Ford Repair: 1992 Ford Taurus -- violent shaking?, ford taurus, simplistic description

Question
I have a 1992 Ford Taurus that's been having several problems. I'm a college student, so I'm trying to (with the help of some Mechanical Engineering friends) solve all the problems as best I can, shy of replacing the transmission (which I don't think is worth it at this point). I'm having some problems diagnosing its current ailments.

The symptoms are as follows:
1. When starting the car in the morning a loud, continual screeching accompanies the first few minutes of driving. It sounds like a belt, but all belts are properly adjusted and look to be in good shape. The screeching recently started while driving for no reason. For example, I'll be sitting at a stoplight and start driving forward and the car will pull back a bit and the screeching starts again. If I back off the gas and let it drop down a gear it normally stops after 30 seconds or so.

2. I'm assuming it's a transmission problem, but the car lurches into gear. Example: I start the car and if my foot weren't firmly pressed all the way down on the break, it would lurch forward a foot. Even with my foot on the brake the car lurches. It gets stuck inbetween gears when accellerating onto the interstate and I have to back off and let it slowly climb up and settle (clunk) into gears.

3. The check engine light went on today after the car began to shake while sitting at stoplights. It did it twice. The light just flickered, never coming on completely. After moving forward the light would go off. I checked the oil and I'm not low.

Thanks,
Rachel.  

Answer
Rachel-

  It's definitely a transmission problem...my money is on the clutch or torque converter (you didn't mention if the transmission was manual or automatic).  A torque converter is a lot like a clutch in a manual transmission, but instead of direct friction like a clutch, the converter turns engine power into hydraulic pressure which in turn drive the car's gears.  This is, of course, a really simplistic description, but there's a very well written and easy to understand article on torque converters over at www.howstuffworks.com.  My guess would be that the torque converter clutch is failing (yes...in addition to being a clutch of sorts, it HAS a clutch).  You might have it checked out by a transmission shop, but my guess is that you can get a new or rebuilt converter fairly cheap...as auto repairs go, anyway.  Hope this helps.

Steve