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I have a 1997 Taurus 3.0 OHV and having problems with Trans. At first the only gear that I had was R, after servicing everything was working fine. Now when I first take off at about 2000 rpm's it jumps out of gear until the rpm's hit about 1000 and it almost seems as if it jumps into a low gear. The car moves fine but when you punch it feels as if it is under a heavy load with no get up and go just a steady climb in speed. All through this R is working with no problems. I am hoping hat it is some kind of switch or sensor that is going bad.  Thanks for you help.  

If I am reading this right. You only had reverse, serviced it and it drove perfect? I don't mean this the wrong way but a transmission service is a preventive maintenance not a repair. I would want to know if there was anything in the pan when you serviced it, like excessive metal or clutch material. Your neutral out problem is probably due to some of that sticking a valve.  

You probably have the famous, or infamous, forward clutch drum failure.

The drum will split and pressure is lost.  
Journeyman mechanic, transmission builder since 1963.

Stuart? Think about this. If the fwd drum split and the fwd clutches couldn't apply would he still be moving?  

Yes. The weld cracks. The drum doesn't actually break.
It will pull, but at high revs.  
Journeyman mechanic, transmission builder since 1963.

I bought the car used so I serviced it hoping that it had never been done and it was just a filter problem and not the Trans itself. The fluid was a little dark but did not smell burnt and there was very little or almost no material stuck to the magnet or in the pan itself. It now shifts through all the gears without a problem only acting up when you punch on the gas. Hope this new info helps.  

I also have a 1997 Ford Taurus and having problems with the transmission.  The vehicle drives normal at first shifting normally from gear to gear but all of a sudden the vehicle gets hung in a neutral position and slows down.  The only way to correct this problem is by restarting the car.  I changed the transmission fluid and filter  but car continue to do the same thing.  I'm not sure if I need a new transmission or a new sensor switch or something.  

'96 ford taurus trans? Car will shift to reverse. When cold (outside temp below 40) will not shift into any forward gear. After warmup, car will not downshift from overdrive (as if in nuetral). Std. drive will down shift, but when sitting at stop will drop out of gear (as if in neutral). Shifting at stop to Neutral then to std. drive allows the car to have forward power. Rumor has it Ford had (has?) a problem with this transmission. What would you do?  

I have a 97 Taurus experiencing the same symptoms.  Did you ever find out what was wrong?  

This only applies to the AX4N trans, as opposed to the AXOD-E. (All 24 valve 3.0 cars and some 12 valve 3.0 cars use the AX4N,its stamped into the side pan)

In the valve body, there is a forward engagement valve, it releases the forward clutch when in O.D., on units built prior to '98 the spring retainer can break and allow the valve to get stuck in "forward released" position. Ford upgraded the part with a stronger version in '98. The new part is just a flat plate with a slot in it and will retrofit all prior AX4N trans. The broken part is visible with just the side pan removed, but the entire valve body must come off to fix it.

If you have one of the AX4N cars and your problem is "wont move after coming out of O.D." then this is a strong possibility.  

my 97 taurus will start out fine switch gears fine well im driving but when I come to a stop and try to go again it seems like its in neutral. I changed fluid still didn't help any idea's  

danjvalles, see post above.
Which trans do you have? AX4N or AXOD-E (also known as AX4S)  

ax4n  

It sounds like the Manual lever position sensor. Also called the neutral safety switch. these are bad about going out and causing the trans to neutral out. check to see if you have the 8 pin or the 12 pin. It is located under the intake tube. the shifter linkage hooks to it  

My 97 Taurus won't go in to 2nd gear unless let it warm up for about 10 minutes. As you drive it in first gear it tries to go in to 2nd gear but never makes it and you find yourself coasting along until your speed is under 10 MPH then it clicks back in to 1st gear. This happens until the car is warm them it seems to operate fine. One other thing is that every now and again the cr will not start. If I put the car in N then it will start up. Or I can rock the car back and forth and them try to start it and it starts right up. Stange?