Lincoln Town Car Transmission Problems & Cost | 4R75E / 4R70W

The Lincoln Town Car was equipped with the 4R75E or 4R70W transmission. Earlier models were equipped with the AXOD/AX4N. But they aren’t without their problems though, so let’s look at some of the most common Lincoln Town Car transmission problems, look at cost estimates and figure out what you can do about them.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

Lincoln Town Car Transmission Models

Lincoln Town Car: 4R75E / 4R70W Transmission (1996-Up)
Lincoln Town Car: AX4N/AXOD Transmission (1995-Down)

Lincoln Town Car Transmission Replacement Cost Estimate

Pricing varies by model. To be 100% sure on pricing, have your VIN# handy and use our Get An Estimate feature to look up your transmission by VIN#.

Replacement Lincoln Town Car Transmission Prices:

TransmissionStreet Smart Transmission
4R75E/W 4R70W2025

What are the DTC codes related to Lincoln Town Car transmission problems?

Trouble CodeDescription
P0700Transmission Control System (MIL Request)
P0714Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit Intermittent P0715
P0715Input/Turbine Speed Sensor Circuit
P0717Input/Turbine Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal
P0720Output Speed Sensor Circuit
P0721Output Speed Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
P0722Output Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal
P0730Incorrect Gear Ratio
P0731Gear 1 Incorrect Ratio
P0732Gear 2 Incorrect Ratio
P0733Gear 3 Incorrect Ratio
P0734Gear 4 Incorrect Ratio
P0766Shift Solenoid 'D' Performance or Stuck Off
P07811-2 Shift
P07822-3 Shift
P0791Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit
P0793Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal
P2703Transmission Friction Element D Apply Time Range/Performance

Lincoln Town Car Transmission Recalls

None Found

Lincoln Town Car Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)

TSB 10-23-7 – Transmission Cooler Leak
2008 – 2011 Lincoln Town Car
Problem – It’s not uncommon for a transmission fluid leak to develop on the driver’s side transmission cooler tube
Solution – Replace transmission cooler core

TSB 13-4-23 – 4R75E Transmission – Grinding/Slipping/Loss of Reverse
2008 – 2011 Lincoln Town Car
Problem – Some vehicles may experience a grinding/whining noise, unusual vibrations, slipping, and potentially a loss of reverse gear, all resulting from a failure of the planetary gear assembly
Solution – Install planetary upgrade kit and new torque converter

Common Problems with the Lincoln Town Car Transmission

TCC Application in 2nd Gear – 4R75E Transmission / 4R70 Transmission

2005 – 2006 Lincoln Town Car
Problem – A lack of power after the 1-2 shift can be caused by an un-commanded torque converter clutch application / TCC apply. The P0742 and/or P1742 DTCs may also be stored.
Solution – The #7 check ball inside of the valve body may have worn down to an incorrect size, allowing the torque converter clutch to apply after the 1-2 shift. Replacement of this check ball may solve the problem.

Slipping in All Forward Gears – 4R75E Transmission

2005 – 2006 Ford 4R75E Transmission
Problem – Many 2005 – 2006 Ford vehicles equipped with the 4R75E transmission, may experience excessive slipping in all forward gears. Metal shavings may also be present in the transmission fluid.
Solution – Replace forward clutch drum and update ECU with program 06B06

Lack of Response
Leaking Fluid
Low Fluid
Burning Smell
Grinding or Shaking
Whining, Clunking or Humming
Refuses to Go Into Gear
Torque Converter Issues
Valve Body Issues
Transmission Noisy in Neutral
Gears Slipping
No 3rd or 4th Gear
No 1st or 2nd Gear
No Reverse
Dragging Clutch
Trouble Codes / Check Engine Light

Lincoln Town Car 3rd gear slipping

Although the Lincoln Town Car is a very reliable car, 2001 and later models equipped with the transmission 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission can have a number of shifting problems. For example, the Lincoln Town Car 3rd gear slip is often accompanied by a lack of engine braking when the transmission is manually shifted into the 2 position.

Cause of most Lincoln Town Car 3rd gear shift problems

The above Lincoln Town Car shifting problems are usually caused by a failed overdrive servo retaining snap ring or a broken overdrive servo ‘E’ clip. If this happens, all of those little broken pieces make their way into the overdrive servo regulator valve, which will prevent the overdrive band from fully applying. If you decide to just have the transmission rebuilt, the overdrive servo regulator valve assembly will have to be removed from the valve body and any damage caused by the debris will need to be repaired. This step is often overlooked by most mechanics and can lead to more transmission problems in the future. However, if you opt for a reman Lincoln Town Car transmission from a company like Street Smart Transmission, you can rest assured that this very important step won’t be overlooked.

