100 posts, and still not sure. Trans/idle '95 Taurus/Sable

[felinefarms]

Hello everyone! First post here and great forum!
I've read pages of Taurus/Sable threads and I'm still not sure...
Just bought a 1995 Sable (though the seller thought it was a Taurus...) and we've used the car for about a week (& about 1200 miles) and have not had many problems.
Three days ago, I noticed the high idle problem after it was warm, and was not present the past couple of days.
Today, I gave the engine (3.0) an oil change, and also changed the transmission filter and drained and cleaned the pan.
No sludge from either...
Afterwards, I took the car on a quick test drive and found I was two quarts shy on the trans fluid. Added at the autoparts store, and drove home to rotate the tires... Ran real good... No problems
Upon my second test drive to test my tire pressure and to just cruise, I'm now left with a car that seems undriveable.
Problems
It will idle in the 2000 range, jerk into first (from the high idle) then wind up to 3500 rpms before shifting into 2nd, where it will jump right into 3rd, (in under 2 seconds). Overdrive will only happen if I let my foot off the gas for a few seconds.....
The tranny is the AX4N and as I mentioned erlier, the engine is a 3.0....
Any ideas??? I'm not sure...
Thanks in advance,
Adam

[mlw35405]

Hmmm... I wouldn't have recommended changing your trans. fluid on the ax4n if it had never been done before. But I hope that is not your prob. Sounds like the Idle Air Control valve may be acting up. It is located at the very top of the intake manifold, just after the plastic air filter tube runs into it. It looks silver usually, but may be black. It looks like, well, like a small aerosol can, about 3 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, held on by two bolts. Start the car, and tap on the side of it with a ratchet. If the car idles down, you've found the prob., replace it. I this doesn't help, unplug the wire to the sensor. The car should die. If not, again, you've found the problem. IS your CHECK ENGINE light on? Also, you haven't accidentally unplugged a vacuum line have you?

[felinefarms]

Originally Posted by mlw35405

Also, you haven't accidentally unplugged a vacuum line have you?

Thanks for the reply. I was also thinking about a vacuum line... But still haven't found one loose or off.... You wouldn't know where the tranny vacuum line (for shifting/down shifting) is located would you?
It did run fine after the during the first test drive...
I'll try fussing with the control valve as you mentioned.
And, I forgot to mention this in my first post... What ever I find, I WILL post my findings back to the forum...
Thanks,
Adam

[mlw35405]

The tranny is electronically controlled, there are no lines for shifting, however, there are other vaccum lines in that area.

[felinefarms]

Hello, I just wanted to post my findings so far.
Well, the air idle control valve and the throttle position sensor have been change... The car idles great!!!
Now, from the homework I've done, it seems the the car has a dealer replaced tranny... It now has an AX4N. Also seems that it should have had MerconV fluid in it instead of the MerconIII that I had added. Also seems like the dipstick was never changed out, so I had to measure what was removed... I'm measuring 9 quarts...could be 10...
So, looks like I'm dropping the pan in the am and will refill with 10 quarts of MerconV.... come Friday am, I'll repeat, and should have all running again....

I'll let you know...
I'll repost in a new thread for the archives...
Thanks in advance,
Adam