Hello everyone.

I have a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis Ultimate Edition 4.6L automatic.

4 days ago the car would not climb a hill, it was whining like low power steering was low, then it started to not go into gear right. Then it wouldn't go into drive, 1, or 2 at all. Reverse was still good. It acted as if pump was being starved of fluid from filter.

So, I dropped the tranny pan and replaced filter and cleaned the magnet and new fluid back in. The car was totally different after that. It shifted great, it went right through the gears no hesitation. No slow engagement from park to drive. No loss of power. Like a brand new car.

It has never had a problem going in reverse.

Then this morning, I realized it took about 2 seconds to engage into drive from shifting out of reverse. It drove good though and shifted great.

On the way home though, I couldn't get it past 1st gear, then I couldn't get it to do any gear except reverse again.

The fluid is not low. It has no leaks.

I got it to drive to a relatives 20 miles away from my house, by shifting out of park straight to 1, then I listened and manually shifted from 1 to 2, then the same thing from 2 to D turning the overdrive off, then when I got to 45mph I turned the overdrive back on. It ran great as long as I kept it past 1 and 2.

One shop told me probably a selenoid, another told me a selenoid, a third shop told me linkage.

What are the odds the filter is clogged again?

Thinking of dropping the pan again, checking filter, possibly changing out selenoid.

What's your opinion and or advice?

Thanks.