Grand Marquis Tranny Problems?

Question

Hello everybody, I have another grand marquis with 80,000 miles on it and I'm experiencing some weird problems with the tranny. It shifts nice and smooth but when going into the third gear it shifts nice but starts like shaking a little so I have to take the pedal of the gas and press it back again so it can downshift....This usually happens when going up little hills at a constant speed just when it hits third gear starts vibrating and so I take out the my foot off the pedal and press back again so the shaking can go away... why is this happening? It's a grand marquis 1997 with 80,000 miles on it. This usually happens when slightly accelerating, usually happens at 50 miles and hour or so,,, Would it be again that I have to flush the tranny fluid from the tranny and torque converter and put back mercon v tranny oil? any help i would really appriciate it, thanks guys

Answer 1

What you are describing sounds like a torque converter shudder. Very common in newer models. It depends on the year of your car. Models 93 and up have issues with torque converter shudder and a simple fluid change using Mercon V (very important to use this type of fluid) fluid can help. If it's an older model, believe it or not, but your problem is more likely to be plugs & wires.YES really !!!!!! The transmission becomes a direct drive in the torque converter when it goes into third gear thereby amplifying an engine miss. I've been in the tranny business for 22 years and what you describe is very common. Most times this concern ends up at a tranny shop because it only happens when the trans shifts to 3rd gear.

Answer 2

I would definitely replace the Filter and fluid- with the MERCON 5... a Lincoln mechanic once told me to do the same for my TownCar, which uses the same engine and tranny as your Grand Marquis....i was experiencing the same "shudder at shift points" and i thought i was gonna need a new trans....

I never got to do the fluid change, i was put on vacation before i could, but i would go this route first see if it fixes the "shudder" if it does not, have Ur trans "diagnosed".

Best wishes

"/JOe

Answer 3

I hope you thought of replacing the tranny FILTER too.,,good luck