Mercury Grand Marquis Transmission Problems & Cost | 4R75E / 4R70W

The Mercury Grand Marquis was equipped with the 4R75E or 4R70W transmission. But they aren’t without their problems though, so let’s look at some of the most common Mercury Grand Marquis 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?

Mercury Grand Marquis Transmission Models

Mercury Grand Marquis: 4R75E / 4R70W Transmission

Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis Transmission Prices:

What are the DTC codes related to Mercury Grand Marquis transmission problems?

Mercury Grand Marquis Transmission Recalls

None Found

Mercury Grand Marquis Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)

TSB 10-23-7 – Transmission Cooler Leak
2008 – 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis
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 Mercury Grand Marquis
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 Mercury Grand Marquis Transmission

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

2005 – 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis
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

Mercury Grand Marquis 3rd gear slipping

While these are usually very nice cars, there’s nothing nice about a Mercury Grand Marquis 3rd gear slip. You’ll know this is happening if your transmission shifts into neutral during the 3-4 shift. Another issue associated with this is a lack of engine braking when you manually shift it into the 2 position. These Grand Marquis shifting problems occur in 2001 and later vehicles equipped with the 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission.

Cause of most Mercury Grand Marquis 3rd gear shift problems

If your Mercury Grand Marquis transmission is slipping on the 3rd to 4th shift, it’s likely due to a broken overdrive servo retaining snap ring or overdrive servo ‘E’ clip. If this is the case, the debris from those broken parts will work their way down into the overdrive servo regulator valve, preventing the overdrive band from making a full apply. If you elect to just get your transmission rebuilt, the overdrive servo regulator valve assembly will need to be removed from the valve body so that any damage from the debris can be repaired. It’s not uncommon for most mechanics to overlook this step. However you can rest assured that it won’t be overlooked if you get a reman Mercury grand Marquis transmission from Street Smart Transmission.

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 Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis transmission need to be replaced?

The overall lifespan of a Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis transmission issues diagnosed?

It is fairly easy to guesstimate what the root cause of your Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis transmission replaced?

In order to replace your Mercury Grand Marquis 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.

Recommendations for Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you.

How to Solve Mercury Grand Marquis Transmission Problems

Solution A: Buy a Used Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis 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 Mercury Grand Marquis 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!