The Lincoln Town Car was equipped with the 4R75E or 4R70W transmission. Earlier models were equipped with the AXOD/AX4N. But they aren’t without their problems though, so let’s look at some of the most common Lincoln Town Car transmission problems, look at cost estimates and figure out what you can do about them.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Lincoln Town Car Transmission Models
Lincoln Town Car: 4R75E / 4R70W Transmission (1996-Up)
Lincoln Town Car: AX4N/AXOD Transmission (1995-Down)
Lincoln Town Car Transmission Replacement Cost Estimate
Pricing varies by model. To be 100% sure on pricing, have your VIN# handy and use our Get An Estimate feature to look up your transmission by VIN#.
Replacement Lincoln Town Car Transmission Prices:
| Transmission | Street Smart Transmission |
|---|---|
| 4R75E/W 4R70W | 2025 |
What are the DTC codes related to Lincoln Town Car transmission problems?
| Trouble Code | Description |
|---|---|
| P0700 | Transmission Control System (MIL Request) |
| P0714 | Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit Intermittent P0715 |
| P0715 | Input/Turbine Speed Sensor Circuit |
| P0717 | Input/Turbine Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal |
| P0720 | Output Speed Sensor Circuit |
| P0721 | Output Speed Sensor Circuit Range/Performance |
| P0722 | Output Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal |
| P0730 | Incorrect Gear Ratio |
| P0731 | Gear 1 Incorrect Ratio |
| P0732 | Gear 2 Incorrect Ratio |
| P0733 | Gear 3 Incorrect Ratio |
| P0734 | Gear 4 Incorrect Ratio |
| P0766 | Shift Solenoid 'D' Performance or Stuck Off |
| P0781 | 1-2 Shift |
| P0782 | 2-3 Shift |
| P0791 | Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit |
| P0793 | Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal |
| P2703 | Transmission Friction Element D Apply Time Range/Performance |
Lincoln Town Car Transmission Recalls
None Found
Lincoln Town Car Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)
TSB 10-23-7 – Transmission Cooler Leak
2008 – 2011 Lincoln Town Car
Problem – It’s not uncommon for a transmission fluid leak to develop on the driver’s side transmission cooler tube
Solution – Replace transmission cooler core
TSB 13-4-23 – 4R75E Transmission – Grinding/Slipping/Loss of Reverse
2008 – 2011 Lincoln Town Car
Problem – Some vehicles may experience a grinding/whining noise, unusual vibrations, slipping, and potentially a loss of reverse gear, all resulting from a failure of the planetary gear assembly
Solution – Install planetary upgrade kit and new torque converter
Common Problems with the Lincoln Town Car Transmission
TCC Application in 2nd Gear – 4R75E Transmission / 4R70 Transmission
2005 – 2006 Lincoln Town Car
Problem – A lack of power after the 1-2 shift can be caused by an un-commanded torque converter clutch application / TCC apply. The P0742 and/or P1742 DTCs may also be stored.
Solution – The #7 check ball inside of the valve body may have worn down to an incorrect size, allowing the torque converter clutch to apply after the 1-2 shift. Replacement of this check ball may solve the problem.
Slipping in All Forward Gears – 4R75E Transmission
2005 – 2006 Ford 4R75E Transmission
Problem – Many 2005 – 2006 Ford vehicles equipped with the 4R75E transmission, may experience excessive slipping in all forward gears. Metal shavings may also be present in the transmission fluid.
Solution – Replace forward clutch drum and update ECU with program 06B06
Lack of Response
Leaking Fluid
Low Fluid
Burning Smell
Grinding or Shaking
Whining, Clunking or Humming
Refuses to Go Into Gear
Torque Converter Issues
Valve Body Issues
Transmission Noisy in Neutral
Gears Slipping
No 3rd or 4th Gear
No 1st or 2nd Gear
No Reverse
Dragging Clutch
Trouble Codes / Check Engine Light
Lincoln Town Car 3rd gear slipping
Although the Lincoln Town Car is a very reliable car, 2001 and later models equipped with the transmission 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission can have a number of shifting problems. For example, the Lincoln Town Car 3rd gear slip is often accompanied by a lack of engine braking when the transmission is manually shifted into the 2 position.
Cause of most Lincoln Town Car 3rd gear shift problems
The above Lincoln Town Car shifting problems are usually caused by a failed overdrive servo retaining snap ring or a broken overdrive servo ‘E’ clip. If this happens, all of those little broken pieces make their way into the overdrive servo regulator valve, which will prevent the overdrive band from fully applying. If you decide to just have the transmission rebuilt, the overdrive servo regulator valve assembly will have to be removed from the valve body and any damage caused by the debris will need to be repaired. This step is often overlooked by most mechanics and can lead to more transmission problems in the future. However, if you opt for a reman Lincoln Town Car transmission from a company like Street Smart Transmission, you can rest assured that this very important step won’t be overlooked.
How much is it going to cost to fix my 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission?
Unfortunately, the problem described here will require the removal and disassembly/partial disassembly of your transmission. Given the labor time involved to remove the transmission from the vehicle (this is not a simple task), most repair shops will recommend that you go ahead and rebuild the entire transmission while it’s out. Since they already have to tear it down to replace the 4R70W/4R70E or 4R75E transmission, it sort of makes sense to spend the extra money to do that. After all, you should get a lot more mileage out of your transmission once it’s rebuilt. And since they’ve already got the transmission apart, might as well, right?
Can I drive with a transmission problem?
