1992 Lincoln - engine starts fine but car needs push to move when cold

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Tom Zimoski - 01 Jan 2004 00:39 GMT

I work at the public library in Fresno, Calif. and am trying to help a
regular customer with an auto repair question.

He's working on a 1992 Lincoln Executive with a 3.8 liter V6 engine.
He says that although the engine starts fine when cold the car won't
move unless it's pushed. Parking headed down a slope is effective but
not always possible.

After "it" warms up the problem disappears. He suspects that there
might be a malfunctioning sensor of some sort rather than a more
fundamental problem with the transmission.

In our troubleshooting books I have not found anything about this
particular scenario and will be greatful for any suggestions you might
have about what to look for.

Tom Zimoski/Fresno County Library

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L0nD0t.$t0we11 - 01 Jan 2004 01:14 GMT

Roughly 12/31/03 16:39, Tom Zimoski's monkeys randomly typed:

> I work at the public library in Fresno, Calif. and am trying to help a
> regular customer with an auto repair question.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> might be a malfunctioning sensor of some sort rather than a more
> fundamental problem with the transmission.

Will make the presumption that fluid level and condition has
been checked. Will make further assumption that the fluid
level has NOT been changed lately by adding fluid. If false,
probably got air in there.

I dunno of any temp sensor that prevents transmission moving
the vehicle in first gear when the vehicle is cold. There
typically are sensors that prevent shifts into overdrive
when either cold or overheated, but never heard of one that
prevents movement at low temp.

Once it warms up, does the transmission shift thru all of the
gears properly [including locking up the torque convertor]
or does it by any chance appear to skip a gear or so.

Is reverse effective when cold?

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Fan of the dumbest team in America.

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Robert Hancock - 01 Jan 2004 09:03 GMT

I'm not familiar with this particular transmission, but generally the only
things electronically controlled are the line pressure (shift firmness) and
shifting between gears. Shifting into drive is basically just
mechanical/hydraulic.

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Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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> I work at the public library in Fresno, Calif. and am trying to help a
> regular customer with an auto repair question.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Tom Zimoski/Fresno County Library

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Joe - 06 Jan 2004 01:12 GMT

>I work at the public library in Fresno, Calif. and am trying to help a
>regular customer with an auto repair question.

Check the fluid level first... Make sure to check it properly
according to the manual (usually trans warm and engine running, but I
don't know this car.)

Short of low fluid the only thing I can think of that would cause this
problem would be an internal trans failure. Most likely a seal that
doesn't when it is cold and then does once it warms up and gets
pliable again.

Steve B.

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jdonline - 07 Sep 2007 03:42 GMT

The only thing that I can think of is that the fluid level are probably low.
Outside of that I'm sort of blank. Hope all goes well for y'all.

Autopart Locater
Mobile, AL
www.qaparts.com

>>I work at the public library in Fresno, Calif. and am trying to help a
>>regular customer with an auto repair question.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Steve B.

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