Trannsmission Acting Weird Please help!

[94escort]

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum and I was hoping I could get some help with my sister's car. It's a 94 Escort (auto transmission) and the weirdest thing happens when she turns on the headlights. When you shift the trans into Drive with the headlights on, the transmission can't seem to get out of first gear. It started when she took it in to get the car serviced (oil change, cleaning of battery posts). This only happens when she turns on the lights. The car drives fine when the lights are off. She took it to a transmission shop and they don't think the tranny is the cause. it only has 60,000 miles. Has anyone heard of this?

[dashesthroughdeath]

you shifter is rigged where if your room fuse or maybe another one but i think that's it... is blown you can't shift ....so what i think is going on is thiers something other than the lights and maybe it is the lights but that's just out thier draining the power away from the shifters unlocking mechanizim

[chevyn0va1]

Originally Posted by 94escort

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum and I was hoping I could get some help with my sister's car. It's a 94 Escort (auto transmission) and the weirdest thing happens when she turns on the headlights. When you shift the trans into Drive with the headlights on, the transmission can't seem to get out of first gear. It started when she took it in to get the car serviced (oil change, cleaning of battery posts). This only happens when she turns on the lights. The car drives fine when the lights are off. She took it to a transmission shop and they don't think the tranny is the cause. it only has 60,000 miles. Has anyone heard of this?

Have the battery/charging system checked. If something isnt grounded or connected proper that will drain the chargeing system and the whole car. By mentioning after the battery was cleaned tells me they didnt tighen properly or disturbed another wire. Sometimes if the battery is disconnected too long the computer needs to reprogram itself. Personally Id bring it back and politely ask the service manager to re check the car. ~ keep us posted (here in RI, Autozone will check the chargeing system free they check the battery, alternator, charging and will check the computer for codes but you have to ask them too check)

[observer1]

I have a similar problem with my 94 escort. Mine isn't affected by the headlights but intermitently won't shift out of the low gears. Let it sit and it shifts fine. Had the trany flushed and filter changed but no improvement. Only recent work was a tie rod end and exhaust work.

[rtilden]

I had the same problem... here is what was wrong (at least with this car). Initially not noticed was that the license light and the backup lights were not working. Both are on the trunk lid. Also unknown at the time was a leak in the rear of the vehicle (which had disrupted the ground for those lights).

...The license light was "on" when the lights were off, and "off" when the lights were on...

With the lights on, power was back-feeding from the license light through the backup light circuit to the gear position sensor, and interrupting the workings of the tranny. Replacing the trunk lid ground cured the problem.

In looking through this board, I see a lot of questions and few answers... Boards are only helpful when people follow up by posting the fruits of their experience!