84FLH
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- February 14, 2016
- Messages
- 168
- Reaction score
- 25
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 Mercury Mountaineer
365,x.. miles. Owned since 225,x.. miles. Never had any trans work except adjust shift linkage cable about 2 months ago. Can't recall why that was done but *think* I was having same trouble with reverse at that time.
Reverse works intermittently. Have to move shift lever from R to D, N, P and back to R for reverse to work. D works fine in parking lot. Haven't driven on the street to see if it shifts okay. Afraid to make it worse by driving on street. Details below. Thanks to everyone for your response. This place can be like the Cavalry to the rescue.
So this just happened this morning: Put in reverse to back out of parking spot, engine rev'd but vehicle didn't move. Put shift lever into P then R, still no reverse movement. Then with motor still running put shift lever from R into N, then P, then back to R and vehicle moved. Drove to another spot in the parking lot 50 yards away, parked, shut off engine. Then started engine and put into R. Vehicle didn't move. Repeated shift lever movements (N, P, back to R) and vehicle moved.
Drove to *another* spot in parking lot. Left vehicle running till reached operating temp on temp gauge. Fluid level checked out okay. Then put vehicle into R and R worked. Backed vehicle up 10 feet. Then put into D and drove forward 10 feet. Repeated same thing 5 times and R worked every time. Twice when put into R I heard "clunk" (like U-joint clunk).
Earliest Saturday appt with local garage is Dec 4. I need Sat appt because I work M-F.
1. Should I take to trans specialist instead of local garage?
2. If so should I take soonest appt avail?
3. Is vehicle safe to drive in forward gear (D, or will driving cause more trans damage?
4. Is vehicle safe to use in R?
5. What could be wrong?
Reverse works intermittently. Have to move shift lever from R to D, N, P and back to R for reverse to work. D works fine in parking lot. Haven't driven on the street to see if it shifts okay. Afraid to make it worse by driving on street. Details below. Thanks to everyone for your response. This place can be like the Cavalry to the rescue.
So this just happened this morning: Put in reverse to back out of parking spot, engine rev'd but vehicle didn't move. Put shift lever into P then R, still no reverse movement. Then with motor still running put shift lever from R into N, then P, then back to R and vehicle moved. Drove to another spot in the parking lot 50 yards away, parked, shut off engine. Then started engine and put into R. Vehicle didn't move. Repeated shift lever movements (N, P, back to R) and vehicle moved.
Drove to *another* spot in parking lot. Left vehicle running till reached operating temp on temp gauge. Fluid level checked out okay. Then put vehicle into R and R worked. Backed vehicle up 10 feet. Then put into D and drove forward 10 feet. Repeated same thing 5 times and R worked every time. Twice when put into R I heard "clunk" (like U-joint clunk).
Earliest Saturday appt with local garage is Dec 4. I need Sat appt because I work M-F.
1. Should I take to trans specialist instead of local garage?
2. If so should I take soonest appt avail?
3. Is vehicle safe to drive in forward gear (D, or will driving cause more trans damage?
4. Is vehicle safe to use in R?
5. What could be wrong?