1996 transmission problem

Hi, i've been having a problem the las couple of days with 96 taurus wagon transmission. It has the 3.0 vulcan engine. It starts after i've been driving quite awhile without stopping(very hot here right now). I'lll pull up to a light or stop sign and go to take off again and it's like the car has no power. When I try to accelerate, my rpm's will go up on the tach, but it's like the transmission isn't shifting. I can get it to finally speed up a little by kind of "goosing and playing with the accelerator for awhile", but then when I try to get up to highway speed or slow down again it does the same thing. Now here's the kicker, If I stop the car, turn then engine off and immediately start it back up again and take off, everything seems to be fine for awhile. It's done this about 4 or 5 times the last couple of days. It almost seems to me that since i can turn it off and right back on it works fine for awhile that is almost would have to be somekind of electrical/electronis problem or maybe a sensor somewhere, but I'm not sure what it would be. Any suggestions would be helpful. thanks.

Let's start with the basics. Have you checked the transmission fluid level and condition? When was the transmission fluid and filter last changed?

Have you tried manually shifting to 1, then 2, etc? What happens if you try that? Is there any roughness in the way the engine idles or runs?

-Rod

This is a very common problem that spells the end of AX4S transmissions (what you have). What is very likely what has happened is that the forward clutch piston has warped. Unfortunately this requires a rebuild or replacement of the transmission to fix. Unless you really like your Taurus, I'd recommend junking it and buying another car as it will cost more to fix than the car is worth.