One of the most common Ford Taurus transmission problems / Ford Taurus SHO transmission problems is a pronounced delay or bang/jerk when the transmission is shifted from Neutral to Drive. This is a common trait of the AX4N / 4F50N transmission, and can lead to further problems down the road. It can also occur, even if you recently had a rebuilt transmission installed.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Why is my Ford Taurus transmission not engaging properly?
One of the most common 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006 Ford Taurus transmission problems occurs when you shift the transmission from/through Neutral into Drive. Owners will experience a significant delay and/or a sudden jerk, followed by a loud banging sound when the transmission does finally decide to go into gear. It doesn’t matter if you own a standard issue Taurus, or the always entertaining Ford Taurus SHO, this can be a maddening problem is that can put undue stress on the rest of the transmission if it’s not addressed.
In many cases, these Ford Taurus transmission problems can stem from a worn 1-2 clutch accumulator pin and piston. The AX4N/4F50N 1-2 clutch accumulator assembly is sort of like a spring loaded shock absorber that compresses to absorb excess line pressure that is generated when a gear is engaged.
If a Ford AX4N/4F50N transmission is not engaging as soon as you put the gear selector into Drive, then the problem could be a worn or improperly installed 1–2 accumulator piston assembly. Should this be the case, pressurized hydraulic fluid (a.k.a. transmission fluid) could be leaking through the seals. In this scenario, the loss of hydraulic pressure can prevent the transmission from shifting into gear in a smooth, timely fashion.
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Why a remanufactured transmission might be a good option
While you can’t buy a brand-new transmission, a remanufactured transmission is a terrific alternative. These are completely reengineered and put together on a factory assembly line. They often contain a lots of upgrades over their stock form, which means many of the design flaws that result in premature failure of components can be eliminated. This can give a reman transmission a much longer service life than it originally had.
Remanufactured transmission companies like Street Smart Transmission put each of their reman transmissions through a rigorous build process that ensures a quality product every time. It starts with nearly 100 trained technicians that specialize in different aspects of the build process.
This remanufacturing process starts with the inspection team that test all of the critical components from the donor transmission to ensure that they meet the original equipment (OE) tolerances and specifications. The case, pumps, gears, shafts, valve body and torque converter are checked for hairline cracks, metal tensile strength, warping and other parameters. If any component fails to meet the required specifications, it’s discarded and replaced.
All the parts are then cleaned and sent to the appropriate stations on the assembly line for reassembly. Throughout the process, quality control managers inspect the build to ensure that it meets the desired specification. Any necessary modifications or upgrades that are needed to correct factory design flaws are also performed or added. The valve body is rebuilt and tested on a special dyno machine to ensure that it performs according to the specifications. All of the solenoids are also tested prior to installation.
Once the build is complete and passes its final quality control inspection, the newly remanufactured transmission is sent to the dyno room, where it’s tested on a special dyno machine using a proprietary software program called C.A.R.S. (Computer Aided Real-world Simulation). This cycles the transmission through a number of real-world driving situations, to ensure that it performs according to the factory specs. It also helps to break in all of the friction components, that way it’s completely tuned and ready to go once it’s installed.
Warranty – One of the benefits of buying a remanufactured transmission vs. a rebuilt transmission is the warranty. Street Smart Transmission for example, covers all of their reman transmissions with a 3 Year/Unlimited Mileage Nationwide Warranty (there is a mileage restriction for commercial vehicles). This covers parts and labor for transmission repairs performed by any licensed repair shop in the country. It’s also completely transferable if you ever decide to sell the vehicle. Compared to a mechanics warranty on a transmission rebuild, a remanufactured transmission warranty offers superior financial protection.
What Transmission Do I Have?