How much is it going to cost to fix my 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission?

Unfortunately, the problem described here will require the removal and disassembly/partial disassembly of your transmission. Given the labor time involved to remove the transmission from the vehicle (this is not a simple task), most repair shops will recommend that you go ahead and rebuild the entire transmission while it’s out. Since they already have to tear it down to replace the 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission, it sort of makes sense to spend the extra money to do that. After all, you should get a lot more mileage out of your transmission once it’s rebuilt. And since they’ve already got the transmission apart, might as well, right?

Can I drive with a transmission problem?

If your Lincoln Town Car can still make it up and down the road, you might say “It’s fine, I’ll just drive it until I can get it fixed”. But that is not always a good idea, depending on the symptoms. You see, there are a lot of (very expensive) moving parts inside of a transmission, and if something isn’t right, continuing to drive with a transmission problem could damage something else.

How often does a Lincoln Town Car transmission need to be replaced?

The overall lifespan of a Lincoln Town Car transmission largely depends on how well it was maintained. Factory design flaws also factor into this equation, along with how/how hard you drive. But on average, we’ve seen the Lincoln Town Car transmission last for between 130,000-180,000 miles. A high quality replacement transmission however, can last considerably longer if all of the factory design flaws have been addressed and the vehicle has been maintained.

How are Lincoln Town Car transmission issues diagnosed?

It is fairly easy to guesstimate what the root cause of your Lincoln Town Car transmission problems might be, but you won’t truly know unless you have the right tools and experience. A good mechanic or transmission repair center will be able to connect your truck to a computer and find out which diagnostic trouble codes (DTC’s) have been stored. Once they know what to look for, they can perform a visual inspection to verify the problem.

How is a Lincoln Town Car transmission replaced?

In order to replace your Lincoln Town Car transmission, the truck has to be lifted from the ground in order to gain access to all of the parts that will need to be unbolted. Then the transmission can be lowered to the ground (typically with a transmission jack), so the new transmission can be installed. Once it is in place, for the 6L80, the vehicle PCM will have to be reprogrammed / reflashed to accept the new transmission using the latest GM subscription.

Recommendations for Lincoln Town Car transmission issues?

To save time and get back on the road faster, have your 17-digit truck VIN# handy and you can get an online quote for a reman Lincoln Town Car transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you.

How to Solve Lincoln Town Car Transmission Problems

Solution A: Buy a Used Lincoln Town Car Transmission

The quickest way to fix your transmission problems is to simply buy a used transmission or used transmission. These can be found at most junk yards, and they often come with a 30-90 day warranty. However, there’s no way to determine the actual condition of the internal components, so you could be spending a bunch of money to have the exact same problems. Plus, that warranty only covers the transmission if it’s defective, not the labor costs that you’ll have to pay.

Solution B: Buy a Rebuilt Lincoln Town Car Transmission

Another option would be a rebuilt transmission or rebuilt transmission. A local repair shop will remove your transmission, then install a bunch of new parts during the rebuild. The problem here is, the skills and experience of each transmission rebuilder will vary widely from shop to shop, so you could have problems from something that wasn’t adjusted properly. And the 1-2 year warranty might only cover you at certain transmission repair shops, in a specific geographical area.

Solution C: Buy a Remanufactured Lincoln Town Car Transmission

Many owners depend on their vehicle to commute and get things done. Their gasoline engines are designed to go 100’s of thousands of miles, so it makes sense to invest in a remanufactured transmission.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

What Problem Does Your Lincoln Town Car Have?

Let us know the year, mileage and problem you’re having as well as any trouble (OBD) codes you’ve found. If you’ve been given a quote or paid for a repair, we’d like to hear about that too!

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Julian
1 year ago

My transmission is revede up so high that it is sucking up gas at a high rate. What could be the problem?

Phillip m greene
2 years ago

Will go in reverse just fine. But when you put it in drive it don’t want to go just sits there and if you wait a few minutes it will jerk your head off and take off. Then it changes gears just fine until you stop again. The transmission fluid checks about a inch above full. None has been added. I changed fluid and filters. Drove it about 10 miles and checked it again. It was still 1 inch above full. Didn’t make any difference in the way it acted.

