Did he - with the engine running and the gearshift lever in park, with the parking brake on - open the hood and withdraw the automatic transmission dipstick, wipe the oil off it, and then insert the transmission dipstick all the way back in, withdraw it again, and thenmCHECK THE LEVEL, first?


Was it full or way down?

If way down, he should refill it but not OVER FILL it with factory recommended fluid.

Then try to drive it. If the fluid is brown and dirty and has never been verifiably changed it is a sign of neglect. Pinkish fluid is clean and does not smell.

If none of this works, he should take it to a good transmission shop or a GOOD and truthful Ford dealer for further diagnosis.


Or maybe he is a clueless typical driver that could know or care less, in which case he should go out and buy a brand new car and figure he got 9 years out of a 2001 Taurus and it is now toast and trade it in for $200 if he is lucky.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)