AX4N transmission problem

[supersmf1]

I have a 1997 Taurus GL with 90K miles on it. After about 1/2 hour of driving it jumped out of overdrive. It jumped in and out a few times and then would not go back inand stay in 3rd. It has been doing this for a week or two now. Once it would not go into overdrive at all even when it had not been driven for a few hours. A new thing happened last night, when it would get to where it would jump in and out in the past I would shift into drive not OD so it wouldnt cause a problem from jumping in and out but last night when I shift from OD to drive it would go into second gear not 3rd so I had to leave it in OD to drive it. It usually shifts perfectly when cold up to the 1/2 hr. mark and it still shifts perfectly from 1st to 3rd after OD quits working. Could this be a problem with the range selector switch for the gear shifter or a vss problem? Check engine soon does NOT come on when this happens. Any help would be appreciated!

[shorod]

When's the last time the transmission was serviced with a new filter and fresh tranny fluid? If it's been awhile, that may be the first item to try, tranny fluid and filter. That may at least prolong the time before you need a rebuild. Since it seems to act up once the tranny gets warm, parts must not have completely failed quite yet.

-Rod

[supersmf1]

I changed the fluid and filter after the problem first came up it didnt seem to change anything. How does that sensor on the shift linkage bracket work. If that was bad an was not telling it that it was in OD could that cause this?