Can it be saved??

[My Great 8]

Over the weekend, I bought my second Mark for $600. It's a 98 base with 131,000 miles. The air ride went out so the owner parked it. It was sitting for a year. When I went to pull away, it wouldn't go into gear. It goes right into reverse. After checking the fluid (full and red), I revved to about 3000 RPMs and went into gear. I drove it home 14 miles slammed to the ground but the trans was fine. Shifted like nothing was wrong. After I got it home, I had to do the same thing to get it to move forward. The previous owner claimed there was never a problem with the trans. Could there be a stuck solenoid or something? I know nothing about transmissions. The air ride had a bad drivers strut the burned out the compressor. After replacing both items, the car has stayed up without any issues. Any info you guys could provide would be greatly appreciated!

 

[thaywood]

Drain the case and torque converter and change the fluid and filter and see what happens. Make sure to use Mercon V. And make sure to clean all the metal shavings off that little donut magnet. If the fluid is still red, it should be fine. It may fix it, or it may not. Who knows. But it's the first thing I'd do.

 

[topher5150]

might be worth checking the springs and pistons while you got it apart too

 

[Green Machine]

heck, even if that tranny is bad, you stole that car for that price.

 

[My Great 8]

I didn't think I could go wrong. Both HID bulbs work. It is completely rust free and has never been in an accident or repainted. I will have my wife post pics when she gets home. Thanks for the advice.

 

[zmt325]

jmod it and clean the :q:q:q:q out of the valve body.i went as far as to pull the lower seperator plate and cleaned it. mercV is a must. your car sounds just like mine 100k bags went bad and was parked for 5 years. old lady owned

only difference is i payed 450 for mine

 

[My Great 8]

Thanks. Glad you also got a great deal.

 

[GMAN]

Great price to get a Gen 2 for if you can get it. It will no doubt need some work, but you can do it. If you need a full spring conversion kit, PM me I have three sets. I am looking into a 97 Mark right now in the same situation I am considering for my next project.

 

[My Great 8]

I already have it. Repaired the air risde with a driver's air strut and a compressor. The rack leaks badly and I have this trans issue. I am trying to find a trans shop that will clean it and do the J mod. Thanks for the offer GMAN. The CE is really shaping up nicely. Good luck with it!

 

[Green Machine]

I am trying to find a trans shop that will clean it and do the J mod.

Good luck with that. i cant find a tranny shop that will do a JMOD here too.
guess ill have to find a **shadetree mechanic that wants to attempt it. its a bit much for what i would want to attempt myself.

**dont start,.........its an expression..

 

[My Great 8]

I didn't think a 98 needed a Jmod. I'm hoping it just needs to be cleaned. It was fine when it was parked.....

 

[1bad4.6l]

:shifty: I would never start on that subject.................. Great deal man and good luck with the tranny. It should be the good tranny in your car. It almost sounds like the fluid is low or the pump is weak. Any shop that can do a tranny flush can usually tell you the pressure coming out of the tranny with their machine.

 

[1bad4.6l]

And all years can benefit from a j-mod. Your tranny has the updated springs and other things. Sorry I don't know the details.

 

[Daviddc114]

you got a great deal!! Now post some pics!!

 

[My Great 8]

Would love to post pics. I'm lucky I know how to get to this site let alone post pics! I am very bad with computers. If my wife gets home on time, pics will be posted later this evening. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to try a local trans shop that was recommended by a neighbor. I'll keep ya posted!

 

[Stangman]

Heck at least you can type and have great grammar! That alone makes us happy! lol

 

[My Great 8]

Here are the pics I promised...

 

[1bad4.6l]

Are you the one that replaced the headlights? Decent looking car although I would be worried about the collison history.

 

[98lincmk7lsc]

You're missing some lug nuts...other than that, and the dents, it looks really good.

 

[My Great 8]

For $600 I could care less about the collision history. The door dent is from someone backing into it with a trailer (so I'm told...). It is all original paint. The bumpers could a repaint though. The lugs are missing because the metal covers tore off. It doesn't move anyway. I'm sure I will find them in the junkyard. I didn't replace the headlights. I just cleaned them up with some rubbing compound.

 

[1bad4.6l]

I say that because they appear to have silver frost trim on them.

 

[My Great 8]

Naa, They're not perfect. Not crystal clear. I'm more concerned about making it move forward. Once it does, I will really detail it. I just washed and waxed it quick so it looks good in front of my house.

 

[98lincmk7lsc]

I say that because they appear to have silver frost trim on them.

I'm pretty sure that's just crappy chrome trim. That happens to them a lot.

 

[My Great 8]

If I keep it, I will have the chrome trim, grille, and taillights painted the color of the car. I hate the chrome!!

 

[1bad4.6l]

I didn't know that some second gens had chrome trim around the lights. It looks ridiculous. Should be color matched like the white one in the same pic.