Glacier one more question - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

strocket · 01-05-2007, 07:00 PM

Alright Glacier I need one more opinion. Today on the way home from work I had a few things happen that havent happened since I did the rebuild and wanted to know if the things that happened relate to the epc. Well the first thing that happened was that reverse engaged late. I was on a slope so I was just pumping the brakes and then it finally engaged hard and thats when I had realized it was late. Then while driving the 3rd was slipping really bad. Almost to the point where I had completely let of the gas before it would catch. I just wanted your opinion before I spend the $200 for a new solenoid and sep. plate. Do you still think its that EPC thats causing this? Keep in mind that I had burnt up the frictions and steels in the OD drum and all of those shavings were in the vb and on top of the sep plate. I didnt realize that the EPC was THAT sensitive to contamination, so I didnt change it. Im running low on dough and im trying to get this in one shot. And no I wont get all mad if youre wrong, I just want to know what you think it is. Sorry again for all of these questions.

**Glacier991** · 01-05-2007, 08:45 PM

That is a tough call. The late engagement of reverse does not sound necessarily EPC, but it is possible, The slipping 3rd *could* be. Don't fork out that $125 just yet, hang on a short while for the new design test and get one for free.

(ps. remember the 2-3 shift is effectuated by applying the intermediate band)

strocket · 01-05-2007, 09:17 PM

Well Glacier im kind of in a situation here. I NEED my truck for work and I dont want to keep driving it like this. And its almost like its getting worse. If the flare is caused by the intermediate band why would replacing the EPC effect it any??

**Glacier991** · 01-05-2007, 09:22 PM

The EPC has to do a dance during the 2-3 shift... and this where a failing EPC might well show up first.

The mfgr that is considering allowing us to test their new design solenoid is reconsidering making us wait, and I expect that by early next week I will have an answer.

If it were ME I'd be considering replacing the EPC. CAN I guarantee that will solve it? nope. Would I feel bad telling you to lay out $125 and replace it and find out it did not fix it? yep.

Did you rebuild the VB? Sorry if I sound stupid....I get so many PM's and answer so many Q's I sometimes get them mixed up.

strocket · 01-05-2007, 09:58 PM

Oh trust me... by the number of post you have I can see your info is well valued. I still would like a new Test EPC for for right now I really need to get this prob fixed. So im going to take your advice and replace the EPC and Sep Plate at pops expense. eeeee LOL. But only because I dont have the time to wait. Im actually limited to this weekend to get this fixed. So im just going to pray that this works. The only reason I could think of for the reverse not kicking in was cause of the sep plate gasket blown. Now I do have the sep plate with the bonded gaskets, but I noticed right as I was assembling the tranny that the gasket was starting to come "unstuck" in some places . I know BAD on my part to continue with the install but I didnt think it would be that big of deal cause of where the "unsticking" was. I did rebuild the VB. I installed the superior shift kit, sonnax boost valve, and the sonnax end plug kit. Now I did install every piece of the superior kit including the clutch springs, pressure riser, and cooler bypass. The only reason I installed the end plug kit was cause it was cheap and im working at bullet proofing that VB as best as I can. The reason I installed all of that was cause I burnt up the frictions and steels and had to replace them. So I figured since I had the thing apart I might as well do a little more. I also replaced the OD band cause it was slightly burnt as well. Im also going with you when you say you think it could be the EPC cause these things dont happen all the time. Its only on certain occasions. Some times the tranny will shift bad ass and I can whomp on it with no probs. Then other times I have the flare. It works fine when I shift from 2nd to Drive. And I can be driving and highway speeds and then slow down to about 15mph and then speed up and it shifts fine. Its almost as if the VB is clogged? Or something is sticking??? I dunno... but im leaning towards that EPC just as you are. And like I said, the sep plate just to make sure. Now let me ask you another question.... would you agree with me when I say that nothing could be wrong within the actual "drive line" part of the tranny since it works flawlessly on most occasions?? Im almost tempted to just buy a new VB and swap the new parts I bought into the new one and see what happens???

strocket · 01-05-2007, 10:02 PM

Sorry Glacier but I was just reading the TSP and saw that 2nd position is "start in 3rd gear" So why will 3rd gear always work when in 2nd, but when in drive it has trouble catching 3rd when shifting from 2nd?

strocket · 01-05-2007, 10:14 PM

LOL wow reading this stuff keeps giving me ideas. OK... When I took the tranny apart I check the intermediate band and it wasnt burnt. While reading I read that the intermediate band is applied and held to make "3rd gear". So could it maybe be a bad piston? Or not since It works every now and then? IF it was a piston would that cause it to NEVER work?

**Glacier991** · 01-05-2007, 10:17 PM

a leaky piston can cause all kinds of wierd problems.... not always ALL the time.

strocket · 01-05-2007, 10:39 PM

hmmmmmm.... any ideas guys????

Thank You Glacier!!!

If you come up with anything else let me know...

**BrooklynBay** · 01-06-2007, 10:38 PM

If the piston is dried out, it could apply, then slowly bleed off. This would make it feel like it's engaging the band, then slowly lose it. Did you see if your heat shield is in good condition?

