Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'96 Mercury
Sable, Automatic Transmission Problems
Q: I have a '96 Mercury Sable 3.0 Duratec
with an automatic transmission. It will not go into overdrive and the
computer reports a trouble code of P0761. If it's the solenoid, is this
easy to replace?
A: First
you have to define easy. Now it’s pretty easy for me to push the buttons
on the remote and threat my son for delivery of an adult beverage; I have
at least 80 lbs (which hasn’t turned completely to fat yet) on the boy.
The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) that your computer has reported can
mean there is a solenoid problem. Be aware there are other factors that
the computer has no knowledge of that can cause the DTC that your vehicle
has. ALLDATA Information System shows Article #98-10-7 addressing the
failure and replacement with an improved retainer clip in the valve body
of the transmission. Failure of the retainer clip will cause a DTC # P0761
and/or DTC # P0734 to be set in your vehicle’s computer and a loss of
4th gear. Today’s computers are sharp at what they do, but they can easily
be fooled. An hour of diagnostic time can save you 3 hours of labor servicing
a part that really has nothing wrong with it. By the way, if you have
not performed transmission work of this type set aside at least a day
or 2 for the job.
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