Gormy
Member
- Joined
- December 12, 2011
- Messages
- 24
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Arena, WI
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1998 Ford Explorer
Hey guys,
You've always been a lot of help with all my posts on here and it's time for another one. I really, really want to ditch my Explorer because it is such a p.o.s but I'm stuck with it due to being cash strapped. It is a 2002 Limited, 4.6L V8, 3.73 LS rear, AWD.
I have a hard shift issue as well as a slow shift issue that differ depending on the circumstance. But here's the thing, I've replaced the trans with a rebuilt one and it's still doing it. So I don't know if it is something else entirely. I apologize in advance for how long this description will be, but I want to give you as much info as I can. If you think you know what it is, please stick it out and read it all and comment below. I am at wits end and I can't afford to replace the vehicle right now.
Conditons:
-Shifting hard between gears, sometimes after a slight delay (slow shift).
-After pulling a trailer (~1,000lbs) for 30 miles I backed it up my driveway which has a very slight incline. When I shifted it from park to reverse to get closer to the garage, it sounded and felt like someone took a huge swing at a metal work bench with a hammer. It shook so hard and sounded like something was slamming metal together, about to break out of the truck.
-Going into or out of OD it up/downshifts with a hard hit.
-On a cold start when I put it into reverse to back down the driveway (again, very minimal decline) and press lightly on the gas, the engine revs up to a higher rpm than it should for how slowly the truck is backing up. It seems like reverse isn't fully engaged or the fluid isn't doing it's job.
That's all I can think of right now. I will add more later if I remember.
Recent repairs: (I will list to rule out any other possible problems)
-All four wheel bearings replaced (one rear was seized to the knuckle so bad a 30 ton press couldn't separate, so I put a new knuckle and rear half shaft on as well).
-Brakes all the way around
-Rear toe arms
-All four front balljoints (uppers w/ control arms)
-Front sway bar links
-All three diffs flushed
-Rear coil springs
-Rear brake caliper
-And of course the biggest one, the transmission. Replaced with a reman unit that was supposed to have a new torque converter, new shift solenoid and whatever upgrade can be made to the servo bore pin wear issue (or whatever it is, I don't know entirely what the issue was with that, I just know these transmissions are terrible).
All of these repairs were done in the garage by myself with the exception of the transmission replacement and diff flushes. I am very mechanically inclined with all of the basic repairs. Problem is, all the Ford dealers in the area are not very credible in my eyes (I've worked for half of them). They drove it and said they can't feel anything wrong with it. Last night when it shifted terribly hard with the trailer I was home alone, otherwise I would have had the wife come out while I laid under it to find where the noise came from. I wanted to put my hands on the transmission and the t-case while someone shifted it to see where the slop is coming from.
So with all of what I said above, does anyone know where the issue may be or have dealt with something similar? Is it a bad transmission still? Or an internal transmission part like a shift solenoid? I have a warranty on the transmission, so I need to get it fixed soon if that's the problem. Could it be in the t-case, u-joints, etc? All I know is it's not the front or rear diffs (I believe at least) because I can hear it coming from right under the seat. Diff fluid looked good on each, no metal came out.
Any ideas at all would be a huge help guys! I apologize for how long this is, but I've invested $5,000 this year into this piece of crap and it's still not where it needs to be. Body is in great shape, no rust (amazing for a Wisconsin vehicle), fully loaded. It still has a lot of value which I'm counting on when I sell it for a pickup in the next year.
I really, really need help on this one.
You've always been a lot of help with all my posts on here and it's time for another one. I really, really want to ditch my Explorer because it is such a p.o.s but I'm stuck with it due to being cash strapped. It is a 2002 Limited, 4.6L V8, 3.73 LS rear, AWD.
I have a hard shift issue as well as a slow shift issue that differ depending on the circumstance. But here's the thing, I've replaced the trans with a rebuilt one and it's still doing it. So I don't know if it is something else entirely. I apologize in advance for how long this description will be, but I want to give you as much info as I can. If you think you know what it is, please stick it out and read it all and comment below. I am at wits end and I can't afford to replace the vehicle right now.
Conditons:
-Shifting hard between gears, sometimes after a slight delay (slow shift).
-After pulling a trailer (~1,000lbs) for 30 miles I backed it up my driveway which has a very slight incline. When I shifted it from park to reverse to get closer to the garage, it sounded and felt like someone took a huge swing at a metal work bench with a hammer. It shook so hard and sounded like something was slamming metal together, about to break out of the truck.
-Going into or out of OD it up/downshifts with a hard hit.
-On a cold start when I put it into reverse to back down the driveway (again, very minimal decline) and press lightly on the gas, the engine revs up to a higher rpm than it should for how slowly the truck is backing up. It seems like reverse isn't fully engaged or the fluid isn't doing it's job.
That's all I can think of right now. I will add more later if I remember.
Recent repairs: (I will list to rule out any other possible problems)
-All four wheel bearings replaced (one rear was seized to the knuckle so bad a 30 ton press couldn't separate, so I put a new knuckle and rear half shaft on as well).
-Brakes all the way around
-Rear toe arms
-All four front balljoints (uppers w/ control arms)
-Front sway bar links
-All three diffs flushed
-Rear coil springs
-Rear brake caliper
-And of course the biggest one, the transmission. Replaced with a reman unit that was supposed to have a new torque converter, new shift solenoid and whatever upgrade can be made to the servo bore pin wear issue (or whatever it is, I don't know entirely what the issue was with that, I just know these transmissions are terrible).
All of these repairs were done in the garage by myself with the exception of the transmission replacement and diff flushes. I am very mechanically inclined with all of the basic repairs. Problem is, all the Ford dealers in the area are not very credible in my eyes (I've worked for half of them). They drove it and said they can't feel anything wrong with it. Last night when it shifted terribly hard with the trailer I was home alone, otherwise I would have had the wife come out while I laid under it to find where the noise came from. I wanted to put my hands on the transmission and the t-case while someone shifted it to see where the slop is coming from.
So with all of what I said above, does anyone know where the issue may be or have dealt with something similar? Is it a bad transmission still? Or an internal transmission part like a shift solenoid? I have a warranty on the transmission, so I need to get it fixed soon if that's the problem. Could it be in the t-case, u-joints, etc? All I know is it's not the front or rear diffs (I believe at least) because I can hear it coming from right under the seat. Diff fluid looked good on each, no metal came out.
Any ideas at all would be a huge help guys! I apologize for how long this is, but I've invested $5,000 this year into this piece of crap and it's still not where it needs to be. Body is in great shape, no rust (amazing for a Wisconsin vehicle), fully loaded. It still has a lot of value which I'm counting on when I sell it for a pickup in the next year.
I really, really need help on this one.