Michael R McGowan
2 years ago

No trouble at all then after going about 40 miles it wanted to keep going when you put on brakes at a red light and would cut off had to put in neutral to start it up and would go fine until next red light then did this for about 4 days then o/d light came on saying it was off couldn’t get it to stay on then it wouldn’t go into gear

Julian
1 year ago

Having the same problem

Philip
2 years ago

Car hesitates to go when you put it in drive. But is fine when put in reverse.

Dewaine
2 years ago

I have a 2004 Town Car that shifts into overdrive at 35 mph and then struggles to accelerate. Is there a way the overdrive shift point can be set to a higher speed? This might be fine if I lived somewhere like Florida where the terrain is mostly flat, but I live in a hilly mountainous region. My only remedy has been to drive with the overdrive turned off unless I’m on open highway where I can travel at higher speeds.

Claudia Segura
2 years ago

My overdrive light started flashing while driving on 98 towncar. parked car for a bit now light is gone. still runs little rough but ran perfect before all this happened?

Wilfredo
2 years ago

2gear drive slips

jimmy sisneros
2 years ago

1996 towncar lincoln transmisson slip sometime

Kenneth Rothwell
2 years ago

I have a 2005 Lincoln town car signature, it will not go in reverse but shifts fine in all forward gears,what’s wrong with it?

Kenneth Rothwell
2 years ago

It has no reverse, but shifts fine in all forward gears

Mike
2 years ago

Get off thruway heard a noise no power in drive or reverse just took it to the mechanic will look at tomorrow

Esriel
2 years ago

Well it wount move forward in any gear but it will move in reverse.

Gowon Younger
2 years ago

I put a transmission in my car from my other car it worked fine in the other car but won’t shift unless you do it yourself

Chris Burton
2 years ago

I have a 2000 Lincoln town car executive with 65,000 original miles. The transmission shifts with a rough kick going up hill. But shifts normally on regular roads. Is this normal or is something going on here. Help me out y’all, thank you.

Debra
2 years ago

Lincoln 2005towncar transmission will not go until pushing on gas after after that drive fine until stopping

Larry Vaughn
2 years ago

What happens when you press the overdrive button?
It shifts then goes to neutral.
Anyone know why? 2007 year.

Last edited 2 years ago by Larry Vaughn
Kenric
2 years ago

2006 Lincoln signature limited won’t go forward

Suge
2 years ago
Reply to  Kenric

My 2005 signature won’t go forward also they said it could be the torque converter

William Crossgrove Jr
2 years ago

Car gets up to 20 miles per hour and will not change gears

Anonymous
2 years ago

I have the same problem

KELLIE DUNLOP
3 years ago

Won’t stay in overdrive…slips.its gone it shut off overdrive. Just installed a 35,000k used tranny

James Morgan
3 years ago

I have a 92 Lincoln town car executive I can put the car in reverse and it will just sit there until I give it gas than it will go backwards but it feels like it wants to go foward it’s like its having a tug awar and when I put in neutral it will move forward but all foward gears will slip at some point I’ve changed the filter and fluid but it’s still doing it I checked the nutrial safety switch and its good any help would be much appreciated. Thank you

shadeTree mekanix
3 years ago

i bought another 2002 Linc Twncar Signature series, cuz i personally like th0se & i knew it was gunna be a project car, so i just started yanking all the krazy-Krap that FoMoCo needlessly put into it such as the starting mechs in the steering wheel, NOT NEEDED BS, engine hood latch, NOT NEEDED security system, NOT NEEDED, anti-theft system, NOT NEEDED, pressurized fuel pump, NOT NEEDED, computer, MOST DEFINETLY NOT NEEDED…smfh…changed the manifold 2 an Offenhauser, installed a 650 Holley double pumper carb, scrapped the coil pax, installed Mallory Ignition, yanked0ut the Tranny & installed a chevy turbohydromatic tranny with Trick-Shift automatic & a Danna rear end, new wiring harness, key fob remote starter switch, new transceiver for remote starter, new LED lights, independent disc brakes on all 4, new fuel cell, all stainless lines 7 lb. hydralic fuel pump, welded shut fuel door, brushed stainless steel sheet coating as the roof stainless steel bumpers & rocker panels, tubbed the rear fender wells, Mickey Thompson 50’s tires on the rear & Hoosier tires on front, 1967 Corvette side pipes, yanked the catallitic converters & melted the platinum out of’em, Thrush mufflers, headers, 3/4 Isky roller cam & managed too keep the rest intact, n0w i gota Lincoln w0rth keepin & it starts & rolls everytime ! & im just a Landscape Architect…Lma0

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