Repair 7

My Taurus Transmission Wont Engage

The Ford Taurus automatic may have a stick shift lever on the steering column or it may have a gear shift in the floor. If the gears fail to engage, it could be a problem with the cable or something more serious in the transmission.

Main Reasons

The most likely cause of a stick shift lever failing to engage the automatic transmission will be the gear lever shift cable. The cable can snap over time or become disengaged. In the case of this type of occurrence, the only recourse is to replace the shift cable.

Floor Shift Models

In the case of floor shift models, the same thing can happen, but the cable is fixed in a different fashion. It will likely travel in a horizontal direction from the shift lever to the transmission. If the cable shows signs of resistance it may need a simple adjustment, but again, if snapping occurs, replacing it will be the only option.

Other Possibilities

If the gears will attempt to engage but fail, or you find that you can start your Taurus while it is in a gear other than park, you may need to take your car to an approved mechanic.