bpinson
New Member
- Joined
- March 13, 2011
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Murphy, TX
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 XLT
Hi all-
First, as so many others have said, thank you to everyone for the great knowledge you all provide so willingly.
2000 Explorer SOHC, 156,000+ miles.
Here's the back story...for those that want to get right to the problem, scroll down to "---PROBLEM---". Sometimes I include too much detail.
The story is pretty much the same as everyone else’s:
2 weeks ago I began to experience the 2-3 shift flare. That lasted a day, the next day the shift flare was accompanied by a flashing O/D light.
I researched things to death, mostly on these boards. I read the entire diary post (yes, all of it) along with dozens of others on here (including the stairway thread). I'm fairly competent at reading instructions, but decided the best route would be to order a rebuilt VB from Central Valve Bodies. It arrived Thursday and I set off on the replacement Saturday afternoon.
I followed the directions meticulously.
First, I disconnected the negative terminal on the battery.
Next, I removed the pan and loosened the bolts on the VB and allowed it to drain over night, mainly because I had enough of transmission fluid for the evening.
The next morning (okay, early afternoon) I started anew. I finished removing the VB, and used my handy dandy cardboard layout to keep the bolts in place. The gasket was blown in the same places everyone else’s had been. Shock and amazement.
I then worked my way backwards. Installed the "new" VB from CVB. Torqued the bolts to 71 in the pattern per the documents I found, Then I re-torqued them to 97, in the same pattern.
Attached the wire harness, and double-checked it.
I also checked to ensure the shifter engager plunger thing (sorry for the lack of the technical term) was in the correct place. I didn't want to miss that step as others mentioned doing.
Installed a new filter, torqued the bolt per specs as well.
Cleaned the pan completely, then reinstalled with a new gasket that came with the filter.
Installed, tightened, and torqued the bolts in a crisscross pattern.
One note, I drained the original fluid into a transparent container. I then measured the height, width, and depth of fluid to determine (remember it sat draining overnight) that I removed a little over 7 quarts of fluid. Obviously the container didn't include the amount I soaked up with rags, etc.
Just to ensure my measurements were not off, I added 6 quarts in to start with. The whole time expecting something to leak out the bottom.
After the 6 were in, I reconnected the battery and started the engine. No leaks. I rejoiced!
---PROBLEM---
Here's where my problems CONTINUE...
About 20 seconds after starting the engine, the O/D light started flashing again.
Allowed the engine to idle for 2-3 minutes for things to warm up a bit.
Tried changing gears, I had no forward or reverse movement in ANY gear.
I then checked the fluid level and nothing was showing on the dipstick.
Added another 1/2 quart. Waited another 2-3 minutes (engine running) and tried to change gears again. This time I would get movement, but I was very little movement and under high RPMs. I only tried this for a few seconds.
Checked the dipstick. Fluid now showing, but still not into the "shaded" area.
Added another 1/2 quart. I had now added the amount that was showing in my catch pan (7 quarts).
Waited another 2-3 minutes (engine still running). Tried changing gears. Every gear engaged instantly and moved the vehicle without problem at this point.
Dipstick was showing a level right at the bottom of the shaded area. Added another 1/2 quart, waited 2-3 minutes, now it was half way into the shaded area. I stopped adding fluid at this point.
Now, the O/D light was flashing the whole time I was doing this. I shut off the engine, disconnected the battery for 30 minutes and ate lunch.
Came back out, reconnected battery and started the engine. After about 20 seconds, O/D light started flashing again.
Took it out for a short test drive. It successfully shifted into every gear (except O/D it seems), but each shift was very harsh ("limp" mode?), but the 2-3 flare was gone.
Also, there is now a whistling sound that comes from the transmission area. The whistle changes pitch with engine speed. I've made a recording and saved it to http://pinlawr.com/temp/whistle.m4a. It came from my cell phone, so I’m not sure if everyone will be able to open it. The noise is noticeable about 5 seconds in. I also do a small rev to show the change in pitch.
---So, here I am, "new" VB, no more shift-flare, but I still seem to be stuck in limp mode.
