1999 taurus check engine light help.

i have a 1999 taurus se model with 164k miles and every 1 month or so the check engine light comes on with this code (1744 manufacturer control transmission). what does it mean? is this a fault that is common when a trans is about to go? any help would be appreciated.

by the way its a dohc v6 if that matters.

It means there was excessive slippage detected. It is either a torque converter problem, Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid, or the EPC solenoid.

thank you for your response. i figured it was detecting slippage. please define EPC solenoid? i dont know ford's sensor abbreviations. thanks again.

It is the Electronic Pressure Control solenoid. It moderates line pressures as needed.

ok thanks. so i should keep the mil on because it is raising the line pressure to prevent the slippage? probably last longer that way! every time it comes on i end up clearing the fault. thankyou. now i know.

Clearing the code does not do anything to make the pressures change. It needs to be thouroughly diagnosed to see which part is causing the problem. My guess is probably the Torque Converter Clutch solenoid. It is easily replaced by dropping the pan. By the way, is the fluid level up to the full mark? Is the fluid bright red or a brownish color?

i am going to check the level tonight. i did a trans fluid/filter change 6 months ago so the fluid is bright red. the old trans fluid was dark red.

When you check the fluid level, the car should be up to normal operating temperature and idling in park or neutral. If you check it with the engine shut off, the level will probably read roughly 1 inch higher on the dipstick than it should.

-Rod

checked fluid level yesterday. engine hot and idling it was 1.5qts low. dont think 1.5qts low will cause a trans slipping fault. i also found out the motor mounts are destroyed. dont you just love it when your wife doesnt tell you when she puts the vehicle in reverse it makes a big clunk noise!!!!!!!!!!!! woman..........
i put the car in reverse with the hood open and the damn motor/trans moved a good 6" forward.

1.5 quarts will cause a major concern on that transaxle. Keep it topped off, erase the code and see how long it takes for it to come back.

ok thanks.