Expert: Sean Halliday - 5/10/2007

Question
QUESTION: Sean:  1994 Ford Taurus / 3.0 ltr / 72,000 miles.

When car is stopped & foot is taken off brake, the car normally begins to move forwards before I apply the accelerator pedal (normal operation).   

On several occasions, recently, when foot is taken off brake pedal, the car does NOT move forward - when accelerator pedal is depressed nothng happens immediately, then, the car will "clunk" into gear & accelerate normally.   This is happening intermittently.

Any idea what may be causing this?   Major or Minor Repair required / Labor time / approximate cost to fix?

Appreciate your earliest advice & coments;  many thanks for your time...graham
ANSWER: The transmission may be low on fluid but if not then it will have to be looked at by a tranny tech.Estimates are not possible to say until the cause is known but anything to do with the transmission is usually expensive.It is the main drive unit for the vehicle.It may need serviced or it may need something else but i would be totally guessing,although the symptom sounds like low fluid/pressure.

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QUESTION: Thaks for your advice & comments.   Fluid level checked & level is fine.

The Ford-Trained & Certified technician at my usual service/repair facility tells me the transmission "is on its way out" - 72,000 miles is apparently when problems begin to occur with the Ford Taurus, so, what I am experiencing is "normal" as far as Ford is concerned.

This does not seem to be too-excessive mileage, to me, to have to begin experiencing transmission problems - I would have thought this 3.0 litre engine would have been capable of at least 150,000 miles before any major problems would develop.....am I off base, here, Sean?

(I have therefore decided to run the car "as is" until the problem deteriorates - then, simply purchase a Toyota (Corolla or Yaris).

Thanks, again, for your time with my concerns.....graham.
ANSWER: Not uncommon on this car im afraid as i have seen them go at 50000.....seems theyre built to last that far and thats it....unless you get lucky as it can be rare to see one go 100000 plus.Its always the same problem as you describe whats happening to yours.Some have no reverse or simply no forward.I think you have a good plan,buy japanese..i have a toyota celica with 200000miles same tranny.5 speed cant beat em.good luck..sean

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QUESTION: Sean...update, following on from our prior correspondence re. the 1994 Taurus.....I spoke with two Transmission shops - each said the same:  broken piston - common in problem for this vehicle (50k - 70k).  We went ahead & decided to have the transmission removed & re-built, last week.  All was fine until the other day....now, when the engine is cold (ie. from overnight) & reverse is selected all is fine - until the car actually MOVES backwards: then, for the duration of the reverse procedure, there is a very loud metalic-sounding grating/ratlling noise coming from the engine.  Once the car stops the noise stops - then, when moving forwards, there is the same grating/rattling noise (only slightly, this time) which stops almost immediately & then the car is fine.    It seems only to happen, mostly, when the engine is cold - always in reverse, though.   Perhaps yu may have come across this scenario before - any possible idea of the problem, possibly?  (The transmissin repair facility shall be taking a look at the vehicle, late this week, in order to attempt to identify the problem & remedy).  Appreciate any comments, Sean; grham.

Answer
Sounds like the flex plate or better known as the torque convertor plate may be hitting the bell housing.It sits between the gearbox and the engine,thats my thoughts but really its something in the drive train and the shop has got to look at it as they worked on it.It would be hard to tell you exactly what it is as i would need to hear it but it should be ok to drive back to the shop.