Transmission or Engine problem?? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

miles1078 · 10-17-2007, 14:49

I am not sure where to start with this...if it is multiple issues or one issue. I will start by saying that I have a 1994 Ford Taurus 3.0 V6...it has been shifting REALLY hard when shifting down to 2nd or lower gear. It gives a real hard jerks (twice - once for each gear it shifts down). I was driving today and all of a sudden the air bag light flashes on and off (you only see a yellow light flash real quick) as you see this light the engine revs itself down and you try to push on the gas and it won't go...the car is still moving just not allowing you to accelerate. I pull over and stop the car and then start back up (without turning it off or even putting it in park) and once you press on the gas it is ok again. It did this 3 times on a 5 mile trip when I reached my destination I turned the car off and figured I should roll up my windows since it looked like it was going to rain when I tried starting it the car was COMPLETELY DEAD - it didn't make a sound no dash lights came on. I came back out about 30 min later and tried to start it and put the key in turned it to start it and initially there was nothing and then all of a sudden it just started up. It did not "die" (rev down on my trip back to work) but again still shifted hard when slowing down. I made it all the way home after work with no issues (other than hard jerking when slowing down). The reving down thing did happen a couple days before that once on my way home. We assumed it was due to the alternator was going bad (since the batter light at that point kept coming on and going on periodically through my drive). But we replaced the alternator last night and then today is when the rev down thing was occuring...on the positive side though the battery light did not come on today so we took care of one issue. If you have any ideas, please help. I have a 4 year old that is in the car with me, not to mention 6.5 months pregnant and don't want to take the chance of something serious happening to us. PLEASE HELP!!! Thanks!

SHOZ123 · 10-18-2007, 10:03

Flashing waring lights is because the PCM relay is dropping out due to low voltage. When the loads drop out then the voltage rises enough to turn the PCM relay back on. This cause the waring lights to turn on and off.

Bad alternator or cables. If the battery was bad then you would not have been able to start the car in the first place as they seldom go bad while driving.

miles1078 · 10-18-2007, 17:35

Thank you so much for responding. I do appreciate it. I just have a couple of questions...where would the PCM relay be located on this car? Is there a way to test it to see if that is what is causing the issues? It was also suggested that it could be the ECM?? Is there something you suggest that we do in order to actually diagnose the true issue since it only happens on occasion? Would either the PCM or ECM be causing the shifting issues also or is that a separate issue that is occuring. Thanks again!

SHOZ123 · 10-18-2007, 23:43

I doubt if any one component is bad but rather the connectors. The PCM relay is in the CCRM.

**tbird100636** · 10-19-2007, 19:10

A note- the CCRM is located under the warning label shield , on the upper radiator support. It contains the PCM relay, the fuel pump relay, and the fan relays.

**tbird100636** · 10-19-2007, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbird100636

A note- the CCRM is located under the warning label shield , on the upper radiator support. It contains the PCM relay, the fuel pump relay, and the fan relays.

Check the negative bateery cable connections (At the battery, at the upper radiator support near the battery, the little two way connector coming off the negative cable, the engine ground by the starter.) Make sure none of them are loose.