Overdrive light flashing & hesitation issues

I have a 2000 Mystique, 95,000 miles, that just started this week giving me this issue. When I am on the highway it pulls, jerks, feels like it is running out of gas, shifting hard, and the rpms are going crazy. I've noticed twice that the overdrive light has flashed while driving, but eventually turns off. When off the highway going slower, it will do it to a lesser degree and is not as nerve racking, but still occurs.

I have read the stories of people with this issue that have had cars stall, need a certain amount of gas to get up hills or accelerate, but this has not happened yet, again as it has only been occurring for about 5 days now. I just brought it into Autozone for them to check the codes, but nothing came up as with other replies. The Check Engine has not come on at all. A Ford dealership will charge $130 for a full diagnostic test and guarantee they will find the answer and that it will will be under their 12 month/12,000 mile warrenty. However, I believe they will find that it needs a new engine or transmission, which most certainly will fix most problems at the highest rate. I have read the stories of the expense put into diagnostic tests and coming up empty, filters being replaced, fluids being flushed, parts being added or replced to no avail. So what is the way to go?

I did have a new training belt put on at 90,000 miles or 3 months ago at a rate of $1000 at Midas (new spark plugs, various flushes, oil changes, water pump, labor). However, Mystique owners have had this problem both with belt replaced and not replaced. I have read that it can be a transmission issue, and to get it to a transmission shop so that they can run their tests, but dont turn the car off, which will lose the code. I have heard suggestions that it probably is a speed sensor/overdrive sensor/mass air flow sensor, to use a certain air filter, use a certain type of oil-5W 30, and check the runner modual control. I would just like to hear from someone that has had this problem and was able to find a solution or had a mechanic find it. I am not mechanically inclined, but have been tracking this issue on the internet and reading about it here and at contour.com. Do we Mystique owners just give up and deal with it, get new expensive parts to work around it, or get a new vehicle? I just paid the car off and was hoping to keep it for awhile to catch up on other bills. Like others in the Mystique forum, I have the back door loud creaking, the trunk leaking, the warped front dash vent cover popping up, the temperature gauge indicating an overheating (esp. in the winter), and can deal with those small quirks, but this is an issue that is annoying and frustrating, and is very prevalent based on the number of stories I have read. I would like to hear from others that have this issue, how long it has been going on, is this doing damage to the car or is it just a another quirk that is a part of the Mystique (maybe why it has that name). Please, if any mechanic or Mercury/Ford solution fixers are out there, have dealt with this and found a solution, help us out.

Took it in to a body shop for an oil change and they pulled code P1702 today, which came up as intermittant transmission problem. Mechanic wasnt sure what that meant.

So thought I would update those that have been to this thread about my situation. I brought it to an AAMCO and was able to get their $38 diagnostic service (for free, as my main mechanic is friends with this AAMCO manager, the one plus out of this whole ordeal). This included looking at the fluid state and level, taking it for a test drive, and running codes on the condition. The manager found that the transmission would have to be fixed, and that it wasnt an easy fix like a sensor or wiring. At this point I have had it with the car and am letting go of it. The repair would have been $1600 to start with, and possibly up to $2000 if any other repairs were necessary once they got into it. Luckily, I work in education and have the summer mostly off to not need to drive a much. Enough is enough with this car, I have dumped in $800+ for rear brake work, $1000+ for the timing belt all withing the past 6 months and am not going to take it any more. Just yesterday I ordered a Honda Fit and am going to run away from Ford and Mercury for the rest of my life. Im sure the new car will have its issues, but Im willing to take the gamble. After reading your posts on this model, and your Ford experiences as a whole, I just cannot bring myself to buy another car from them. Also, the jerkoff Taylor Hicks that does those commercials for Ford is annoying, it makes me want to kick the tv and yell obsenities at him, he annoys me, just a rant from me. I will be a little emotional when I have my last ride in the Mystique, but know its for the best. This is not a good car and if any of you reading this for the first time start to have these conditions, it would be best to dump it as soon as you can. This car and Ford has won, I think the car gets its name from the fact that once you repair one item, many more issues will be along, it has a mystique to it, never letting on that it can be totally fixed, just patched until the next issue inevitably happens. Good luck with your Mystiques and Contours, this is a car that is going extinct, so enjoy it while you have it! Signing off

I have a 1997 Mystique with 150000 miles that recently had an issue recently. I was taking a 1 1/2 hour drive when I got a squeaking noise with the air turned on, and the only way to avoid the noise was to turn off the air conditioner. With 1/2 hour to go I noticed the O/D off light began to flash, but was still able to arrive at my destination without suffering any other issues.
On the return trip (w/o air conditioning), the O/D light continued to flash and I seemed to be loosing 1st gear. At stop lights acceleration seemed sluggish, but once up to speed things seemed normal, though going up hills I seemed to be loosing momentum. About with about 20 minutes left on my drive I decided to pull over since the engine really started to get jerky when driving, even though car temperatures were normal. After resting about 5 minutes I started the engine and put it into D, but the car did not move -- I then put it into 2, then 1, then Reverse with the same result. At this point I called a tow truck and went to the car dealer.
The O/D light was operating correctly once the dealer had a chance to look at it, but based on my description they performed a diagnosis and did the following:

1. Replaced bad Bell & Tensioner on Right Side.
2. Found incorrect Gear Ratio and re-calibrated the Power Control Module.
3. Replace CV Boot that Tow truck tore hole in.

So far the car is running perfectly even though it's only been a day. If the problems crop-up again I'll post here to let people know.
Hope this helps... total cost for the above was about $500.00.
Pharma.

I have a 1997 Mystique with 150000 miles that recently had an issue recently. I was taking a 1 1/2 hour drive when I got a squeaking noise with the air turned on, and the only way to avoid the noise was to turn off the air conditioner. With 1/2 hour to go I noticed the O/D off light began to flash, but was still able to arrive at my destination without suffering any other issues.
On the return trip (w/o air conditioning), the O/D light continued to flash and I seemed to be loosing 1st gear. At stop lights acceleration seemed sluggish, but once up to speed things seemed normal, though going up hills I seemed to be loosing momentum. About with about 20 minutes left on my drive I decided to pull over since the engine really started to get jerky when driving, even though car temperatures were normal. After resting about 5 minutes I started the engine and put it into D, but the car did not move -- I then put it into 2, then 1, then Reverse with the same result. At this point I called a tow truck and went to the car dealer.
The O/D light was operating correctly once the dealer had a chance to look at it, but based on my description they performed a diagnosis and did the following:

1. Replaced bad Bell & Tensioner on Right Side.
2. Found incorrect Gear Ratio and re-calibrated the Power Control Module.
3. Replace CV Boot that Tow truck tore hole in.

So far the car is running perfectly even though it's only been a day. If the problems crop-up again I'll post here to let people know.
Hope this helps... total cost for the above was about $500.00.
Pharma.
I have the same problem how did the mechanic find the incorrect Gear Ratio and re-calibrated the Power Control Module? I just want to know what to tell the guy I bring it to. Thanks So much for your help!!!!

I have a 1998 mystique It means that the transmission is going out dear!! Get the transmission serviced first if it continues then have the wiring harness checked to see if it is burnt up or slowly doing so!! I had to replace both of these to get my car to quit doing what yours is doing!!!
Paula

please check to see if you have a valve cover leak because that was my problem