Hi,

I hope somebody here can help me with this.

I have a 1994 Mercury Cougar 4.6 V8 with the 4R70W and 160,000 miles. The transmission is original and has not been rebuilt.

Yesterday I backed out of a parking spot, stopped, put the car in 'D' and drove off. I heard the engine revving really high and when I looked it was around 3,0000 rpms. I stopped in a parking lot, cycled through the transmission selections several times and drove off. It didn't fix it. So as it stands my car does the following:

* I have only one 'D' gear. In that gear 45mph is about 2600 rpms and 50 mph is about 2900 rpms.

* If I am driving in 'D' and at 45 mph and I shift into '2' or '1' nothing changes. The RPMs don't change and neither does the speed.

* If I press the 'O/D off' button while driving nothing changes. The RPMs don't change and neither does the speed.

* I can still put the car into park, reverse and neutral with no noticeable problems or differences.

I checked the fluid today after she sat overnight and it was at the right levels. It appeared to be the right color and I did not notice any specs of debris in the fluid.

Before this the only problem that I had started about 7 months ago and it was that I would put the car in drive and I would have to rev her up a bit before she'd move. It only happened when she was cold and I had heard about the fluid pressures in the AOD-Es being finicky so I thought nothing of it. I would back out of a spot when she was cold, put her into drive and apply a little throttle and wait a few seconds and then its like the transmission would 'take' and she'd begin to move.
Also for the last two weeks or so I couldn't start my car when it was parked. I'd turn the key and nothing. I would then shift from 'P' to 'N' and back up to 'P' and then I could start my car. Today I had that problem and just to see I started her in 'N.' I turned her off, placed her in 'P' and she started up again.

I have done some checking and think it can be one of four things: EPC Solenoid, Throttle Valve adjustment, Shift linkage adjustment or unfortunately Overdrive band has died.

What do you think it could be? Am I missing something here? I'm really hoping it isn't a costly rebuild I need.

I appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks,

Adrian