Transmission Warning Light - continuously blowing fuse

PLEASE HELP! (I'll try to keep it short)

2000 Taurus SE FFV approx. 86K miles (purchased used about 3 years ago)

Transmission warning light coming on repeatedly. Blowing a large 15 amp fuse each time.

I have had problems w/ this for many months. The Ford dealership cannot find the root of the problem. Nothing appears wrong w/ tranny and when check engine light comes on (doesn't come on every time) the codes (which I can find out if needed) don't help solve the mystery.

As a temporary fix, they pulled up the problem fuse so that it was accessible. I would just change the fuse and be on my way. When it blows, it feels like I cannot get out of 1st gear.

It seems to blow more in the summer than winter. It sometimes blows when shifting from P to R or D. Other times, it will blow just when starting the car.

The temp. fix has worked for quite a while. A few nights ago I went through a dozen fuses and finally just drove home @ 20mph.

The dealership says they have no idea - and that they called Ford who (no surprise) have not heard of this type of problem.

I have my suspicions that the car was in a significant crash before I purchased it (which -- of course -- was not disclosed). There is nothing I can do about that now, so please, no lectures about that! (I hear it enough from dad & husband!) But let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions about this tranny/electrical issue

thanks!
jenny

Was it blowing a 15 amp fuse under the hood, or inside the car? What is the circuit/fuse number? Either the circuit number or the circuit function should be listed inside the cover of the fuse box or next to the fuse.

Someone with a wiring diagram for your car should be able to determine what all is on the circuit fed by that 15-amp fuse. Then, you or your technician can work down the list and hopefully eliminate most of the supplied circuits rather quickly, leaving you with the most likely suspect.

Also, if you can get the diagnostic codes, they might offer some insight either when trying to narrow down the supplied circuits, or match someone else's problem in the past.

-Rod

Here is a bit more info... hopefully it helps.

Apparently the service guys installed a 15amp fuse on the main control line for the tranny. Their next plan is to install 4 inline fuses (5amps each) at various locations along the control line to isolate the location of the problem.

Here are the various codes that have been pulled (15 codes each of 2 times)

08/03/03
P0760 P0713 P0743 P0750 P0755 P0760 P1746
P0731 P1460 P1451 P0412 P0135 P0141 P0155 P0161


04/26/05
P0743 P0750 P0755 P0760 P1760 P0731 P0733
P0734 P1460 P1451 P0412 P0135 P0141 P0155
P0161

In case you are curious what your codes mean, below I have them listed for you. I haven't had a chance to sit down with the electrical schematics to see how some of these might be related. Obviously the transmission ones could be related. But I'm not sure how many of these systems would be on the same fuse.

Code Ford Description
P0135 Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater circuit fault - Bank No. 1.
P0141 Downstream Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater circuit fault - Bank No. 1.
P0155 Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor circuit fault - Bank No. 2.
P0161 Downstream Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater circuit fault - Bank No. 2.
P0412 Secondary Air Injection System Control Valve Faulty.
P0713 Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor circuit Input High.
P0731 Improper Ratio for First Gear.
P0733 Improper Ratio for Third Gear.
P0734 Improper Ratio for Fourth Gear.
P0743 Torque Converter Clutch System Electrical failure.
P0750 Shift Solenoid No. 1 circuit.
P0755 Shift Solenoid No. 2 circuit.
P0760 Shift Solenoid No. 3 circuit.
P1451 Lack of Response From Passive Anti-Theft System Module - Engine Disabled.
P1460 Wide Open Throttle Air Conditioning Cutoff circuit malfunction.
P1746 Electronic Pressure Control Solenoid - Open circuit.
P1760 Transmission system problems.

-Rod