2nd to 1st downshift noise

Jeff00000168 · April 13, 2006

My 98 XLT 4X4 sometimes makes a thump kinda noise upon down shifting when slowing down. I think it's from 2nd to 1st gear. Not sure but always when slowing down and when the speedometer hits 20 mph, that's when it shifts with a thump. This happens sometimes, not always, weird. But when I use my truck like after a couple of hours after it has been sitting in the garage, it doesn't make that down shift noise from 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st for the next 15-20 minutes. I had my transmission oil flushed and replaced already and still makes a noise sometimes.

Thanks in advance!

5.0L96Exp · April 14, 2006

Same problem here.. Havent had time to look into it. Like you say 2nd to 1st downshift thud when braking. You can actually feel the vehicle brake harder when the thud occurs, just like downshifting in a standard..

lrlima · April 14, 2006

I experience something similiar to what you all are describing. It's like someones kinda kicking you in the butt...I feel it mostly when i'm almost stopped,like a "rolling" stop through a turn or at a stop sign...

floydr007 · April 14, 2006

lrlima said:
I experience something similiar to what you all are describing. It's like someones kinda kicking you in the butt...I feel it mostly when i'm almost stopped,like a "rolling" stop through a turn or at a stop sign...

I have an extremely similar problem as you do. Whenever I come to a stop, i get that thud happening. Search "full stop thump" on this forum. I think that is probably my problem, at least im hoping. It has something to do with greasing the splines on the rear driveshaft. I dont think its a tranny issue, at least I hope. I hope this helps.

sethpdx · April 14, 2006

my 96 does the thud from 2nd to 1st unless I brake real hard from 20mph to 0mph and 2nd to 3rd does a thud to.. I have the 4.0 ohv...

Jeff00000168 · April 14, 2006

5.0L96Exp said:
Same problem here.. Havent had time to look into it. Like you say 2nd to 1st downshift thud when braking. You can actually feel the vehicle brake harder when the thud occurs, just like downshifting in a standard..

Yes, exactly.

Jeff00000168 · April 14, 2006

floydr007 said:
I have an extremely similar problem as you do. Whenever I come to a stop, i get that thud happening. Search "full stop thump" on this forum. I think that is probably my problem, at least im hoping. It has something to do with greasing the splines on the rear driveshaft. I dont think its a tranny issue, at least I hope. I hope this helps.

I have that full stop thud too. I think it's my steering column or ball joints. My friend's 2000 Land Cruiser does the same thing too and the dealership said that it's normal for 4X4s to do that. I dunno... but my friend's Land Cruiser is still in tip top shape, and rides even better than a Mercedes and the 2nd to 1st thud and full stop thump (that sounded weird lol!) was there evr since. Anyway, I'm bringing my X to the shop this Sunday to figure out the full stop thump and for the 2nd to 1st thud... I dunno yet.

Jeff00000168 · April 14, 2006

Thanks for the tip floydr007! Found the link that might solve the "full stop thump" problem.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153692&highlight=full+stop+thump

offset_98 · April 14, 2006

Mine has been doing this for as long as I can remember...thumping me to the point that sometimes my ABS kicks on for a second. My Explorer has 170k miles and almost 100k on this transmission. I don't think its anything to worry about...additionally, I think its a 3-2 downshift at 17-23mph not the 2-1 downshift you think it is which typically occurs at around 4-7mph.

floydr007 · April 14, 2006

Jeff00000168 said:
Thanks for the tip floydr007! Found the link that might solve the "full stop thump" problem.

Jeff, let me know what happens if you take it to the shop or try to fix it. The thud is getting kind of annoying, and i cant do anything till i get back home (im at school for another month). I definitely want to try to get it figured out though. I hope that greasing the splines will work, and for me it does seem like that is where the thud is coming from. Just keep me posted. Thanks.

Jeff00000168 · April 17, 2006

I went to the shops yesterday and they were closed. I forgot all about Easter lol! I'll do it this Sunday since that's my only free time.

Jeff00000168 · April 24, 2006

floydr007 said:
Jeff, let me know what happens if you take it to the shop or try to fix it. The thud is getting kind of annoying, and i cant do anything till i get back home (im at school for another month). I definitely want to try to get it figured out though. I hope that greasing the splines will work, and for me it does seem like that is where the thud is coming from. Just keep me posted. Thanks.

I got good news! I fixed it for only $25 yesterday! I just had to do some test runs just to make sure. I got rid of the 2nd-1st thud! I simply replaced the TPS (Throttle positioning sensor) and shifting now is smooth all throughout.

It makes sense though. My idling was really way off thus affecting the shifting pattern since the computer doesn't sense the right time to shift or not. Going uphill, it sometimes upshifts instead of downshifting lol! Now I'm happy. I thought explorers had ****y transmissions that's why I didn't even bother. Now it rides like a Lexus lol!

About the full stop thud, it's probably the splines. I haven't done it yet but I'm sure that's it.

Anyway, let me know how it goes on your Explorer.

sethpdx · April 29, 2006

oh man $25 bucks to fix the issue BAM!!!! :thumbsup:

floydr007 · April 29, 2006

I took my X to a dealer yesterday to get my full stop thump fixed, and I told him I thought it was the splines, and that they needed to be greased. He told me it would cost $98 bucks to drop the driveshaft and regrease the splines (I called a few other shops and they quoted me $160). What really surprised me is that he told me that its a ridiculously common problem, and greasing them will not necessairly fix the thump much at all. He told me not to get it done unless I really wanted to because it wont cause any damage. So I guess for now im sticking with the thump. I might see how hard it is to drop the driveshaft myself over the summer and get some grease in there though.

Goodin · May 3, 2006

anyone have anymore info on this? i just greased the splines this morning and it still thumps. ill look into the tps, this afternoon. if that dosent work ill look into adjusting the shiftband for 2nd.

thflorida · August 14, 2009

Did this problem ever get fixed?

offset_98 said:
Mine has been doing this for as long as I can remember...thumping me to the point that sometimes my ABS kicks on for a second. My Explorer has 170k miles and almost 100k on this transmission. I don't think its anything to worry about...additionally, I think its a 3-2 downshift at 17-23mph not the 2-1 downshift you think it is which typically occurs at around 4-7mph.

I have exactly the same problem and have no idea yet what causes it.
Did it ever get fixed?
(98 XLT, 135T miles)

KevMo1958 · September 16, 2009

My '98 has had the 3-2 downshift 'clunk' for years, otherwise it works great. 105k miles and the trans has never been rebuilt, and still has the original valve body. I discovered this thread and thought I would try the TPS. Changed the TPS and it seems to be less prevalent, but still there.

I also found this using google:

http://thisdarncar.com/vb/ford/66161...-explorer.html

Seems like something that should have been taken care of during a re-build, but others are saying the problem started just after a trans re-build. Good news is the answer says it does not harm anything.

Rob707 · August 26, 2011

I have the same problem. I have a 2003 Ford Explorer v8 4.6. Does anybody know if replacing the TPS will fix the problem.

lhrossouw · December 9, 2011

TPS did not fix the problem

hi,
I have the same problem.
mine only use to do it when my OD was off, I remand the tranfer case and transmision and now it always makes the thump when I do a slow stop.
I replaced the TPS unfortunatly it did not fix the problem.
I am still looking for a solution.

npereza · February 5, 2012

MY 02 does the thump, it also idles bad so im going to replace the TPS today.

Also can anyone tell me where these front splines are that should be greased?

2nd to 1st downshift noise

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