Shift Point Road Test
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Sable and 2003 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
This test verifies that the shift control system is operating correctly.
- Bring engine and transaxle up to normal operating temperature.
- Operate vehicle with selector lever in (D) range.
- Apply minimum throttle and observe speeds at which upshift occurs and torque converter engages using the shift speeds chart.
- Stop vehicle and move selector lever to D range. Repeat Step 3. Transaxle will make all upshifts except 3-4 and torque converter clutch apply should occur above 39 km/h (24 mph).
- With vehicle speed above 39 km/h (24 mph), press accelerator pedal to floor, wide-open throttle (WOT). Transaxle should shift from third to second, or third to first, depending on the vehicle speed. The torque converter clutch should release.
- With vehicle speed above 48 km/h (30 mph), move the selector lever from D range to 1 range (LOW) and remove foot from accelerator pedal. Transaxle should immediately downshift to second gear. When vehicle speed drops below 24 km/h (15 mph), transaxle should downshift into first gear.
- If transaxle fails to upshift/downshift or TCC does not apply and release, refer to DIAGNOSIS BY SYMPTOM for possible causes.
NOTE:
Shift speed ranges are approximate for all applications.