Door and trunk locks wo'nt work/turn with key

Am having same problem... one suggestion is the transmission range sensor per this other answer given on another site. Am ordering the part (seems to be OEM only)



Here is a technical service bulletin from Ford. It has the same symptoms as your car does. The problem is the transmission range sensor shorts out internally and when it does this it drops out the accesory voltage. It does this during cranking to save some power while cranking which has the most power draw. If you take notice to your car when you have your radio on or your wipers on they stop while cranking. I have fixed many of these vehicles that were doing the same thing yuors is by following the TSB and replacing the transmission range sensor. Here is the TSB.

Article No.
96-25-5


12/02/96

STEERING - CONTINUOUS REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN SHIFTING INTO "REVERSE" OR "DRIVE" - VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINE



STEERING - INTERMITTENT REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST - VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINE BUILT THROUGH 5/13/96



FORD:
1996 TAURUS



LINCOLN-MERCURY:
1996 SABLE



This TSB article is being republished in its entirety to revise the Service Procedure.

ISSUE:

There may be intermittent reduction in power steering assist during braking from 80 km/h (50 mph) on some vehicles. For this concern, the resolution may be a revision to the Generic Electronic Module (GEM) calibration.

On some other vehicles, there may be a continuous reduction in power steering assist when shifting into "Reverse" or "Drive." The customer may have noticed a loss of radio sound, power window and lock functions. For this 3.0L concern, the cause may be internal shorting of the Transmission Range (TR) sensor.

ACTION:

For those vehicles with intermittent reduction in power steering assist, refer to the following Service Procedure, Step 3.



For those 3.0L vehicles with continuous reduction in power steering assist when shifting into "Reverse" or "Drive," replace the TR sensor. Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.



SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Perform normal diagnostics for high steering efforts found in Section 11 of the 1996 Taurus/Sable Service Manual.



2. For a continuous reduction in power steering assist concern on 3.0L engines when the transmission is shifted into "Reverse" or "Drive," disconnect the harness connection from the TR sensor and retest. If the steering functions correctly, replace the TR sensor (-7F293-).



3. Perform diagnostics for the GEM, refer to the 1996 Taurus/Sable Service Manual, Section 18-04. Observe any codes that have been logged by the GEM. If no codes have been logged, and communication with the GEM functions properly, then replace the GEM with a revised GEM (-14B205-) which has a calibration adjustment. Refer to the 1996 Taurus/Sable Service Manual, Section 13 for replacement details.


PART NUMBER PART NAME

F7DZ-14B205-AB Generic Electronic Module (GEM)

F7DZ-14B2O5-BB GEM (Gulf coast country vehicles)

F5DZ-7F293-AA Transmission Range (TR) Sensor (8-Pin connector)

F6DZ-7F293-A Transmission Range (TR) Sensor (12-Pin connector)



Am having same problem... one suggestion is the transmission range sensor per this other answer given on another site. Am ordering the part (seems to be OEM only)

Here is a technical service bulletin from Ford. It has the same symptoms as your car does. The problem is the transmission range sensor shorts out internally and when it does this it drops out the accesory voltage. It does this during cranking to save some power while cranking which has the most power draw. If you take notice to your car when you have your radio on or your wipers on they stop while cranking. I have fixed many of these vehicles that were doing the same thing yuors is by following the TSB and replacing the transmission range sensor. Here is the TSB.
Article No.
96-25-5
12/02/96
STEERING - CONTINUOUS REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN SHIFTING INTO "REVERSE" OR "DRIVE" - VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINE

STEERING - INTERMITTENT REDUCTION IN POWER STEERING ASSIST - VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINE BUILT THROUGH 5/13/96

FORD:
1996 TAURUS

LINCOLN-MERCURY:
1996 SABLE

This TSB article is being republished in its entirety to revise the Service Procedure.
ISSUE:
There may be intermittent reduction in power steering assist during braking from 80 km/h (50 mph) on some vehicles. For this concern, the resolution may be a revision to the Generic Electronic Module (GEM) calibration.
On some other vehicles, there may be a continuous reduction in power steering assist when shifting into "Reverse" or "Drive." The customer may have noticed a loss of radio sound, power window and lock functions. For this 3.0L concern, the cause may be internal shorting of the Transmission Range (TR) sensor.
ACTION:
For those vehicles with intermittent reduction in power steering assist, refer to the following Service Procedure, Step 3.

For those 3.0L vehicles with continuous reduction in power steering assist when shifting into "Reverse" or "Drive," replace the TR sensor. Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.

SERVICE PROCEDURE
1. Perform normal diagnostics for high steering efforts found in Section 11 of the 1996 Taurus/Sable Service Manual.

2. For a continuous reduction in power steering assist concern on 3.0L engines when the transmission is shifted into "Reverse" or "Drive," disconnect the harness connection from the TR sensor and retest. If the steering functions correctly, replace the TR sensor (-7F293-).

3. Perform diagnostics for the GEM, refer to the 1996 Taurus/Sable Service Manual, Section 18-04. Observe any codes that have been logged by the GEM. If no codes have been logged, and communication with the GEM functions properly, then replace the GEM with a revised GEM (-14B205-) which has a calibration adjustment. Refer to the 1996 Taurus/Sable Service Manual, Section 13 for replacement details.

PART NUMBER PART NAME F7DZ-14B205-AB Generic Electronic Module (GEM) F7DZ-14B2O5-BB GEM (Gulf coast country vehicles) F5DZ-7F293-AA Transmission Range (TR) Sensor (8-Pin connector) F6DZ-7F293-A Transmission Range (TR) Sensor (12-Pin connector)