2000 Mercury feels like washboard road! - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Corncurl · 03-14-2011, 14:02

Car is running smoothly, but now and then it feels like we ran over about 5 ridges on a washboard road! Does it more at low speeds, and when the air conditioner is on. What the heck is that? Do we have tranny problems or what? Where do we start looking? Are we about to be stranded on the road? Help! and Thanks!
(Grand Marquis LS with 120K miles)

**jwko** · 03-14-2011, 14:25

I had a Ford Taurus that did the same thing you are describing. It only did it with the AC on and at lower speeds. It felt like the transmission was slipping just as it tried to shift into overdrive. Took it to the dealer and was told it was the torque converter lockup solenoid was kicking in and out. They made an adjustment to the computer and all was fine after that.

**Bert** · 03-14-2011, 16:09

Take it to O'Reilly's or Autozone and they'll check codes for free.

KevGM · 03-16-2011, 06:46

Washboard feeling is classic “transmission shudder”. Not saying this is the issue for sure – but I’d suspect a transmission issue. Could very well just be fluid and/or filter related. Check the level according to proper procedure. When was the last time the ATF was changed along with the filter? At ten years old and 120K, it's well overdo for a change if it is the original.