'94 Crown Vic trans question

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Dec 19, 2007 | 04:23 PM

fordguy76

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Joined: Apr 2001

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From: West Union, OH USA

'94 Crown Vic trans question

My girlfriends dad has a '94 crown vic with a 4.6 V8 and an overdrive auto, he drove it home one day and parked it, then when he went to leave again it wouldn't go anywhere, forward or reverse. I looked at it hoping it was the column, since it did not click into any gears but after partially dismantling the dash I saw nothing obviously broke. So then I checked the cable to the trans and it isn't broken then I shifted the trans by hand under the car and it felt good, however, it rolls in every gear. So I assume the trans is toast? Is that a fair assumption? I just don't see how the column being connected to the trans still by the cable won't move the arm on the transmission?

Dec 19, 2007 | 04:29 PM

Bart99GT

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An automatic will roll if its in any gear but park without the engine running. There's no solid connection between the engine and transmission with an auto.

My guess is that there's probably a roll pin broken somewhere in the column. It might not be immediately obvious until you take the entire shift mechanism apart.

Dec 19, 2007 | 07:42 PM

GLR

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From: NY and VA

With the CV's you have to step on the brake in order to put it in gear. Maybe it got forced causing linkage problems. The AODE trans is usually pretty good. Can you jack it up (JACK STANDS) and look underneath while someone works the shifter. That will tell you if linkage is working.

Dec 22, 2007 | 11:54 PM

fordguy76

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Laughing Gas

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From: West Union, OH USA

"With the CV's you have to step on the brake in order to put it in gear. Maybe it got forced causing linkage problems. The AODE trans is usually pretty good. Can you jack it up (JACK STANDS) and look underneath while someone works the shifter. That will tell you if linkage is working."---------------What are CV's? Well I crawled under the car and shifted the trans and had someone hold the shifter and I couldn't shift then so the cable is definitely good, it must be in the column somewhere, now it won't start either, I'm guessing some type of neutral saftey switch on the column?

Dec 23, 2007 | 10:25 AM

lsrx101

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From: Lorain County, Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordguy76

The neutral safety switch is on the transmission. If the cable is not pulling the manual lever into Park or Neutral the car won't start.
A very common issue on these cars is with the shift tube on the steering column. The shifter "stick" is connected to a tube that runs down the column and is connected to the shift cable. The tube is clamped to the column with 2 U-clamps. The bolts work loose on the clamps and let the tube move instead of moving the cable.
The cable sheath is also supported by a bracket on the column. The bracket can work loose or the cable can pop out of the bracket.
I've seen all 3 happen, but the loose U-clamps are the most common.If the cable has pulled out of the support bracket, it usually means the cable is binding internally and needs replaced.

Dec 23, 2007 | 02:34 PM

fordguy76

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From: West Union, OH USA

thanks, i knew that old 3spd autos had the neutral safety switch on the trans and thought he maybe they put it on the column on these.

Dec 23, 2007 | 02:44 PM

lsrx101

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From: Lorain County, Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordguy76

thanks, i knew that old 3spd autos had the neutral safety switch on the trans and thought he maybe they put it on the column on these.

FYI, The NSS on an AOD\AODE looks different than the ones you may have seen on older 3 speed units. It threads into the case just behind the manual lever.