Home » Mercury » Troubleshooting » 1996 Mercury Sable

1996 Mercury Sable Support Question

Find answers below for this question about 1996 Mercury Sable.
Need a 1996 Mercury Sable manual? We have 1 online manual for this item!

Mercury Overview Questions Manuals Reviews Videos Research

Question posted by stephaniegilmore208 on September 4th, 2012

Possible Transmission Troubles

When Driving my 96 Mercury Sable, the RPM needle races and the car slows down. When I take my foot off the accelerator it will kick into gear and drive.I was told it may be an o-ring issue. But after it was fixed I was told that the oil screen was clogged and oil was not getting to the engine. This only happens when I drive for an extended period of time. I also read that this may just be the Vehicle Speed Sensor?

I Know the Answer!

I have the same question
Request More Information

Current Answers

Answer #1: Posted by roadrunnertim on September 4th, 2012 8:53 PM

This answer was accepted by the poster of the original question.

roadrunnertim

Member since:
May 9th, 2012

Points: 1,071,190

1,120
points

Check the transmission fluid level. You check the fluid level in park with the car running. Make sure you warm it up for a few minutes before checking the fluid level. A low tranny fluid level would make it act up the way you described. If it's low, add fluid to the correct level and see if that helps.

If the fluid is at the correct level, then check the color and smell of the fluid on the dipstick. If it is red and doesn't have a burnt smell, then the fluid is okay. If it is brown or smells burnt, then you need to flush the tranny fluid.

A dirty transmission filter could also be the problem. If all else fails, replace the filter and flush out the old fluid.

Answer #2: Posted by Starman082 on September 4th, 2012 8:20 PM

Starman082

Member since:
January 27th, 2012

Points: 15,710

110
points

Could it be a transmission speed sensor? Possibly (if equipped)

Your 2nd paragraph about the o-ring and engine oil sounds like a completely different issue from the symptoms you are experiencing.

I do know for sure that these specific year Sables have a high transmission failure rate, and unfortunately it is common. It sounds like your transmission is possibly slipping. In other words when you press on the gas, the car revs up with no feeling of it speeding up, only the RPMs go up, and it's not until you take your foot off the gas that it seems like it goes back into gear at a lower rpm.

Related Manual Pages

Owner's Manual - Page 3

... Information ...1 Safety Restraints ...9 Starting Your Sable ...61 Warning Lights and Gauges ...73 Instrument Panel Controls ...91 Steering Column Controls ...115 Features ...125 Electronic Sound Systems ...169 Driving Your Sable ...191 Roadside Emergencies ...217 Customer Assistance ...235 Reporting Safety Defects ...243 Accessories ...247 Servicing Your Sable ...255 Quick Index ...335 Index...

Owner's Manual - Page 4

It is the continuous commitment to achieve the best result possible. Our Guiding Principles u Quality comes first. u You are a team. u Employee involvement is essential to our success. We must be our number one another with care, ...

Owner's Manual - Page 9

...hazard which will or can cause severe personal injury or death if the warning is ignored. See Engine oil recommendations in " oils. The signal word on your vehicle to indicate the presence of hazard and is ignored. u CAUTION:...: u DANGER: Used to indicate the presence of engine oil that Ford recommends. Safety Labels There are labels, decals and tags on the label tells you about...

Owner's Manual - Page 66

... the gearshift is latched in N (Neutral). Further, on hot, sunny days temperatures in your vehicle. They could quickly become high enough to cause severe and possibly fatal injuries to people as well as animals. 63 RWARNING Before you do not take these precautions, your vehicle in P (Park). Do not park your...

Owner's Manual - Page 70

...). To turn the heater on, simply plug it into a grounded 110-volt outlet. Have the vehicle checked. RWARNING If the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, do not allow your vehicle in tall, dry grass, or other damage to the vehicle and may...

Owner's Manual - Page 83

... control of the six manual overrides. Automatic operation Press the AUTO button and select the desired temperature. The AUTO temperature display 98 Normally not all possible displays and their positions are included here to achieve the set temperature. The EATC will need no additional attention. The display window The display window...

Owner's Manual - Page 108

... not need to have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible. If the light turns on and off on when you are driving, have your vehicle towed in . An example of fuel...engine or catalytic converter. Avoid heavy acceleration and have your vehicle towed in . After refueling, the Service Engine Soon Warning Light will then set a Diagnostic Trouble Code indicating that the engine is ...

