Update to: Cruise and Trans Problem

Ok i got smart and wanted to install a Heads-Up Display in my 98 SHO today. I pulled out the instrument panel and began installing the wiring harness for the HUD under the dash. I completed everything EXCEPT hooking up the wire for a speed input because the HUD i have runs a + speed signal input and the SHO has a - speed signal input. I stopped there, reinstalled the instrument panel, and drove away.... Now, heres where this really trips my trigger... THE CAR SHIFTED FINE!!! NO PROBLEMS!!! the hard shifts and hesitation went away! Also my cruise still doesnt work, BUT the green cruise light WILL FLASH once every 5-6 seconds constantly and also when i press only the set cruise button it flashes and goes right back to the constant flashing. . . cruise still doesnt work and i found NOTHING wrong in the IP what-so-ever... well now im totally at a loss of why my trans shifts fine and my cruise light is blinking... ANY HELP?!

It senses you are only a Ford wannabe and you are hiding that you are really GM at heart.

Very strange. I could see a loose connection in the wiring harness or at the connector for the IP possibly being the cause for the light now working, but I don't know what in the IP area would effect the shifting.

What all wires did you need to tap into for the HUD unit?

-Rod

the only wires tapped into were all in either the IP wires or Light switch wires:

this is what i needed:
high beam input
right turn input
vehicle speed input (did not hook up yet)
english/metric input (did not hook up)
check gauges input (did not hook up)
left turn input
low fuel input (isnt hooked up right, reads low fuel on HUD constantly)
dimmer input from HUD Dimmer Assy
park lights input
ground (hooked to IP wire ground)
Power from HUD Dimmer Assy

and in this order above is the wires i hooked them to on the 98 sho IP wires:
(note: conn A is the white connector, conn B is the Black
Grey/White conn. pos. A2
White/Lt. Blue conn. pos. B12
not hooked up
not hooked up
not hooked up
Lt Green/White conn. pos. A3
Yellow/White conn. pos. A7
Dimmer Input from HUD dimmer
Brown (Headlamp Switch out)
Black conn. pos. A1
Power Input from HUD dimmer

On the Dimmer Assy the only wires hooked up to the vehicle are chassis ground and switched power and the same brown from the headlamp switch for illumination.

the low fuel light issue is also a - circuit issue compared to a + circuit on the old GTP

wow must have been a fluke that day because now were back to where we started... lets list all the problems i have, maybe their connected somehow

hesitating hard shifting trans
no cruise
noticeable misfire when cars hot, cylinder 5, in drive, at stop (not coil or plug)
yesterday while it was raining, the speedometer would move with the wipers... wipers down, speedo down, wipers up, speedo back up to speed. kill the wipers killed the speedo...
no check engine light (doesnt work)
um.... i think thats everything,,,,

It almost sounds like you might be missing a ground wire somewhere. See if there are some hanging around from your engine swap.

Also, you may want to consider changing the Digital Transmission Range Sensor (DTRS). These have been known to cause some pretty odd electrical issues on the Taurus. Search the forum for "Transmission Range" or "TRS" and see if your symptoms are covered.

-Rod

do i actually need the trs alignment tool to install one i have another laying around here...

Many people have replaced these without the alignment tool.

-Rod