AOD not shifting..please help

[tomsteve]

well, i gotta say im glad i found this site. tons of great help here from the surfing i have done this morning. i am quite mechnically inclined but transmission are something i havent gotten into.
a riend bout an 87 crown vic with 5.0 and AOD trans. the car is actaully in very good shape. he had it over yesterday and we gave it a tune up and the engin purrs like a kitten. unfortunately there is a trans problem. witht he shifter in OD, i will go through the 1st 2 gears, but thats it. i tried to adjust the TV cable, even disconnected it to see what would happen and nothing has effected the shifting. the fluid is brown and doesnt smell too good. i know about enough about transmissions to know that those 2 things arent good. however, i am needing to know if there may be something i can look at before concluding that we need to pull the trans.
now, if it is a case that the trans needs to be pulled, we are goin through the options, which the 1st is a bone yard trans. so, if we go that route, are there certain AODS we should look for to replace it with?
any and all help is greatly appreciated. this is a younger man that bought the car. 1st real non hooptie for him. he really like it and i cant blame him. i went through and checked out the suspension, brakes, and electrical and it has been well taken care of( even the vinyl top is in excellent shape). just the trans has been ovrlooked( it seems that happens often).

[1972hiboy]

sounds like a power flush of all the nasty fluid and a pan drop to replace the in pan filter are in order. I would also make sure that everything is plugged into the transmission. Large connector on the passenger side is its main comunication between the electronics. also make sure the speed sensor is working. I.E the speedo work? just some easy things to check before condemming the trans

[Donnie]

Hello, Hi Boy is confusing your AOD with an AODE------you have an AOD ?---if so, there is a 90% chance that your direct clutches are history.
There are no computer inputs to the AOD to control shifting. The rod or cable controls the shift points along with the governor.
The other 10% (my estimate) would be the rivets in the converter have sheared off the damper and you are not connected to the 3rd drum..
either way it sounds to me like a rebuild or salvage unit is in order........There are others on here that may know more than me or have other opinions, but this is my guess based upon the information that you have given................Donnie

[1972hiboy]

Hello, Hi Boy is confusing your AOD with an AODE------you have an AOD ?---if so, there is a 90% chance that your direct clutches are history.
There are no computer inputs to the AOD to control shifting. The rod or cable controls the shift points along with the governor.
The other 10% (my estimate) would be the rivets in the converter have sheared off the damper and you are not connected to the 3rd drum..
either way it sounds to me like a rebuild or salvage unit is in order........There are others on here that may know more than me or have other opinions, but this is my guess based upon the information that you have given................Donnie

thanks for catching that. It would have caused some confusing I think

[tomsteve]

yeah, its an AOD and not an AODE. got a lot of options and thought about doin a flush and filter, but then if that didnt help, thered be a few $$$ he coulda put into a rebuilt/salvaged trans. he took off for for a weekend getaway( not in the car) and we are gonna hook up monday to go through the options. leaning towards a rebuilt at this time.

thanks all.