My gear shifter is having trouble shifting in my '97 Ford Taurus - do I need a new transmission?

Question

Like I said - '97 Ford Taurus.

This has been going on for about a month or so - and been getting continuously worse. It's getting hard for me to shift out of drive...I have to jiggle the shifter for about 30 seconds, before it can shift into drive. Last night - it took about a minute and a half. I didn't drive the car at all today...but just tried it out - and it worked perfectly. So, it happens - then works fine. But, like I said, I think it's getting worse.

I have been told by quite a few people that I need a new transmission.

If so, then I think that I need to trade it in, before it gets completely messed up.

Please help!! I just put a bid in on the house....there's no way I can afford a new house and a newer/different car. Getting a new transmission would be dumb. 170,000 miles - 9 years old.

Answer 1

How about none of the above!

There is a shifter interlock solenoid that is mounted to the steering column that unlocks the shifter when you push the brake pedal. It is an electrical solenoid that can get weak over the years. I think this is your problem, the solenoid has become too weak to pull the pin retaining the shifter mechanism in park. It isn't an expensive repair, and no you definately don't need a transmission. Here is a hint to bypass the solenoid until you can get it fixed. Turn the ignition key just enough to unlock the steering wheel, not far enough to turn the instrument cluster lights on, not the accessory position, before that, just far enough to unlock the steering wheel. Then pull the shifter down to neutral, and turn the key to start it. Then pull it down to drive to take off. This should help until you have it repaired, if it is the solenoid. Also, I have seen the shifter collar retaining bolts work loose from the column and cause a hard to shift problem. There are two torx head bolts holding the shifter cable mount to the shifter tube that can work loose overr time, all this repair requires is a retightening. Either way this is not a major problem, good luck!

Answer 2

With what you have told us, you are not financially able to fix it if it were the tranny, so I'm not sure what kind of answer you hope to get here?.

Logically, you should consider your shifter and servicing your transmission before thinking it is your transmission.

When is the last time you had your transmission serviced? I just had mine done, and it cost $95. In fact, it would probably be where I would start.

You are right, the car has too much age to spend 1500-1800 on a new tranny, so hope you can eliminate the smaller possibilities before you have to go into more debt....good luck.

Answer 3

Those are good transmissions...nothing like the 84-95 trannys (junk). Probably something with the shifter or maybe it needs a filter. When was the tranny serviced last? May just need filter and fluid. Not too expensive. If you can't do it yourself, take it to a shop and get the tranny service package. If you have real problems, ask more questions and if I see them I'll talk to Dad about it. He's the Ford mechanic for the K.C. area when you need one. Good luck.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Sounds to me like your shift cable is binding up. That's not too expensive to fix. As long as it drives fine down the road it's not your transmission.

Answer 6

Most likely it is a loose linkage connecting the shifter to the transmission.

Answer 7

If it is an automatic you may need to replace the transmission fluid/filter.
Worse case, if you do need a tranny, you could always get a used one from a junk yard and install it yourself or pay someone else to do it.
You can find used trannys here: http://www.car-part.com

Answer 8

Sounds like a simple fix, maybe a cable.

Answer 9

sounds like the detent pin in the tranny easy fix but not cheep