HELP! Please, and thank you!
First, as so many others have said, thank you to everyone for the great knowledge you all provide so willingly.
2000 Explorer SOHC, 156,000+ miles.
Here's the back story...for those that want to get right to the problem, scroll down to "---PROBLEM---". Sometimes I include too much detail.
The story is pretty much the same as everyone else’s:
2 weeks ago I began to experience the 2-3 shift flare. That lasted a day, the next day the shift flare was accompanied by a flashing O/D light.
I researched things to death, mostly on these boards. I read the entire diary post (yes, all of it) along with dozens of others on here (including the stairway thread). I'm fairly competent at reading instructions, but decided the best route would be to order a rebuilt VB from Central Valve Bodies. It arrived Thursday and I set off on the replacement Saturday afternoon.
I followed the directions meticulously.
First, I disconnected the negative terminal on the battery.
Next, I removed the pan and loosened the bolts on the VB and allowed it to drain over night, mainly because I had enough of transmission fluid for the evening.
The next morning (okay, early afternoon) I started anew. I finished removing the VB, and used my handy dandy cardboard layout to keep the bolts in place. The gasket was blown in the same places everyone else’s had been. Shock and amazement.
I then worked my way backwards. Installed the "new" VB from CVB. Torqued the bolts to 71 in the pattern per the documents I found, Then I re-torqued them to 97, in the same pattern.
Attached the wire harness, and double-checked it.
I also checked to ensure the shifter engager plunger thing (sorry for the lack of the technical term) was in the correct place. I didn't want to miss that step as others mentioned doing.
Installed a new filter, torqued the bolt per specs as well.
Cleaned the pan completely, then reinstalled with a new gasket that came with the filter.
Installed, tightened, and torqued the bolts in a crisscross pattern.
One note, I drained the original fluid into a transparent container. I then measured the height, width, and depth of fluid to determine (remember it sat draining overnight) that I removed a little over 7 quarts of fluid. Obviously the container didn't include the amount I soaked up with rags, etc.
Just to ensure my measurements were not off, I added 6 quarts in to start with. The whole time expecting something to leak out the bottom.
After the 6 were in, I reconnected the battery and started the engine. No leaks. I rejoiced!
---PROBLEM---
Here's where my problems CONTINUE...
About 20 seconds after starting the engine, the O/D light started flashing again.
Allowed the engine to idle for 2-3 minutes for things to warm up a bit.
Tried changing gears, I had no forward or reverse movement in ANY gear.
I then checked the fluid level and nothing was showing on the dipstick.
Added another 1/2 quart. Waited another 2-3 minutes (engine running) and tried to change gears again. This time I would get movement, but I was very little movement and under high RPMs. I only tried this for a few seconds.
Checked the dipstick. Fluid now showing, but still not into the "shaded" area.
Added another 1/2 quart. I had now added the amount that was showing in my catch pan (7 quarts).
Waited another 2-3 minutes (engine still running). Tried changing gears. Every gear engaged instantly and moved the vehicle without problem at this point.
Dipstick was showing a level right at the bottom of the shaded area. Added another 1/2 quart, waited 2-3 minutes, now it was half way into the shaded area. I stopped adding fluid at this point.
Now, the O/D light was flashing the whole time I was doing this. I shut off the engine, disconnected the battery for 30 minutes and ate lunch.
Came back out, reconnected battery and started the engine. After about 20 seconds, O/D light started flashing again.
Took it out for a short test drive. It successfully shifted into every gear (except O/D it seems), but each shift was very harsh ("limp" mode?), but the 2-3 flare was gone.
Also, there is now a whistling sound that comes from the transmission area. The whistle changes pitch with engine speed. I've made a recording and saved it to http://pinlawr.com/temp/whistle.m4a. It came from my cell phone, so I’m not sure if everyone will be able to open it. The noise is noticeable about 5 seconds in. I also do a small rev to show the change in pitch.
---So, here I am, "new" VB, no more shift-flare, but I still seem to be stuck in limp mode.
HELP! Please, and thank you!