmother and I got in the back of the cruiser and I enjoyed the freedom of being unrestrained up to 50mph. We get to the apartment and I had to use the bathroom, and she took her medicines. We then hopped in the Graphite blue 1999 Ford Taurus SE with the vulcan and the ax4s with about 15k miles. We drove past the spot to see if the tow truck had showed up yet which it didn’t show yet so we pulled in front of the 98SE, and waited till the tow truck showed up. We then pulled around to behind the 98SE and waited for the dude to quickly hook it up to the tow truck, he dropped it off behind the back of the building. We then walked back inside and watched some TV. We borrowed my grandmother’s car, and went home. Turns out that a pump shaft broke necessitating a $1680 trans rebuild
edit sorry for my poorly worded story, it is from when I was a newbie