Devo55
Member
- Joined
- September 25, 2021
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 20
- City, State
- Los Angeles, CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1993 Explorer Sport
I can't figure this truck out. While driving to work one night I felt something give out like a vacuum hose slipping off or something, after that my truck wouldn't shift out of 1st gear. Later that day, after some online research I found out it could be the vacuum modulator. Got under the truck and unbolted the cataylitic converter (pain in the ass), moved the heat shield and low and behold there was modulator and the rubber hose that connects it to the steel vacuum line was full of tranny fluid. Apparently, the modulator was sucking oil into the vacuum line. Ok. Easy fix I thought. Wrong Junior! I've been going at this for about a month every weekend and so far I have installed 3 different vacuum modulators on this A4LD transmission. The two I bought from Ebay were adjustable and wouldn't shift the tranny at all. I couldn't even shift manually. The one I bought from Autozone made the truck run rough and still wouldn't shift until I maxed out the adjustment screw (4 turns counterclockwise). Now the truck runs smooth and shifts automatically (1st-2nd) but ONLY when it's cold. So for about a mile or so I'm doing great. It will give me 3 or 4 shifts into 2nd at 2500 rpms, after that, no more. I have to let off the gas at 2500rpms then it will shift into 2nd very smoothly like butta.
What about the transmission fluid, you ask? The fluid is clean and new because a have small leak in the front seal so I've been pouring a new quart in at least every 2 weeks. Not that it's leaking that bad, infact, it's only a few drops a day, it's because every time I pull out the modulator I lose fluid. I checked vacuum at the manifold at idle, 20inches. Checked vacuum at modulator 20inches. I'm running out of options and patience so as a last resort I ordered a Ford Motorcraft modulator. It's non adjustable just like the original one I pulled out the truck. I think it's just a matter of finding the right modulator that works with the transmission. I really don't think I have any internal problems because it runs great except for the 1-2 shift. Well, I hope the Motorcraft works because I don't wanna take it to a transmission shop and have the guy can tell me I need a rebuild. They always say that no matter what.
What about the transmission fluid, you ask? The fluid is clean and new because a have small leak in the front seal so I've been pouring a new quart in at least every 2 weeks. Not that it's leaking that bad, infact, it's only a few drops a day, it's because every time I pull out the modulator I lose fluid. I checked vacuum at the manifold at idle, 20inches. Checked vacuum at modulator 20inches. I'm running out of options and patience so as a last resort I ordered a Ford Motorcraft modulator. It's non adjustable just like the original one I pulled out the truck. I think it's just a matter of finding the right modulator that works with the transmission. I really don't think I have any internal problems because it runs great except for the 1-2 shift. Well, I hope the Motorcraft works because I don't wanna take it to a transmission shop and have the guy can tell me I need a rebuild. They always say that no matter what.
