Transmission issues?

1999 MERCURY SABLE
70,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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SLUDGE77
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I was driving down the road yesterday and my car's transmission stopped working. It is like it is neutral, I tried shifting from 1st to drive to overdrive then reverse. The car just acts like it's in neutral, the car only has 70,000 miles on it and is in great condition other than this issue. Do I need to rebuild the transmission or is this some kind of sensor that is causing this issue?
The car listed above is an LS model.
Mar 20, 2023 at 5:48 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 110,190 POSTS
Hi,

Is there any noise when it is placed in gear? Do me a favor. Place the transmission in park. Next, see if you can push the vehicle or park it on a slope and check if it moves like it is in neutral even though it is in park.

If it doesn't move, have you checked to make sure the transmission fluid is clean and full?

Here is a link you may find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-and-add-transmission-fluid

Let me know what you find.

Joe
Mar 20, 2023 at 9:56 PM
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SLUDGE77
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
So, when the transmission stopped shifting it was on a hill and the park did engage. None of the other gears held when shifted to it was like it was in neutral. The fluid is in the cross hatches on the dipstick when the transmission is hot and running in ideal. One thing I noticed was the car was winning like the power steering was low on fluid but now it has stopped once the transmission stopped working. Not sure if that's a clue to the issue.
Mar 21, 2023 at 3:37 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 110,190 POSTS
Okay, if it was holding on park, it isn't related to a shift linkage alignment issue or a failed axle joint.

Have you tried to scan the computer for codes that may indicate a transmission-related issue? If you haven't, we need to scan for all codes regardless of the module storing them.

Here is a link that explains how to scan the controller area network:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Let me know if that is something you can do or have done. Since it happened all at one, I have a feeling it is related to a line pressure solenoid or sensor. The aforementioned scan should find codes if I'm correct.

Take care,

Joe
Mar 21, 2023 at 3:07 PM