Tranny Issue - New User

[Anthenium]

Hello everyone,

New user to this MB. I have just purchased a 1993 Mercury Tracer wagon, identical to the Escort wagon. It has a few issues, and I can deal with most of myself; Front brakes, broken sway-bar end, rear shocks, and it needs a New Stereo! But the one that is perhpas beyond my Parts-Changing abilities is the Auto-Transmission. It shifts fine in all gears, and the fluid is a nice color, smells good, etc...But when you put it in Drive, it is IN Drive! It's not starting in the lower gears. If you shift it into 1st, you are in 1st, same for 2nd, D, and OD. Almost like a Manual Valve body. Another thing I'm seeing is that it idles HIGH in Neutral. Around 3K. I'm thinking maybe there's a connection. Vacuum line for tranny missing, leaking, etc...Maybe they are unrelated. I have looked for a vacuum leak, and no joy.

Any ideas on the Tranny though? My next move is AAMCO.

Thanks,
Fat Tony

[mightymoose_22]

Check/replace your idle air control valve. If it is out of whack it will cause the high rpms and the car will want to take off when put in gear because of it.
Perhaps there is nothing wrong with the tranny.
The car should only start in Park or Neutral.

The IAC valve is less than $50 (at least it was when I bought one a few years back). It takes about two minutes to replace. It is the size of a couple D batteries and sits on top of the throttle body. Check it out.

[Anthenium]

Originally Posted by mightymoose_22

Check/replace your idle air control valve. If it is out of whack it will cause the high rpms and the car will want to take off when put in gear because of it.
Perhaps there is nothing wrong with the tranny.
The car should only start in Park or Neutral.

The IAC valve is less than $50 (at least it was when I bought one a few years back). It takes about two minutes to replace. It is the size of a couple D batteries and sits on top of the throttle body. Check it out.

Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear on the Tranny issue. It does on start the Engine in Park/Neutral. But when you put the car in gear, it does not start in Low. It starts in Drive. I have to MANUALLY put the car in 1st, 2nd, and Drive. Even to downshift it is a manual exercise.

I'll take a look at the IAC valve this weekend, Thanks!

Fat Tony