First hi everyone. Second I would like to explain my tranny problem I have a 99 atx cougar V6 w 181k miles, I started getting 1st and second gear shifts very smooth then it would kick to neutral. After changing the trans fluid it wouldn't engage in D it would stay in Neutral after about 2 days it started engaging in D and now its fine can somebody tell me if this is a warning and to start saving for a new tranny or what can I do to save it?

Replace the valve body ... with 181K miles, it's completely worn out. That should get a few more miles, but eventually, you should have a full rebuild.

Check the MLPS and associated cables underneath the shifter.

MLPS change.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=1040336&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

The tranny shift lever cable is below the car.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=1116780&Forum=trouble&Words=shift%20lever&Match=And&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=3months&Main=1116416&Search=true#Post1116780

and from Autozone.
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/d3/97/0900823d801bd397.jsp

Great advice from both of those fella's, but also remember to recheck your tranny fluid. If something that drastic happens, right after changing the fluid, most likely it is from the fluid level being too low. So double check that.

If you can verify that your fluid level is good, when hot, then I agree that you need to start looking into at least a valve body and the other items listed by Tony.

Also, if you do change out your valve body at any point and time, check out www.axiom.com . They have really good prices on rebuilt vavle bodys that are rock solid. Quite a few around here have purchused one from them, Lord knows I will when and if I have to rebuild my tranny again.

Best of luck and welcome aboard!

..oh yeah, welcome .

thanks guys I was thinking of selling the cougar but I'll try replacing the MLPS and I hope that does the trick I was thinking of upgrading it to a 3.0 later but since it started giving me problems and nobody help me in newcougar.org they just told me to talk to you guys I was thinking of getting rid of it but I guess I stay a cougar owner ...... Thanks again and I will keep you posted