Won't shift into overdrive

[russ in VA]

My wife and I bought our MM last Monday. So far we have only rolled up about 400 miles and we are still disciplining ourselves not to stand on it till we hit 1000 and I change the oil. So far we love the car, but I am having a bit of a concern ... I've noticed that sometimes the transmission does not shift into overdrive (no, I do not have the button depressed). It only seems to happen after I have been "rowing my own" (manually selecting 2nd or 1st). I have also found that momentarily clicking it into neutral and then back into gear cause it to resume normal operation (drops right into overdrive).

Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions as to the culprit? I'm thinking that I may need the dealer to reflash the computer, if there is such a procedure for the tranny controller.

I would like to take the car to the Ford dealer instead of the Merc dealer since I know they have a great tech that handles all the SVT stuff and is a real gearhead (he drives a Lightining that runs low 12's). I am wondering if the Ford store will have everything needed to service the car though.

Any suggestion's?

Thanks,
Russ

[cutt]

the ford dealer will have everything that a merc dealer will,i know i was a merc tech back in 96' as far as the overdrive question you have to have your shift linkage adjusted.

[russ in VA]

linkage? Hmm, can you help me understand that? Seems to my hack mechanic mindset that this had to be some complicated computer control thing. Since it works in drive just fine, and the o/d is controled by the button, I can't picture how the linkage could be the culpit. I'm not arguing, but I can't visualize how this could be it.

[LincMercLover]

Only thing I could think of is the computer is thinking you're wanting to race, and is keeping the tranny out of overdrive. Why are you manually shifting it? I've only manually done mine once, and that was a first gear ride by a ricer neighboor I had. :D When I put it back in D it clicked right in. I don't know...

[cutt]

you will notice that somtimes it will not engage reverse.everybody's car does it those shift problems are related.it only out of adjustment a little thats why it seems to be in gear on the console but it out under the car.

[russ in VA]

I see what your saying. It is a little cantankerous going into reverse as well (have to push it foward against the stop). I guess clicking into N is doing the same thing for Drive (bumping the linkage forward). I still don't understand why it goes into Drive fine and not O/D, perhaps if it is barely where it needs to be it just needs that little extra to let it go to O/D?

As far as why shift it ... I am one of the few who would LOVE to have a stick shift in this car. Really, buying the Marauder is quite hypocritical of me because I have always preached that "I would rather eat worms than drive an automatic" (I saw that on the back of 66 mustang drag car with a 4-speed one time and I have been quoting it ever since!) Holding the car in 1st or 2nd allows me to be in the right gear when coming out of corner without waiting for the tranny to kick down. The handling of the car is what sold me on it, and being able to select your own gear in mid corner is critical to setting up a proper drift angle. My wife is really the HP freak in our family. I drive a miata, she sold her C5 Corvette 6 speed to buy the Marauder (needed to have at least one car with a back seat in the household).

Thanks for your input!

[mtnh]

NOt knowing any better, but knowing that the Lincoln LS auto has a feedback switch pack on the transmission for the shift position in all gears, I would say that these cars have something similar, and so that switch pack is reporting second gear to the Powertrain Control Module, even though the mechanical end of the transmission is (barely) in drive. It seems like a process problem in manufacturing, as many have reported (including myself) that the reverse selection is notchy at times. Experts say to have the linkage or cable adjusted by the dealer, a very quick procedure.

Have fun in your Marauder! And PS: I almost always row my own gears, whenever in the MM. (which is not often, it's my wife's daily driver, too. Luckily for me, I also drive a Lincoln LS 5-speed manual for my rowing pleasure)

Mike

[cyclone03]

Take it to the dealer.
I had the same problem,they'll adjust the shifter cable and all will be fine.