If your Lincoln Town Car can still make it up and down the road, you might say “It’s fine, I’ll just drive it until I can get it fixed”. But that is not always a good idea, depending on the symptoms. You see, there are a lot of (very expensive) moving parts inside of a transmission, and if something isn’t right, continuing to drive with a transmission problem could damage something else.
How often does a Lincoln Town Car transmission need to be replaced?
The overall lifespan of a Lincoln Town Car transmission largely depends on how well it was maintained. Factory design flaws also factor into this equation, along with how/how hard you drive. But on average, we’ve seen the Lincoln Town Car transmission last for between 130,000-180,000 miles. A high quality replacement transmission however, can last considerably longer if all of the factory design flaws have been addressed and the vehicle has been maintained.
How are Lincoln Town Car transmission issues diagnosed?
It is fairly easy to guesstimate what the root cause of your Lincoln Town Car transmission problems might be, but you won’t truly know unless you have the right tools and experience. A good mechanic or transmission repair center will be able to connect your truck to a computer and find out which diagnostic trouble codes (DTC’s) have been stored. Once they know what to look for, they can perform a visual inspection to verify the problem.
How is a Lincoln Town Car transmission replaced?
In order to replace your Lincoln Town Car transmission, the truck has to be lifted from the ground in order to gain access to all of the parts that will need to be unbolted. Then the transmission can be lowered to the ground (typically with a transmission jack), so the new transmission can be installed. Once it is in place, for the 6L80, the vehicle PCM will have to be reprogrammed / reflashed to accept the new transmission using the latest GM subscription.
Recommendations for Lincoln Town Car transmission issues?
To save time and get back on the road faster, have your 17-digit truck VIN# handy and you can get an online quote for a reman Lincoln Town Car transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you.
How to Solve Lincoln Town Car Transmission Problems
Solution A: Buy a Used Lincoln Town Car Transmission
The quickest way to fix your transmission problems is to simply buy a used transmission or used transmission. These can be found at most junk yards, and they often come with a 30-90 day warranty. However, there’s no way to determine the actual condition of the internal components, so you could be spending a bunch of money to have the exact same problems. Plus, that warranty only covers the transmission if it’s defective, not the labor costs that you’ll have to pay.
Solution B: Buy a Rebuilt Lincoln Town Car Transmission
Another option would be a rebuilt transmission or rebuilt transmission. A local repair shop will remove your transmission, then install a bunch of new parts during the rebuild. The problem here is, the skills and experience of each transmission rebuilder will vary widely from shop to shop, so you could have problems from something that wasn’t adjusted properly. And the 1-2 year warranty might only cover you at certain transmission repair shops, in a specific geographical area.
Solution C: Buy a Remanufactured Lincoln Town Car Transmission
Many owners depend on their vehicle to commute and get things done. Their gasoline engines are designed to go 100’s of thousands of miles, so it makes sense to invest in a remanufactured transmission.
What Transmission Do I Have?
What Problem Does Your Lincoln Town Car Have?
Let us know the year, mileage and problem you’re having as well as any trouble (OBD) codes you’ve found. If you’ve been given a quote or paid for a repair, we’d like to hear about that too!
In the drive gear, the engine revs, and finally the car will take off. Reverse gear back up no problem.
I was told I have an electrical problem –
It jumps out of overdrive into neutral.
My 97 lincoln towncar drives perfect then it jolts/lerches and the overdrive light starts flashing. Starts to go into limp mode sputters then jumps back into driving normal. Sometimes the check engine light comes on for a day or so after that.
1st gear slow to engage
I am considering buying a 1989 Lincoln Town car that is super clean . It says it has 33,000 miles but new transmission at 30,000 miles. It had been in storage. Should I be concerned about buying the car? A new transmission at that mileage a freak thing, or a warning? Thanks
Transmission speed sensor went out it was hard finding the sensor from the auto store that had the actual gear on it or wheel that goes on the sensor since then replaced it twice replace the vehicle speed sensor and the crank sensor it was driving fine up until I put a different sensor because it auto store said that was the new remake of it since then it’s lost fluid will only drive in reverse and now I’m at a standstill
1998 Lincoln Town car with the 4.6 engine seems like it’s just stuck in neutral doesn’t want to go
If I shift into the normal overdrive setting, the car will stop moving at about 40 Mph. The car will run in Drive, but the engine sounds like it’s racing at higher speeds
2005 Lincoln town car signature. Transmission, it take a few moments for it to build pressure for it to shift into gear.after it has shifted into gear it is fine.but if you come to a stop it does the same thing and if you turn a corner.
I bought a used transmission to put in my 1999 Town car it looks like the same transmission but it has an extra sensor in the tail housing like where the speedometer cable would normally go on a conventional speedometer I have no plug to plug that sensor in when I’m in park or neutral my engine will rev up fine once I put it in gear I have no acceleration I’m getting a code I’m only getting one code on my scanner P1451
You might have the wrong transmission. Junk yard do this and say it will be fine. I recommend you look up the exact transmission needed for your car.there are usually a few different versions of transmission. Dont substitute and dont let the junk yard talk you into a different same car same replacement and version of it there are usually 2 to 3 of them
When driving away from standstill car engages rough and shaky and then shifts into second and does not engage so just revs then when you tap the gas a couple of time shoots in an engages. All other gears work well, this mainly happens when I turn a 90 degree corner at slow speeds and hit the gas again wont move forward
No reverse everything else works fine
Transmission is out replace it reverse is allways a good indicator to change it when it goes out. Because the transfer case is probably got a problem. It is usually pricey to replace that part.