Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting tranny trouble

I just bought a 98 contour with V6 and auto tranny. When I test drove it there were no problems. Now I'm having shifting problems. It seems to randomly shift gears ,then sometimes it will shift out completely. Sometimes it does this right away, and sometimes it takes a few miles.I made sure the fluid was at the correct level (and it was). The most recent thing I tried was a trick from old cars. I put the gear shifter between 2 and drive. I've only done a 10 mile loop, but there were no problems. Does this sound like a linkage problem or could it still be something like the valvebody in the tranny? Any suggestions would be great.

On top of the tranny close by the pan, there is a sensor. It has quite a large plug on it. In sure that this sensor is aligned correctly when in park and drive. It connects to the console in the car via the gear selector.
Can't remeber what the sensor is called.

MLPS or manual lever position sensor. It is more likely a bad sensor than one that is out of adjustment.

Also check the VSS or vehicle speed sensor.

Thanks Big Jim, MLPS is what I was trying to get at.
The trans sounds like one of these two symtoms is at fualt.

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

Would the mlps give me a trouble code? My check engine light is on. Now I don't know how long the light has been on (because I just bought the car.) And I don't have an OBDII scanner yet. I'll be taking it to the shop this week. Thanks for the help!