2004 Mercury Sable transmission

[SwampSurvivor]

The AX4N is the better of the two transmissions, but still pretty weak.

Do a full fluid flush for sure ... NOT a power flush. I don't know if changing the filter is needed - if the filter is plugged, the internals of your transmission are coming apart and you need a new transmission anyway.

Add a cooler!

 

[bourne]

after the flush , if that doesnt take care of the problem, just to throw a wrench in the mix , check out if it has transmission mounts and what their health status looks like.

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: Mark_S

My daughter has a 2004 Mercury Sable with the DOHC engine. The transmission shifts smoothly when first started and for about 30 minutes. After warming up, and when starting from a dead stop, the tac will go up to about 2000 RPM's before the transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd. The shift is harsh, to say the least.


It sounds like the fluid is dropping in viscosity too much when it gets up to temp, resulting in line pressure being too low to keep the clutch plates engaged. If you go with MaxLife, it starts out at a lower viscosity to meet Dex VI viscosity standards but is supposed to hold its viscosity better. I would go with Valvoline's Mercon V specific ATF so that you keep a higher operating viscosity, and change it again at 30-40k miles. I think their Mercon V is still full synthetic.

 

[KCJeep]

Originally Posted By: Bgallagher
I would flush it out with maxlife and throw in a bottle of lubeguard red. It sounds like you have more issues but this will help keep it going a little longer


This, except I'd make it two bottles of Lubegard Red since it's already having some issues.

 

[Mark_S]

This past weekend I did the following:

Dropped and cleaned the pan.
Replaced the filter.
Flushed the transmission with Motorcraft Mercon V.
Installed a Wix in-line filter.
Installed a transmission oil cooler.
Added one bottle of Lubegard Red.

I have driven it two days and there has been no hard shifting. So far, so good.