Mercury Tracer Forum : “Transmission Problems BIG TIME! Shifts then won't shift! HELP PLEASE!”
Transmission Problems BIG TIME! Shifts then won't shift! HELP PLEASE!
I have a 1993 Mercury Tracer wagon, 4 cylinder (smallest one) and I have an unusual problem. When I put it in drive and take off, it won't shift to 2nd gear, it just stays in 1st. Then I have to put it in neutral then back to drive (the drive in the circle, overdrive I guess it is), and then it shifts to the next gear. BUT: after about 3 to 4 seconds it goes out of gear completely. I have to do this sometimes only once, sometimes up to 7 or 8 times until eventually it straightens out and shifts shifts normally. It shifts nomally until I have to stop and put in park. Then when I drive it again, it starts all over again. There is no slipping of the gears, the bands are tight, everything seems normal other than the shifting issue. I was told to flush the transmission (transaxle) and that would probably cure my problem. I had a friend who is a mechanic change the transmission fluid and replace the filter but to no avail. Is changing the transmission like flushing it or is there more to it than that? I've also had someone tell me the transmission is computer controlled and someone else said it's a linkage issue. At the advice of another friend, I even tried a container of something called TransX but that didn't work either. I'm totally confused now. Can anyone tell me what I REALLY need do to fix the transmission? This is a transmission from a junk car. I had to replace the original one because it was completely worn out. I'm at wits end! Please, can someone out there instruct me on what I need to have done to fix it?
Thank you
If you like the car and dont mind spending some bucks on it, I would recommend that you take it to a tranny shop and have them test drive it with you, YOU drive to show the mechanic what you have to do to get it moving, He might want to hook up to the OBD port with his diganostic computer, this will give the read out of the sensors and all data input. The problem could be any of the things that you were told/mentioned in your question. The quickest and cheapest way is to get the mechanic to go on a drive with you as I mentioned above. If you just start replacing a bunch of parts all you will be doing is wasting time and money and you will just end up frustrated. Take it in, go for the test drive, and then you will have a better understanding of what needs to be done.
You also mentioned that this is a replacement tranny from a junk car, well this trannt might of fit but it might not be combatable, meaning the computer for your car might not be the right one for this "junk" tranny. So you might be looking at som big costs to keep this car. Best of luck.