99 Tuarus SE tranny or not??

My 99 Taurus is having an issue, :confused: Occasionally and only when it is warm it will what I would describe as a hard shift into first gear, its not slipping, its trying to shift, then does, with a kind of thunk! I had the tranny flushed and filled, still happened every now and then so took it to a tranny shop. They drove it, of course, it did not do it on the road test then they did all the diagnostics and could find nothing wrong with the tranny itself. I am at a loss!! As I said this is only from a start and only into first gear, all others working fine. It can do it on one stop and then not at all the rest of the drive. Any thoughts on this anyone??

So randomly when you try to accelerate from a stop the car won't go anywhere, then all of a sudden the transmission engages harshly and will shift into 2nd, 3rd, and 4th just fine? Or are you saying that it does this harsh engagement to 1st when slowing to a stop? Does the engine speed increase before the engagement as you're accelerating?

-Rod

Thanks for responding, guess I wasn't really clear. You go from a stop, the car goes forward, so I guess the problem is in the first shift not the first gear as I said, it is that first up shift that seems to be the problem. You get to going and when it should shift it kind of hangs then seems to just bang into that gear. It kind of jerks. It is odd, I have had cars with tranny problems and this just doesnt seem the same, the engine does not seem to race as you would expect when this happens. And it does then shift quickly into gear. It is only from a stop on that first up shift. No problems with any of the higher gears or reverse. I guess I am used to the opposite with tranny problems all of mine seem to have started with overdrive when they went bad. As I said I did take the care to Amco and they couldnt find anything wrong with it there either but it seems to be getting more frequent but only when the car is warm, never cold. ????
Thanks
Cathy

I have the same Exact problem have you found the solution.
thanks Todd

I have the same Exact problem have you found the solution.
thanks Todd

does it only happen in drive or m2 also?

Hmmm, not sure why I didn't respond to post #3 above. In Cathy's case, since the transmission shop did not find an issue, I'd suggest she check the engine mounts. A worn engine mount could give the sensation of a harsh shift as the engine and transaxle reposition during the shift. The car is usually under harder acceleration for the 1-2 upshift than when shifting to the higher gears or when downshifting while slowing. You might be able to recognize a worn mount by watching the engine with the hood up while the car is in park and the engine is off, then pushing the car backward until the driveline engages. The engine will rock gently if the mounts are fine, but if the engine doesn't appear the rock smoothly or bounces, one or more mounts are likely worn and need to be replaced.

Todd, if your symptoms are truly exactly the same, I'd suggest you attempt the above to see if your mounts are worn. Since your symptoms are exactly the same, that would suggest that you too have had your car to a shop to have the transmission codes scanned and the tranny checked over and, like Cathy, there is nothing out of the ordinary. Usually folks post, "My symptoms are exactly the same except...."

-Rod

I already had this issue many time with my Windstar. It shifted roughly from 1st to 2nd. Like you, it jerks and makes a BANG sound.

The 1st time it was my PCM, which was partialy damaged by a bad alternator.
2nd time, it was the EPC (Electronic Pressure Control) solenoid. This one controls the hydraulic pressure inside the transmission by balancing the line pressure against the modulator pressure.
3rd time, it was a vacuum leak on the motor. Motor loosing power, then suddenly surge, which cause the trans to shift harshly. But without the noise.

So if you're sure that engine is not loosing power, it's either the EPC inside the transmission (easy to replace) or maybe the PCM, or something else...

yes I have had a independent Trans shop check for codes and nothing showed. I will be taking it to the ford dealer wednesday. I will check the engine mounts before that but it seems to only happen after it has gotten up too temp. I kinda think maybe the EPC (electronic Pressure Control) might be the cause. I will let you know what I find.

thanks for the post!
Todd

Did y'all use Mercon V fluid? First time I had my fluid changed I shopped around all all the shops except for the Ford dealership, they all told me they would put in Mercon III, because "it's just as good". So I started doing them myself. On the back of the Castrol bottle I have it tells that it cures "shudders".

I doubt it'll make any differences. Fluid spec are nearly the same. Only at very cold or very cold temp, the viscosity is different from fluid type to another. But at 70-80°F there's almost no difference.