98 Taurus radio... no audio in 'drive'

[dykhuis]

I have a 98 Taurus station wagon with AM/FM cassette in the EATC pod on the dash and a 6 CD changer in the back of the wagon. The wagon has leather bucket seats and the auto gear shifter is on the center console, a somewhat limited edition feature. As of yesterday, the speakers only work when the car is in Park or Neutral; engage the shifter in a driving gear and the speakers cut out even though the radio is still tuned in, the cassette deck or the CD player still operating. Put it in Park and, presto, the sound is back on. How the HECK are they related??? Background info... #1. the cable for the 'park' release button on the shifter was replaced last year but the new one still sticks somewhat in cold weather (I'm from Nova Scotia...) #2. the rear power antenna has become erratic in nesting back into the car and I've had to push it back down a few times but it always 'recovered' after that. The power antenna again was stuck fully extended when yesterday's problem started. Is there a short in the system that is screwing up other sensors? Or are electrical lines running close to the shifter in the console damaged? Thanks for any advice about this very odd condition.
Peter/Halifax

[shorod]

Similar issues have occured on Taurii due to faulty Manual Lever Position Switches, Transmission Range switch, Park/Neutral Safety Switch, or whatever name you want to give it. They are all referring to the same thing. Do a search on this forum for variations of the above and you'll see a lot of strange electrical issues that were fixed by new Transmission Range (TR) switches - this seems to be the most common name for it. There are multiple circuits that go through this switch.

As for the power antenna, I would suspect you have a broken zip cord on the antenna in the motor. You can purchase a replacement mast off of eBay for around $18 (though I'm not sure what shipping to Nova Scotia would run) and replace just the mast. What happens is the tail end of the antenna mast cord breaks off. The cord is toothed and rides against a gear in the power antenna motor. Since it's just the tail end, the antenna can extend almost all of the way, but if it gets pulled out further by the wind or something else, the gear no longer makes contact with the zip cord so the motor just spins. When you "help" the antenna mast down, you align the cord with the gear and the power antenna motor takes over.

Before replacing the antenna mast, you will need to remove the power antenna motor, open it up, have a bunch of paper towels or old rags handy to clean the grease off your hands, and remove the broken piece of cord. The new antenna mast can be installed with the motor assembly installed on the car, but the broken section will need to be removed first.

Or you could just buy a new power antenna assembly.

-Rod

[way2old]

I agree with shorod. The TR sensor can also affect the power windows, power steering and possibly the power antenna.(not sure on this) The part is inexpensive and easily replaced. Unhook wiring, remove linkage above it, remove 2 bolts that attach it to the trans and remove sensor. On installation, there are 2 little marks that need to be lined up in neutral. One is on the inside portion that turns, and the other one is on the body of the sensor. So before replacement, set parking brake, shift into neutral and then change sensor.

[dykhuis]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the prompt response and now I know how to proceed with the repairs. I bought this car in mint condition when it was 4 years old with 30,000 miles and it has been quite dependable so far. But now these annoying little things are starting to happen as it gets older. As with other Fords that I've had, the powertrains and platforms are OK but they suffer from weird, electical gremlins like this.

Thanks again! (Rod, I enjoyed Taurii as the plural of Taurus.)
Peter