Sable Tranaxle

SHOERTH

MEMBER
2001 MERCURY SABLE
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
107,000 MILES

I have a 2001 Mercury Sable Wagon with the 24V V6. It has about 107,000 miles. My wife came to pick me up at the office. Shut the car off and waited for me.I started the car and heard a short grinding and the car moved forward while in Park. With the car running it will move forward but not in reverse. All positions except R and N will move the car forward. However, with the engine off.I can roll it in neutral and park seems correct. The fluid is full and no smell or unusual color. The Check Transaxle Light is on. This just came from nowhere.I hope there is a simple fix. The car was fine and driving perfectly. Thank you. Seth@HOEM. Com

7 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,724 POSTS

Just so I understand, it seems like it is in drive regardless of what gear you are in, correct? If that is the case, I feel the retaining clip in the low / reverse clutch pack has broken allowing the first gear to be engaged all the time or a band has broken preventing reverse from working. One more question, you said in park, you can roll the vehicle. Do you mean the parking sprag isn't holding the vehicle still?

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Saturday, November 20th, 2010 AT 2:46 AM

BMRFIXIT

MECHANIC
19,053 POSTS

No Reverse Engagement
Check external and internal shift linkage, TR sensor adjustment, low line pressure, valve body (improperly torqued bolts, gaskets and separator plate damaged or positioned incorrectly, manual valve), oil pump assembly (external or internal leakage, gaskets and separator plate damaged or positioned incorrectly, check ball missing), reverse clutch, and N-R accumulator.

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Saturday, November 20th, 2010 AT 2:53 AM

SHOERTH

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Actually, with the engine off Park works like it should. It is on a slight hill allowing the car to roll backwards in Neutral but when I put it in Park it stops the car like normal. Now, with the engine running. All gears but Reverse & Neutral move the car forward. It feels as though something is binding though.

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Saturday, November 20th, 2010 AT 2:55 AM

BMRFIXIT

MECHANIC
19,053 POSTS

I would suspect oil pump or more common reverse clutch, and N-R accumulator
Have to remove the tranny to check and rebuilt

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Saturday, November 20th, 2010 AT 3:18 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,724 POSTS

Okay, that tells me the linkage is correct, and the parking sprag is doing what it needs to do. If it was still going forward in neutral and fighting itself in reverse and park, then the clutch pack theory would apply. However, that doesn't sound like the issue. My guess is either a broken band, or the neutral / reverse accumulator.