Owner's Manual - Page 145

... or replacing your windshield wiper blades, see Windshield washer fluid and Wipers in a collision, possibly injuring you use the washer fluid. Hazard Flasher Using the hazard flasher switch 118 RWARNING In...and others. This may freeze on the windshield and obscure your nearest Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Do not try to clean the windshield when the washer fluid container is empty...

Owner's Manual - Page 150

...speed, use the accelerator pedal to help your speed decreasing even if you "tap" the switch, the set . Release the switch when the vehicle slows down to decrease... in increments of the COAST switch will decrease by any of the following procedures: u COAST - Press and hold the COAST switch. You may notice your vehicle maintain the selected speed when driving...

Owner's Manual - Page 151

...control is 55 mph (88 km/h) 5 taps of the following procedures: u ACCEL - Press and hold the SET ACCEL u Depress the accelerator pedal. vehicle attains the desired speed, press the SET ACCEL switch and release it at least 30 mph (50 km/h). Multiple taps will ...RESUME switch, as long as you "tap" the switch, the set speed by 1 mph (1.6 km/h). You must be driving at 60 mph (96 km/h).

Owner's Manual - Page 218

...) Your automatic overdrive transaxle provides fully automatic operation in either j (Overdrive) or D (Drive). For manual control, start in j (Overdrive) gives the best fuel economy for normal driving conditions. Driving with the shift selector in 1 (First) and then shift manually. 191 Driving Your Sable Your vehicle will have one of the following types of transaxles: u an...

Owner's Manual - Page 220

...replacing fuses. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL YOU VERIFY THAT THE BRAKELAMPS ARE WORKING. Using a column-mounted gearshift If your gearshift is possible that a fuse has ...blown and that your brakelamps may also not be functional. Please refer to shift out of P (Park) by using the alternate procedure described above, it is on the column, you can use the accelerator...

Owner's Manual - Page 224

...engine off and remove the ignition key. Please refer to the first position (OFF). DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL YOU VERIFY THAT THE BRAKELAMPS ARE WORKING. 197 If the gearshift lever CANNOT ... is equipped with the brake pedal depressed: 1. 2. 3. This feature is active when the ignition is possible that a fuse has blown and that your brakelamps may also not be moved from the P (Park)...

Owner's Manual - Page 240

... are available through Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealers. Your vehicle does not come from the factory fully equipped to Tow in this chapter.) while you tow. (See Driving while you tow in this chapter...and the good of the vehicle and could result in this chapter.) u Use extra caution when driving your vehicle u Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. (See Servicing your ...

Owner's Manual - Page 241

...Also, make your vehicle easier to your vehicle, use hitches that clamp onto your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Do not use the right equipment for the type of your vehicle. Using the hitch ...However, the tongue load should be on the tongue. Tire failure, loss of vehicle control, and possible injury to 15% of the loaded trailer's weight should never exceed 10% of the maximum weight ...

Owner's Manual - Page 249

... load rating listed on this tire. u load your vehicle so that you drive with this tire. u drive through an automatic car wash with the temporary spare tire, DO NOT: u exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) under any other type of the vehicle and possibly injure yourself or others. Your vehicle may have a high pressure temporary...

Owner's Manual - Page 263

... experience as easy and pleasant as possible. There is a detailed description of vehicle sounds (noises) that can service your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. To obtain information about reimbursement... If You Have a Service Problem Ford Motor Company has authorized Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships that are often associated with when the problem started to make your dealership ...

Owner's Manual - Page 282

... that This chapter tells you about the basic parts that you can be serviced. Servicing Your Sable Service Made Easy Ford has two goals for the proper operation of your vehicle. the headlamp ...bulbs - that you perform the Owner Maintenance Checks listed in u When possible, we design parts that do -it-yourself items in yellow in the Maintenance Schedule and Record...

Owner's Manual - Page 316

...distributed. u Make sure the weight of your load is dangerous and creates the possibility of loss of vehicle control which may result in all your tires may also result...components, creating a risk of failure and potential loss of vehicle control. Furthermore, driving too fast for conditions is evenly u Drive at very high speeds for at least one hour or has been driven less than...

Owner's Manual - Page 317

... is dangerous and could cause loss of vehicle control or breakdown of vehicle control. Driving too fast under -inflated tires can affect vehicle handling and can fail suddenly, possibly resulting in the glove compartment. RWARNING Over- Consistent high-speed driving RWARNING Ford Motor Company recommends obeying the posted speed limits. or under certain...