1999 Ford Taurus Tansmission Problem

Hellooo..... Well, here is my problem and I'd appreciate any helpful info. I drove my 1999 Ford Taurus about 4 miles and turned into a parking lot. I slowed because the car in front of me slowed and then when I hit the gas again, it was like it was in neutral. So I stopped and tried other gears, and none of them would work. I had to get people from the store to help me push it out of the way! Evidently neutral works because we could push it. Car is running fine and there were NO previous indications of transmission problems (jerking, trouble shifting, noises, etc). Does anybody know what this might be? Fluid levels are fine. The only other probs recently are ABS light coming on and cruise control quit working.

Welcome to the club. My tranny did the same thing to me. I was in parking lot backing out. I put car into drive and it bucked with a click noise and now no forward gear only reverse. The problem with the this transmission ax4s is that there is harsh engagement when going from R to D or going from any other gear. Its said to be computer controlled but i really dont see how. Shame on ford for these transmissions. Right now im gonna have to drop 1500-2000 for a new tranny my self.They drive good when you first get them but over time just bit the ghostway too early. Ford seems to not use shift solenoids or solenoids for that matter. They provide smoother shifting between gears, fast kick downs, and over all better experience. Dont take my word for it, go test drive a car with shift solenoids and tell me if it drives better. Try out a chevy impala or dodge or chrysler vehicle with 4 speed auto.

Any how can someone tell us whats the diff between AX4S and AX4N??


I have the 4S can I put a 4N in? Plese let me know!

Wow I'm so sorry about all your transmission troubles! Don't you just hate it when you think you have a good thing, and BAM! haha

But really that doesn't sound quite like what happened to me, except for the parking lot thing. There was no noise or slipping, jerking, anything (and there never has been).....just......the engine revving and not going anywhere while still in drive. I stopped and tried all the other gears, but nothing. It acts as if the fluid is gone, but its full.

A call-in car show host has suggested it might me the pump. Anyone think that could be it? Or maybe the neutral safety switch?..that's just me hoping for something easy.

Wow I'm so sorry about all your transmission troubles! Don't you just hate it when you think you have a good thing, and BAM! haha

But really that doesn't sound quite like what happened to me, except for the parking lot thing. There was no noise or slipping, jerking, anything (and there never has been).....just......the engine revving and not going anywhere while still in drive. I stopped and tried all the other gears, but nothing. It acts as if the fluid is gone, but its full.

A call-in car show host has suggested it might me the pump. Anyone think that could be it? Or maybe the neutral safety switch?..that's just me hoping for something easy.

And here, I just got myself a 3rd-4th hand '99 Taurus, only to find out I have the exact same problems..
:banghead: (Well, Almost)


Having just blown $80 on an Actron CP9125 Pocket ODB-II Pocket Scan tool, I hit the popular P0500 (VSS Failure)
(VSS= Vehicle Speed Sensor)

I need to put mine up on a lift, to see if I can find it, some other threads here (98, 97.. etc..) say it's
near the right axle joint on the transaxle. (can't see it from the top.)

the two trannys are: AX4N (which I have) & AX4S. not much difference between the
two, except internal accuators (hold gear positions). Electronic controlled. (OH-JOY! :screwy: )

Someone told me Tauruses were notorious for Transmission problems. Also had a 1991 Wagon, where the tranny
went Kaphlooey around 127K.. Only way to fix it, was replace w/a rebuilt. $1800.00 later... :crying:

Oh-well..

Stephen

the problem the original poster had is the typical AX4S transmission failure of the clutch actuator piston warping . It requires a rebuild.

Yes, it is possible to install an AX4N into an AX4S equipped car, but you need the ECU from a Taurus Heavy-Duty which were the only tauri made with Vulcans and AX4N's

Hellooo..... Well, here is my problem and I'd appreciate any helpful info. I drove my 1999 Ford Taurus about 4 miles and turned into a parking lot. I slowed because the car in front of me slowed and then when I hit the gas again, it was like it was in neutral. So I stopped and tried other gears, and none of them would work. I had to get people from the store to help me push it out of the way! Evidently neutral works because we could push it. Car is running fine and there were NO previous indications of transmission problems (jerking, trouble shifting, noises, etc). Does anybody know what this might be? Fluid levels are fine. The only other probs recently are ABS light coming on and cruise control quit working.

Hi JennieMae,
I am a new member and read your problem with interest. I had a similar problem. I parked my car in a parking lot for an hour or so, came out, started her up, put her in reverse and nothing. I tried every gear and nothing. It turned out to be the shift gear had worn and I had that replaced and it has worked fine since. Oh, I have a 99 ford taurus also. I only have 76,000 miles on it and am in the process of brining it in for the recall on it.

the problem the original poster had is the typical AX4S transmission failure of the clutch actuator piston warping . It requires a rebuild.

Yes, it is possible to install an AX4N into an AX4S equipped car, but you need the ECU from a Taurus Heavy-Duty which were the only tauri made with Vulcans and AX4N's

What should i tell the shop thats doing the repair exactly? I know i need the ax4n tranny and then ECU. Now on the tranny is it as simple as drop it in where the old one was? Are there any modifications or anything? I really want to install 4n the 4s shifting qualaty and such is so miserable i hate the car. I firgure putting the 4n in and try something new. So bottom line what do i need and what should i tell repair shop?

I would call around to shops until I found one comfortable with doing the swap who has worked on alot of tauri before. One that works on alot of tauri should know everything thats different between the S and N. I know one guy did the swap himself and it was fairly straight forward I believe.