01-05-2007, 07:00 PM	#1
strocket Wannabe Elite Explorer San Antonio, TX 01 sport trac Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 75 Vehicle Specs	Glacier one more question Alright Glacier I need one more opinion. Today on the way home from work I had a few things happen that havent happened since I did the rebuild and wanted to know if the things that happened relate to the epc. Well the first thing that happened was that reverse engaged late. I was on a slope so I was just pumping the brakes and then it finally engaged hard and thats when I had realized it was late. Then while driving the 3rd was slipping really bad. Almost to the point where I had completely let of the gas before it would catch. I just wanted your opinion before I spend the $200 for a new solenoid and sep. plate. Do you still think its that EPC thats causing this? Keep in mind that I had burnt up the frictions and steels in the OD drum and all of those shavings were in the vb and on top of the sep plate. I didnt realize that the EPC was THAT sensitive to contamination, so I didnt change it. Im running low on dough and im trying to get this in one shot. And no I wont get all mad if youre wrong, I just want to know what you think it is. Sorry again for all of these questions.

01-06-2007, 10:38 PM	#10
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 31,045 Vehicle Specs	If the piston is dried out, it could apply, then slowly bleed off. This would make it feel like it's engaging the band, then slowly lose it. Did you see if your heat shield is in good condition? __________________ 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.

01-05-2007, 08:45 PM	#2
Glacier991 EF Tranny Guru Sacramento, CA 95827 1992 XLT Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 9,805 Vehicle Specs	That is a tough call. The late engagement of reverse does not sound necessarily EPC, but it is possible, The slipping 3rd could be. Don't fork out that $125 just yet, hang on a short while for the new design test and get one for free. (ps. remember the 2-3 shift is effectuated by applying the intermediate band)

01-05-2007, 09:17 PM	#3
strocket Wannabe Elite Explorer San Antonio, TX 01 sport trac Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 75 Vehicle Specs	Well Glacier im kind of in a situation here. I NEED my truck for work and I dont want to keep driving it like this. And its almost like its getting worse. If the flare is caused by the intermediate band why would replacing the EPC effect it any??

01-05-2007, 09:22 PM	#4
Glacier991 EF Tranny Guru Sacramento, CA 95827 1992 XLT Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 9,805 Vehicle Specs	The EPC has to do a dance during the 2-3 shift... and this where a failing EPC might well show up first. The mfgr that is considering allowing us to test their new design solenoid is reconsidering making us wait, and I expect that by early next week I will have an answer. If it were ME I'd be considering replacing the EPC. CAN I guarantee that will solve it? nope. Would I feel bad telling you to lay out $125 and replace it and find out it did not fix it? yep. Did you rebuild the VB? Sorry if I sound stupid....I get so many PM's and answer so many Q's I sometimes get them mixed up.

01-05-2007, 09:58 PM	#5
strocket Wannabe Elite Explorer San Antonio, TX 01 sport trac Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 75 Vehicle Specs	Oh trust me... by the number of post you have I can see your info is well valued. I still would like a new Test EPC for for right now I really need to get this prob fixed. So im going to take your advice and replace the EPC and Sep Plate at pops expense. eeeee LOL. But only because I dont have the time to wait. Im actually limited to this weekend to get this fixed. So im just going to pray that this works. The only reason I could think of for the reverse not kicking in was cause of the sep plate gasket blown. Now I do have the sep plate with the bonded gaskets, but I noticed right as I was assembling the tranny that the gasket was starting to come "unstuck" in some places . I know BAD on my part to continue with the install but I didnt think it would be that big of deal cause of where the "unsticking" was. I did rebuild the VB. I installed the superior shift kit, sonnax boost valve, and the sonnax end plug kit. Now I did install every piece of the superior kit including the clutch springs, pressure riser, and cooler bypass. The only reason I installed the end plug kit was cause it was cheap and im working at bullet proofing that VB as best as I can. The reason I installed all of that was cause I burnt up the frictions and steels and had to replace them. So I figured since I had the thing apart I might as well do a little more. I also replaced the OD band cause it was slightly burnt as well. Im also going with you when you say you think it could be the EPC cause these things dont happen all the time. Its only on certain occasions. Some times the tranny will shift bad ass and I can whomp on it with no probs. Then other times I have the flare. It works fine when I shift from 2nd to Drive. And I can be driving and highway speeds and then slow down to about 15mph and then speed up and it shifts fine. Its almost as if the VB is clogged? Or something is sticking??? I dunno... but im leaning towards that EPC just as you are. And like I said, the sep plate just to make sure. Now let me ask you another question.... would you agree with me when I say that nothing could be wrong within the actual "drive line" part of the tranny since it works flawlessly on most occasions?? Im almost tempted to just buy a new VB and swap the new parts I bought into the new one and see what happens???

01-05-2007, 10:02 PM	#6
strocket Wannabe Elite Explorer San Antonio, TX 01 sport trac Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 75 Vehicle Specs	Sorry Glacier but I was just reading the TSP and saw that 2nd position is "start in 3rd gear" So why will 3rd gear always work when in 2nd, but when in drive it has trouble catching 3rd when shifting from 2nd?

01-05-2007, 10:14 PM	#7
strocket Wannabe Elite Explorer San Antonio, TX 01 sport trac Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 75 Vehicle Specs	LOL wow reading this stuff keeps giving me ideas. OK... When I took the tranny apart I check the intermediate band and it wasnt burnt. While reading I read that the intermediate band is applied and held to make "3rd gear". So could it maybe be a bad piston? Or not since It works every now and then? IF it was a piston would that cause it to NEVER work?

01-05-2007, 10:17 PM	#8
Glacier991 EF Tranny Guru Sacramento, CA 95827 1992 XLT Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 9,805 Vehicle Specs	a leaky piston can cause all kinds of wierd problems.... not always ALL the time.

01-05-2007, 10:39 PM	#9
strocket Wannabe Elite Explorer San Antonio, TX 01 sport trac Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 75 Vehicle Specs	hmmmmmm.... any ideas guys???? Thank You Glacier!!! If you come up with anything else let me know...