Vehicle in question is a 2002 Cougar, 35th Anniversary Edition. I apologize in advance for the long post.
Before I get into the problem, I would like to go back a couple of months and a brief history, just in case these issues might be inter related.
First owners -- My wife bought the car new before we met, she had regular oil changes and service done, and since I took over it's been meticulously maintained (oil changes, tire rotation, brakes, air/cabin filter, etc) at all suggested intervals.
Car has been running fine for the last few years with no major issues. Back in June of this year, I was taking it through one of those high pressure automated car washes, when about halfway through the CEL came on and the car started "hiccuping" at idle and low speeds, which I eventually learned was a misfire. (I am assuming water got somewhere it shouldn't have) Turns out it was the ignition coil pack, got it replaced and the low idle/speed "hiccup" went away. After I got the car back, I noticed it now seemed to "hiccup/buck" or misfire at speeds of around 40-55, almost felt like it was gasping for air or gas. I noticed the CEL blink once or twice during the problem over a couple of weeks, but not the majority of the time. I was busy with work and was driving the car sparingly, and could not get it back to the shop for a few weeks. When I finally did take it back to where the coil pack was done, the code pull showed no errors, and the tech said he could not duplicate the problem. He probably didn't get on the highway like he said he did.
Of course, when I took it out on the highway going back home, the problem was still there so I figured I would go back in a few days and go for a ride with the tech, showing him the problem. That day never came.
The very next day, I was driving on a 2 lane highway doing around 45-50, my wife grabbed her bag from the back seat, and as she brought it forward knocked the gear shifter into N. I didn't notice it right away, and the engine revved to probably to 2 or 3k RPM. The car "coughed" and maybe "sputtered" but remained running, and as soon as I realized it was in N I let off the gas, shifted back into D and hit the gas again to pick up my speed. The result was nothing, it was as if I was still in N. I tried to push the gas up to 4k, but no drive whatsoever.
As I was now slowing down, I started getting over to the right, and was able to use momentum to pull into a strip mall parking lot. Turned the car off and back on again, tried shifting gears, and nothing. It wont shift into any gears, its almost as if the gear shifter isn't telling the car to change gears. I opened the hood to look for anything obvious, and apart from some minor smoke coming from the back left (passenger) of the engine compartment I didn't see anything strange. Checked the tranny fuild, and it was at full and clear pinkish in color.
**BTW I am assuming the smoke is coming from the minor oil leak from the pan hitting the cat, but not 100%
I got the car towed to a mechanic near my parent's house, who was unresponsive in looking at the car for a few days, and after some badgering simply told me it's the transmission and it needs to be rebuilt or replaced. He also said that pulling the CEL code points to a tranny problem. (I didn't know that's a valid code, can anyone confirm or deny?)
I plan on getting it re-towed to a different shop for a second opinion, but in the meantime:
My problem is I am not sure whether he actually spent any time diagnosing the problem. I had no prior symptoms pointing to an eventual transmission problem, the car always shifted into gear quickly, and changed gears smoothly while driving. I am thinking that knocking the gear into N from D at 45 mph did something to the computer or linkage or something, but I am not experienced enough to know exactly what it could be.
Was hoping one of you experts could help my troubleshoot or diagnose my problem before I drop $2500 on a new tranny. I just replaced the tires, brakes, stabilizer bushings, radio, speakers and installed a remote starter this year. I really don't want to junk the car, it's in great shape.
Thanking all of you in advance for reading the long post, and for any advice you may have to give.
Before I get into the problem, I would like to go back a couple of months and a brief history, just in case these issues might be inter related.
First owners -- My wife bought the car new before we met, she had regular oil changes and service done, and since I took over it's been meticulously maintained (oil changes, tire rotation, brakes, air/cabin filter, etc) at all suggested intervals.
Car has been running fine for the last few years with no major issues. Back in June of this year, I was taking it through one of those high pressure automated car washes, when about halfway through the CEL came on and the car started "hiccuping" at idle and low speeds, which I eventually learned was a misfire. (I am assuming water got somewhere it shouldn't have) Turns out it was the ignition coil pack, got it replaced and the low idle/speed "hiccup" went away. After I got the car back, I noticed it now seemed to "hiccup/buck" or misfire at speeds of around 40-55, almost felt like it was gasping for air or gas. I noticed the CEL blink once or twice during the problem over a couple of weeks, but not the majority of the time. I was busy with work and was driving the car sparingly, and could not get it back to the shop for a few weeks. When I finally did take it back to where the coil pack was done, the code pull showed no errors, and the tech said he could not duplicate the problem. He probably didn't get on the highway like he said he did.
Of course, when I took it out on the highway going back home, the problem was still there so I figured I would go back in a few days and go for a ride with the tech, showing him the problem. That day never came.
The very next day, I was driving on a 2 lane highway doing around 45-50, my wife grabbed her bag from the back seat, and as she brought it forward knocked the gear shifter into N. I didn't notice it right away, and the engine revved to probably to 2 or 3k RPM. The car "coughed" and maybe "sputtered" but remained running, and as soon as I realized it was in N I let off the gas, shifted back into D and hit the gas again to pick up my speed. The result was nothing, it was as if I was still in N. I tried to push the gas up to 4k, but no drive whatsoever.
As I was now slowing down, I started getting over to the right, and was able to use momentum to pull into a strip mall parking lot. Turned the car off and back on again, tried shifting gears, and nothing. It wont shift into any gears, its almost as if the gear shifter isn't telling the car to change gears. I opened the hood to look for anything obvious, and apart from some minor smoke coming from the back left (passenger) of the engine compartment I didn't see anything strange. Checked the tranny fuild, and it was at full and clear pinkish in color.
**BTW I am assuming the smoke is coming from the minor oil leak from the pan hitting the cat, but not 100%
I got the car towed to a mechanic near my parent's house, who was unresponsive in looking at the car for a few days, and after some badgering simply told me it's the transmission and it needs to be rebuilt or replaced. He also said that pulling the CEL code points to a tranny problem. (I didn't know that's a valid code, can anyone confirm or deny?)
I plan on getting it re-towed to a different shop for a second opinion, but in the meantime:
My problem is I am not sure whether he actually spent any time diagnosing the problem. I had no prior symptoms pointing to an eventual transmission problem, the car always shifted into gear quickly, and changed gears smoothly while driving. I am thinking that knocking the gear into N from D at 45 mph did something to the computer or linkage or something, but I am not experienced enough to know exactly what it could be.
Was hoping one of you experts could help my troubleshoot or diagnose my problem before I drop $2500 on a new tranny. I just replaced the tires, brakes, stabilizer bushings, radio, speakers and installed a remote starter this year. I really don't want to junk the car, it's in great shape.
Thanking all of you in advance for reading the long post, and for any advice you may have to give.
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