I have a 1999 Sable Wagon with 48K miles and the 24 valve Duratec motor.

I heard that that one of the weak spots of the Taurus/Sable platform was the transmission.
Is this true?
What normally fails?
Is there a TSB that would help me extend the life of transmission?

Are there any tricks to making the transmission last?

 

I am not sure if youre slipping or not already but I was slipping for a little bit (2002 duratec dohc 118k) and i used Lucas Oil Stop Slip and its been strong ever since, make sure you put it in when the engine is warm and running, its avail at pep boys for about $12 but its very very worth it, i havent had any problems since

 

Change the transmission fluid oftener than recommended. Every 2 years is good.

Some people here will scream at me. And what I am about to state is a discussion for another thread.

Gravity drain from bottom versus pump drain from above with machine.

Years ago, most repair shops were sold an expensive machine that sucks the transmission fluid out from top. And the sales pitch was wonderful - this machine gets all of the fluid. And many shops do not change filter or pan gasket. Some do - but doing both is much more expensive. Remember - these shops paid big bucks for these machines - and they all have to recoup that investment - so they all "push" the "flush" or "machine" type of fluid replacement. These shops have to get their money back - and have to use the machine to get money back - and they will jump, dance, yell, threaten - to get the customer to use the "flush" or "machine". They will tell you that gravity drain is for dummies. Bullcrap.

I only do a gravity drain with new filter and gasket. Period. No machine enters my transmission. And yes, I had one Ford transmission fail just after the "machine" method. Granted it was an older vehicle - but transmission worked fine before the "flush" (machine). So no more machines (flush) on any of my automatic transmissions.

Oh, they state that using gravity doesn't get all the fluid. Granted. But I recommend changing transmission fluid much more often then recommended.

So no fluses or machines for my automatic transmissions. None. No. Not going to happen. Just a gravity drain with new filter and gasket. Period. And do it more often than manual states.

What wears out an automatic transmission? Well, one is that the transmission design is poor. Another is if it was manufactured correctly at factory. But assuming the design and manufacturing was correct - then customer usage. If you live in snow country and get caught in a snow bank - never "rock" the car using the transmission. This will overheat the transmission and burn it out prematurely. Join AAA and get towed out and don't wreck your transmission.

Towing will do the same. Don't tow heavy trailers. Towing will strain the transmission and may overheat transmission. Towing is for trucks - not cars.

Kids: Young people can and may abuse any automatic transmission. So if you are a parent - well - good luck.

 

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Thanks for the info guys but it dosen't help.
The trans is currently in good condition so I don't have to add the Lucas stuff.

My experience with trans flushes - powered and drain - has been horrible so I will not do that again.
I had a 1997 Audi that went over 250K miles and I never touched the transmission.

I changed the oil in the car a few days ago and saw that there was a bright red sticker on the trans that instructed the mechanic to call Ford before working on a defective trans up to sometime in 1999 so it looks as if Ford did have something wrong about that time.

dose anyone know what it was?

 

I have never heard anything like that before. The sticker might have something to do with the original warranty. These cars are not known for having tranny problems, so, if you're not having problems now, then you probably don't have anything to worry about. Change your tranny fluid and filter every 25K; don't tow a trailer with your car and you most likely will never experience a tranny problem.