Ford Escape XLT v6, 2002
Before Failures occurred, O/D light would flash at high speeds while it was working, and the check engine light was on almost permanently.
Vehicle ran smoothly and fine till one day at a stop light it was time to go and our drive would not engage. Reved engine multiple times to see if it would engage and it did and would engage Intermittently, but not reliably.
Intermittent engagement of all gears.. When failure happened we checked the codes using an OBD tool, and it came back with a p1744 code, (torque converter clutch stuck in the off position.)
Sometimes at high rpm's vehicle will engage in drive reverse 1 and 2, and sometimes at low rpm's it will engage in drive reverse 1 and 2, when it engages it NEVER shudders or clunks the car....it is smooth. When it does work it works normally, for only perhaps a few minuet or untill switching gears or pressing brakes. Most of the time it feels like it is in Neutral while revving the engine.

First we changed out the tranny fluid, and no improvement in performance.
Second we replaced the Transmission solenoid valve body assembly, this also did not affect the shifting or performance. BUT IT DID remove the check engine light.
We are doing all the work ourselves, we cannot REPEAT! cannot afford a transmission rebuild or expensive transmission shop diagnostics.

Looking at the transmission repair Manual it seems these might be suspects for causing this problem....
1) engine coolant temperature sensor; the engine coolant seem to read normal in dash board.
2) manual lever position sensor: although the dash board always reflects the correct gear that it is in.
3)Brake on/off switch: although break lights work and the car engages gears even at low rpm's.
4)crank shaft position sensor
5)mass airflow sensor
6)throttle position sensor
7) transmission speed sensor
8) output shaft speed sensor
9)power train control module

What can we rule out? what is causing this?