'96 GL, No forward drive

I have been having a minor transmission "hiccup" on my Taurus, and while minor, I almost had it corrected until yesterday morning, as I was headed to work, the transmission failed disasterously before I could get the car out of my driveway. My minor problem was a P1742 code (torque converter stuck on) accompanied sometimes, especially during cold weather and a cold engine, by a "tight" transmission that would stall my engine at a red-light. A couple months ago, I changed my transmission fluid and filter, starting off by putting 4 quarts in it from Autozone. That was enough, so I walked to a nearby gas station and got enough transmission fluid to fill it to capacity (but it was the wrong type, all they had :screwy:), and brought the fluid up to proper level with that. I drove it like that for approximately a month, with the problem clearing up, and then I noticed the transmission fluid turning dark again, so I changed it again about a month or so ago (but not the filter). The problem continued to clear up almost to full performance, and I had plans to change the fluid and filter again and put a shift enhancing lubricant in as well. However, yesterday, as I was going out of my driveway, it happened. :shakehead Upon stopping at the end of my driveway (and the top of the hill, my driveway is all uphill), My engine bogged, then stalled. Upon restart, I couldn't get it to go into gear. Reverse works, but no forward gear would work. I then set the emergency break and checked under the hood with the car in drive, (it wasn't going!) and I saw smoke coming from the transmission range sensor. I changed the transmission range sensor today and did nothing for the problem (I thought the sensor was the problem, nope! :nono:). I have not attempted to drive it while low on fluid, or even run it outside of during the fluid change (and that's only what the Hayne's manual outlines you should do). Fluid level is normal to about a half inch high, so I know the fluid is doing its job. Did my tranny just crap out? Anything I can do short of a complete rebuild? That would cost more than the car is worth.

Well, unfortunately the tarnsmission fluid is probably not doing it's job. The modern transmission is VERY sensitive to the proper transmission fluid. The friction modifiers, additives, etc. all play a role in making sure the multitude of valves, solenoids, servos, clutches, etc. do their jobs without sticking and without excessive wear.

I'm sorry to say, but not getting it fixed right when the problem first appeared (or very soon after adding the wrong fluid) probably was the death of the transmission. You're probably looking at a full rebuild now.

With any luck, someone hopefully will reply that I don't know what I'm talking about and all you need to do is flush the system with the correct fluid heated to a high temperature and all will be well. For your sake, I hope that happens.

-Rod

Running your car while showing a P1742 (Torque (http://www.ford-trucks.com/rx98192zju/kwldirect.php?kwid=454)Converter Clutch (http://www.ford-trucks.com/rx98192zju/kwldirect.php?kwid=467)Solenoid ... failed on) is like running a manual transmission stuck in high gear. Overheating of your transmission have likely fried the transmission componants. I would drain the fluid to see if there were metal debris from the torque converter or clutch plate assemblies.

Smoke coming from it? Lordy mercy! WHEW! That puppy had to get real hot to make smoke. Smell the fluid and if it smells burned the tranny is toast and the darkening of the fluid confirms what Rod and Gary1234 said. A fluid change would have been the right thing to do back then, but it goes without saying you're a day late and dollar short.

Heads up! NEVER EVER use any other fluid other than what Ford recommends because if you do you are signing the trannys death warrant. That's why they make different fluids for different makes of vehicles.

Strange thing is that I did change the fluid! :screwy: When the tranny first started acting up (showing the 1742 code), I immediately changed the fluid (and this is when I ended up getting some Type-F, as I could not drive it to my nearest Autozone, 20 miles away. Type-F was all the gas-station near my house had, and there was nowhere else to get tranny fluid. I had purchased Mecron originally to do my change, but not enough. I found some metal in the pan on this change. Soon afterwards, I bought lots of Mecron from Autozone, and then changed the fluid again. I found no metal in the pan this time. A couple tanks of gas later (and those were complete tanks, at over 300 miles each), my tranny crapped out. There wasn't much smoke, and it all come from the sensor. I couldn't even smell it, but I just happened to look in time to see it coming from the sensor itself. Could running the Type-F have been the culprit, though I have gotten all the fluid out when it failed? While the fluid was turning dark faster than usual, it never smelled burned, so I thought I was just getting "dust" out. Most of the time I've ran this car have been at speeds around 50mph, with limited red-light time. The failure occurred on a cold engine. :screwy:

IMO, if you drive it easy going home and it wasn't toooo far I don't think the type F would have ruined it that quick, not with it having a generous helping of Mercon in it. Henceforth use only Mercon V. Advance Auto now has their own brand and it workis gret in my 03 Vulican tranny.

ing aboutr.IMO, if you drive it easy going home and it wasn't toooo far I don't think the type F would have ruined it that quick, not with it having a generous helping of Mercon in it. Henceforth use only Mercon V. Advance Auto now has their own brand and it workis gret in my 03 Vulican tranny.

That's something I've been wondering about. The fluid was probably about 2/3 Mercon and 1/3 Type-F, and I did not drive it any at all when it was low on fluid. Though it took me about a month to get the cash up for more fluid, I did change promptly as soon as I could. I bought lots of Mercon this time, but it was the "cheap stuff" (could that be the problmem, crappy fluid?). My intentions were to change it several times and then put in a high-end synthetic Mercon fluid, with a shift-enhancer (Lucas). Could heat from the torque coverter clutch being stuck on have contributed to the failure? Could it be the actual cause?

A lot of questions in your reply I simply can't answer because trannys aren't my thing. I did a search at howstuffworks and came up with these hits that should answer your questions and then some. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/search.php The modern auto tranny is a very intricate piece of work and it takes all of the components working together to keep it happening. As to exactly where yours went assunder, . . I wouldn't venture a guess but you can probably find the answer somewhere in the link.

However, I believe Mister Gary1234 pretty well nailed it when he replied;
" Running your car while showing a P1742 (Torque (http://www.ford-trucks.com/rx98192zju/kwldirect.php?kwid=454)Converter Clutch (http://www.ford-trucks.com/rx98192zju/kwldirect.php?kwid=467)Solenoid ... failed on) is like running a manual transmission stuck in high gear. Overheating of your transmission have likely fried the transmission components. I would drain the fluid to see if there were metal debris from the torque converter or clutch plate assemblies."

You may be able to pick up a used tranny at a salvage yard but make darn sure it will interchange with your engine. Reason is the tranny is hooked up to the engine computer and ironically all trannys and engines from the same model year are not interchangable. Your Ford dealer should be able to tell you what works with what. Good Luck.