Vehicle - No Start, A/T Fluid Contamination: Overview

90ford23 Article No. 90-16-2
^ NO START - WILL NOT CRANK (INTERMITTENT) - WATER CONTAMINATION OF NEUTRAL START SWITCH - TOWN CARS BUILT BEFORE 1/20/90

^ TRANSMISSION - AOD - FLUID CONTAMINATION - TOWN CARS BUILT BEFORE 1/20/90

^ TRANSMISSION - AOD - LEAK AT VENT - TOWN CARS BUILT BEFORE 1/20/90

^ TRANSMISSION - AOD - NEUTRAL START SWITCH REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP
LINCOLN-MERCURY: 1990 TOWN CAR
ISSUE: In a small number of cases, an intermittent no crank condition may be caused by the neutral start switch. A carbon build-up, caused by water contaminated transmission fluid could form on the contacts of the neutral start switch. This happens because water enters the windshield wiper module and is funneled toward the transmission vent, causing its potential entry into the transmission.

ACTION: Inspect the transmission for evidence of water contamination and, if required, install a new neutral start switch and a rubber deflector to divert the water away from the transmission vent. Refer to the following procedure for service details.


NOTE: IF THE NEUTRAL START SWITCH IS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE NO CRANK CONDITION BY FOLLOWING THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES LISTED IN THE 1990 TOWN CAR SHOP MANUAL, SECTION 28-07, THEN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS PROBABLY CONTAMINATED AND MUST BE CHANGED.