new here, 1990 TC trans problem

[kev-uk]

Hi everyone
I'm new here and live in the central part of England UK.

I have a 1990 Lincoln Towncar signature series which I bought a few months ago and the transmission is giving me problems. Firstly it kept switching from 2nd to 3rd and back when in traffic, sometimes it would rev high before pullling off. I recently drove it on the motorway and it was fine cruising around 80 - 90mph, was just at lower speeds it didnt like. Recently I went through some water (could be related?) and I lost some gears.. it only has 1st gear, reverse, park. It will pull off in 1, D or (D) but will not upshift, gets to speeds around 30 - 40 mph then revs high (kind of whining sound with the high revs) but won't drop into 2nd.
The ATF looks ok, nice red color, smells normal (not burnt), the tv cable seems ok. Any ideas?

Kev

[kev-uk]

Update:- I recently drove the Lincoln to a place about 3 miles away and hired a van to move my new wife's stuff into my place. When I returned the van and went to move my Lincoln it was stuck in 1st gear. P was ok, but R-N-(D)-D-1 were ALL in 1st gear. I called the breakdown service to it (I only have roadside assistance on the Lincoln, not full cover like on my camaro), and he jacked it up and loads of water poured off the top of the gearbox.. though when he tried it, still stuck in 1st. He towed the car back with his truck and it moved like it was in neutral.. anyway, I managed to drive it home in 1st, and reverse gear was working again.


LATEST:- I had it trailored in to a garage and have had the gearbox rebuilt, 2 of the clutch plates were shot it.. and the ATF was dirty brown.. strange that the fluid on the dipstick looked red and smelled ok.
So now, £750 (UK Pounds) rebuild.. drove it home ok, but the gears arent changing when they should.. Wasn't too bad at first, but now I have to reach around 35mph to drop into 2nd, and 55mph to drop into 3rd.. I think this could be a tv cable problem? ANY THOUGHTS ??

[ltdltc]

Transmissions mystify me but your 1990 Town Car has the AOD transmission. And its weak spot that is often ignored/overlooked is the TV cable bushing. If it breaks your tranmission will fail in no time...

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00052.html < Read all about it here.