A4LD Governor Replacement

*Willard* · 01-18-2009, 08:31 PM

So which one of those part numbers is for explorers? Or are they even the same?

I only ask because when I go about replacing mine I don't want to have to take it out to see which one I need, and then have to wait for parts.

KevinCro · 09-09-2009, 12:00 AM

I have this problem also (won't shift under acceleration). I notice some transmission fluid on the bottom of the tranny pan. My truck is a 2000 model 4X4 with 83k on it. The dealer said that they just had the transmission rebuilt. I took the truck back to the dealer and they kept it a week and it was doing the same thing when I got it back. Could the fluid leak and shift problem be related? My transmission is the 5R55E.

**BrooklynBay** · 09-09-2009, 09:13 AM

Welcome to this forum! Your 5R55E doesn't use a governor.

zjrog · 09-13-2009, 11:54 PM

When I rebuilt my 94 A4LD, I was told to make absolutely certain that all the governor parts move smoothly. I spent a couple minutes very carefully smoothing the parts with some crokus cloth.

nic092 · 02-26-2010, 02:20 PM

If I was to take the governor out, would it help with racing and faster shifting?

**BrooklynBay** · 02-27-2010, 09:16 PM

Your transmission doesn't have a governor.

*jd4242* · 05-03-2010, 01:56 PM

will the governor cause problems if its warm?

coreman23 · 05-26-2010, 12:47 PM

I think I have a problem with my governor too. My transmission only slips when it is cold and just fired up. When the car is warm, it never does it. I'll put it into gear and it's like it slips out to neutral. Revving it get it to kick into gear again.

Once I'm up to about 20mph, I never have the issue, if it's still cold and I stop, it sometimes does it again, but once I'm warm, it's never does it.

My question is when replacing the governor, I see there is a spring, a valve, the valve body and the weight. Should I just replace all of these while I'm there?

I've looked for the parts on sonnax.com but it looks like they only have the weight. I also looked at the valve on the wittrans.com site, but they have a number of different valves on there. Do I have to take mine out to measure then order? Are they year specific?

Or am I way off, I have also been reading similar things happening with a bad vacuum modulator. Which should I try first?

**Maniak** · 05-26-2010, 01:21 PM

As far as I know, a sticking governor won't cause "slipping". It will cause no 1-2 shift when it hangs.

When I bought a new governor years ago from a local trans shop I got the entire assembly, not just the weight and I didn't ask for anything special. I just told them I wanted to replace the governor and thats what they gave me.

~Mark

coreman23 · 05-26-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maniak

As far as I know, a sticking governor won't cause "slipping". It will cause no 1-2 shift when it hangs.

When I bought a new governor years ago from a local trans shop I got the entire assembly, not just the weight and I didn't ask for anything special. I just told them I wanted to replace the governor and thats what they gave me.

~Mark

Maybe "slipping" is the wrong word. It acts like it's in neutral in all the gears, reverse, od, d, 2 and 1. If I rev it up a little and back off, it drops into gear. Then when it's warm, doesn't do it again.

coreman23 · 05-31-2010, 08:41 PM

Anybody have an idea?

**Maniak** · 05-31-2010, 08:43 PM

To me, that sound more like the servos and seals and not the governor.

Hopefully one of the real trans experts will chime in now..

~Mark

**BrooklynBay** · 05-31-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreman23

Maybe "slipping" is the wrong word. It acts like it's in neutral in all the gears, reverse, od, d, 2 and 1. If I rev it up a little and back off, it drops into gear. Then when it's warm, it doesn't do it again.

It sounds like it could have bad valve body gaskets. Connect a 0-300 PSI pressure gauge to get some cold-hot readings in all gear ranges.

coreman23 · 06-01-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrooklynBay

It sounds like it could have bad valve body gaskets. Connect a 0-300 PSI pressure gauge to get some cold-hot readings in all gear ranges.

I'd have no idea how to do that, I guess I'll have to take it to the shop and have it looked at. Thanks!!!

**BrooklynBay** · 06-02-2010, 12:29 AM

We have a sticky thread on using a pressure gauge: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=117998

jw42 · 10-03-2010, 08:41 AM

Thanks for the information.jw42

Fordexplorerguy1 · 11-14-2010, 08:49 PM

Now im new to this to remove the extension housing do you have to drain the fluid in the transmission? (dumb i know just making sure)

**Maniak** · 11-14-2010, 08:53 PM

IIRC, No, you don't need to remove the fluid.. But some fluid does leak out when your doing the work.

~Mark

Fordexplorerguy1 · 11-14-2010, 09:12 PM

k and mine is a 4x4 too so would that change anything?

**Maniak** · 11-14-2010, 09:15 PM

Nope.. Ours is too. . I just pulled the transfer case, pulled the governor and weight and put new ones in.. I don't remember lots of fluid coming out.. I do remember the transfer case being really stuck on since we use "right stuff" instead of a gasket between the case and the trans.

btw.. I didn't pull the tail housing.. I just reached through it.

~Mark

01-18-2009, 08:31 PM	#21
Willard Elite tree-smasher Bloomington, Indiana 04 Ranger Edge Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,293 Vehicle Specs	So which one of those part numbers is for explorers? Or are they even the same? I only ask because when I go about replacing mine I don't want to have to take it out to see which one I need, and then have to wait for parts. __________________ Jesse '94 Eddie Bauer DD/Beater "Old Faithful" RIP '04 Ranger Edge DD "Black Knight" You want to see my face?

