1996 Mercury Mystique flashing overdrive light, kicks when shifts.?

Question

Whenever I take a long distance (75+ miles) drive in my 1996 Mercury Mystique the overdrive lights will randomley start blinking within 50 miles of interstate driving. Then, when the car stops, and try to go again, it shifts very hard. The problems fixes itself after the car sits for awhile. What is causing this?

Answer 1

The flashing O/D light is indicating a fault code has been stored because the computer has sensed a problem with your transmission. The computer will at that point raise the line pressure to maximun and thats why it shifts hard. The problem isn't really fixing itself. When you turn off the ignition, the failsafe mode is reset untill the same problem re occures. You have to get the vehicle scanned to retrieve the fault code(s). This will point the direction of the repair required to fix it....
Unfortunatly, these transmissions have a bad reputation for failing !!

Answer 2

Mercury Mystique 1996

Answer 3

Wear.
It is time to get it to the transmission shop before you do any more damage.
Those lights are flashing a sequence identifying a code stored in the computer (most of the time) and when it is random flashing, it is indicating that the computer no longer has complete control of the transmission. The transmission is now only semi-controlled, and is pretty much only mechanically functioning.
The longer you delay, the more damage is done, and the greater the repair bill will be.

Answer 4

Get you car to a competent mechanic immediately if not sooner. You will tear up your transmission if wait.

Answer 5

the computer has detected a problem
I have a Ford Explorer that does that----a check of the computer tells me that "3rd gear ratio incorrect when commanded"