# Bad Ground? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mercury, sable\ **Created:** [January 7, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666 "2011-01-07T19:39:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![captain\_biello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@captain\_biello](https://community.cartalk.com/u/captain_biello)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/1 "2011-01-07T19:39:28Z")
I have a 1997 Mercury Sable. It has some interesting problems. When I shift into reverse, I lose my power steering, radio, power windows and rear defroster. At least that is how it started. Now It happens all the time, in drive, well it flickers on and off… When I shift back into neutral or park, my stuff works again. I can hear a clicking sound from the dash but I think it is just the seat belt idiot light popping on and off. The power steering is obviously trouble, as it goes off and on while I am driving. The other stuff is not as troubling but I feel that it is all connected. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/2 "2011-01-07T19:55:48Z")
First check the belt. ---
**Author:** ![JayWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@JayWB](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JayWB)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/3 "2011-01-07T19:58:16Z")
Then check the fluid. ---
**Author:** ![DfromSD](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dfromsd/32/1669_2.png) [@DfromSD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DfromSD)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/4 "2011-01-07T20:27:20Z")
The only thing out of all those that isn’t electric is your PS. Sounds like a serpentine belt. ---
**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/5 "2011-01-07T22:11:43Z")
From many years ago I vaguely remember someone with similiar problems & it turned out to be a defective TRS/transmission range selector. This made no sense to me, but what do i know. Is your power steering variable assist? Try googling “Ford transmission range sensor problems.” Could also be called “digital transmission range sensor.” Try searching on both. ---
**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/6 "2011-01-08T01:21:35Z")
Here you go & it looks like all you need to do to fix this is replace the TRS. See this link [http://fordforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=44041](http://fordforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=44041) ---
**Author:** ![captain\_biello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@captain\_biello](https://community.cartalk.com/u/captain_biello)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/7 "2011-01-08T01:31:15Z")
Thanks! This was killing me! I have been reading all these posts…it sounds like it for sure. Like a gremlin in there…🙂 Chris ---
**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 7:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/8 "2011-01-08T07:28:38Z")
Glad I could help & good luck with the repair. Keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![captain\_biello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@captain\_biello](https://community.cartalk.com/u/captain_biello)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/9 "2011-01-09T18:44:47Z")
I am going to a friends this evening after work to replace the part. Any tips? Should I be in park or neutral? Chris ---
**Author:** ![captain\_biello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@captain\_biello](https://community.cartalk.com/u/captain_biello)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/10 "2011-01-10T14:34:26Z")
Monday morning and all is well! My car is driving better then it was before! It was an easy fix 🙂 Thanks for your help! Respectfully, Chris ---
**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/11 "2011-01-10T16:41:47Z")
Good deal & i’m glad that worked out for you. Thanks for the update. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/12 "2011-01-10T16:55:07Z")
This was a real strange one alright. Good score on that link 87 Ranger. ---
**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-ground/59666/13 "2011-01-10T22:31:42Z")
Thanks Cougar and you’re right this was a strange one. I dont have diagrams for a 97 Sable, but i did take a look at the diagrams for my 97 Explorer & sure enough with car in park or neutral the TRS does feed a ground to the “neutral sense input” pin of the GEM. The GEM thinks the car is cranking & kills power to most everything else. Who’d a thunk it.