09-09-2009, 09:13 AM	#23
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,689 Vehicle Specs	Welcome to this forum! Your 5R55E doesn't use a governor. __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

09-13-2009, 11:54 PM	#24
zjrog Wannabe Elite Explorer Tooele,Ut Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 233 Vehicle Specs	When I rebuilt my 94 A4LD, I was told to make absolutely certain that all the governor parts move smoothly. I spent a couple minutes very carefully smoothing the parts with some crokus cloth. __________________ My Ranger project, the WARTHOG. Or, 1994 Explorer disguised as a 1990 Ranger And the 94 EX. sacrificed for the Ranger

02-27-2010, 09:16 PM	#26
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,689 Vehicle Specs	Your transmission doesn't have a governor. __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

05-03-2010, 01:56 PM	#27
jd4242 Elite Explorer va beach 92 SC Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,003 Vehicle Specs	will the governor cause problems if its warm? __________________ 92 xl 5.5"duff arms,3"BL,PJ 36x14.50,wrapped headers,side dump exhaust,.20 over,HF oil pump,422cam,45cc 95tm p+p 10.67:1 heads,p+p lower manifold,75mm TB,90mm maf,36lbs injectors,P+P GM M90 Supercharged & intercooled!!SCT tuned!!electric fan,4.88s aussie locked front & back!!next NOS&W/M http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...=double+vision

09-09-2009, 12:00 AM	#22
KevinCro Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14 Vehicle Specs	I have this problem also (won't shift under acceleration). I notice some transmission fluid on the bottom of the tranny pan. My truck is a 2000 model 4X4 with 83k on it. The dealer said that they just had the transmission rebuilt. I took the truck back to the dealer and they kept it a week and it was doing the same thing when I got it back. Could the fluid leak and shift problem be related? My transmission is the 5R55E.

02-26-2010, 02:20 PM	#25
nic092 Wannabe Elite Explorer Shreveport, LA 2006 Explorer XLS Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3 Vehicle Specs	If I was to take the governor out, would it help with racing and faster shifting?

05-26-2010, 12:47 PM	#28
coreman23 Wannabe Elite Explorer Big Bear, CA 92 XLT Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 Vehicle Specs	I think I have a problem with my governor too. My transmission only slips when it is cold and just fired up. When the car is warm, it never does it. I'll put it into gear and it's like it slips out to neutral. Revving it get it to kick into gear again. Once I'm up to about 20mph, I never have the issue, if it's still cold and I stop, it sometimes does it again, but once I'm warm, it's never does it. My question is when replacing the governor, I see there is a spring, a valve, the valve body and the weight. Should I just replace all of these while I'm there? I've looked for the parts on sonnax.com but it looks like they only have the weight. I also looked at the valve on the wittrans.com site, but they have a number of different valves on there. Do I have to take mine out to measure then order? Are they year specific? Or am I way off, I have also been reading similar things happening with a bad vacuum modulator. Which should I try first?

05-26-2010, 01:21 PM	#29
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,744 Vehicle Specs	As far as I know, a sticking governor won't cause "slipping". It will cause no 1-2 shift when it hangs. When I bought a new governor years ago from a local trans shop I got the entire assembly, not just the weight and I didn't ask for anything special. I just told them I wanted to replace the governor and thats what they gave me. ~Mark __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs

05-31-2010, 08:41 PM	#31
coreman23 Wannabe Elite Explorer Big Bear, CA 92 XLT Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 Vehicle Specs	Anybody have an idea?

05-31-2010, 08:43 PM	#32
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,744 Vehicle Specs	To me, that sound more like the servos and seals and not the governor. Hopefully one of the real trans experts will chime in now.. ~Mark __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs

06-02-2010, 12:29 AM	#35
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,689 Vehicle Specs	We have a sticky thread on using a pressure gauge: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=117998 __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

10-03-2010, 08:41 AM	#36
jw42 Wannabe Elite Explorer olney, il 1991 ford ranger Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 4 Vehicle Specs	Thanks for the information.jw42

11-14-2010, 08:49 PM	#37
Fordexplorerguy1 Wannabe Elite Explorer NC 94 XLT 4.0 tow package? Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 479 Vehicle Specs	Now im new to this to remove the extension housing do you have to drain the fluid in the transmission? (dumb i know just making sure)

11-14-2010, 08:53 PM	#38
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,744 Vehicle Specs	IIRC, No, you don't need to remove the fluid.. But some fluid does leak out when your doing the work. ~Mark __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs

11-14-2010, 09:12 PM	#39
Fordexplorerguy1 Wannabe Elite Explorer NC 94 XLT 4.0 tow package? Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 479 Vehicle Specs	k and mine is a 4x4 too so would that change anything?

11-14-2010, 09:15 PM	#40
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,744 Vehicle Specs	Nope.. Ours is too. . I just pulled the transfer case, pulled the governor and weight and put new ones in.. I don't remember lots of fluid coming out.. I do remember the transfer case being really stuck on since we use "right stuff" instead of a gasket between the case and the trans. btw.. I didn't pull the tail housing.. I just reached through it. ~Mark __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs