98/99 4.0 V6 SOHC 2WD Transmission Debacle (190k miles)

[swiss]

Hi everyone,

first off, best site I have found this far for the DIY-er. I have learned more from this forum about how cars function than anywhere else on the web.

My problem:

Lately I ran into shifting troubles (not engaging when cold, only after revving; and then O/D light flashing; and lastly jumping out of gear under load (mostly 2nd gear)). I started reading up on the tranny threads on here and decided for a pan drop and filter/fluid change to see if that maybe helps (190k miles on my X; if I understand correctly I have a 5R55E).

So I crawl under my truck (slightly jacked up) and drop the pan (yes my truck has the CAT in the way, but I didn't want to mess with that, I figured I can get the pan out without removing the CAT, needless to say it wasn't all that smooth ). In hindsight I am actually glad I did it that way because as I had to wiggle the pan a little to slide it out, right before I finally get it out I hear a clunk, needless to say, that wasn't a sound I wanted to hear at all. I crawl out from underneath my truck and take a look at the pan and aside from 1/4 inch of gunk on the magnet I find this:

After searching through the tranny threads by glacier, brain, brooklyn and probably more I found that the part that wasn't broken was the band anchor for the Overdrive band (first one from engine). Now when I first pulled the pan there was only the anchor and the two broken pieces of metal in there, so I crawled underneath again and wiggled out the other part of the broken piece (don't know what that is called). First off, I was baffled by the fact that somebody had installed a part that had been too big and ground down (and messy grinding at that). On the second picture I took you can see a new "right" part I next to the broken one I pulled out.

My Q:

I know little to nothing about transmissions other than what I have learned in the last few days reading through all the awesome threads with pics, but it's a bit much to process all at once.

I figure to reinstall these parts I would have to take off the VB, correct?

and, is there a way to find out whether I have a broken band inside the transmission, should I just assume that this is just the wagging tail of a full blown rottweiler around the corner, i.e. I def. need a rebuild no matter what?

I love working on my car but I feel like I have no way of pulling out the whole tranny myself. Any advice on my further steps? Sorry if I'm not detailed enough I'm trying to grasp all this from the outside in..(no CEL after O/D was blinking btw. don't know if the CEL lights up for tranny codes tho)

Thank you for any info on this,

Stefan

 

[swiss]

Broken Band

Well I am a step further. Thanks to the threads stairway to diary and rebuild of the valve body (bigg_billy and glacier, and others) I took off the VB and thankfully (or not) could see up to the band (not the overdrive I think I was wrong in my first post, but also adjustable) and naturally got a not so nice surprise. (pic below)

Now my issue (obviously) is $$ since my X isn't worth the money it costs to have a shop do a rebuild.

1. Is it feasible for myself to take out the tranny in a driveway kinda situation (no lift or jack stands)?

2. If I look for a used/salvage transmission, do I get it with or without transfercase?

3. Would it make sense to mix/match parts to make the best out of two used transmissions or just rebuild my own? Don't have any crazy tools that's why I'm asking this Q.

I'm asking all this because I have (obviously) never done this before and I was wondering if I should attempt any of the above at all or just try to find someone to take the old one out and put a rebuilt/salvaged/used one in?

sry for the pic quality, only have my cell atm to take pics....

 

[BrooklynBay]

It's hard to make out that last picture. Did you find any band material in there? I saw the anchors in the first picture.

 

[swiss]

I haven't found any material other than the anchor and that other (broken) piece that goes in before the anchor (?). The photo is a view past where normally the 4th servo would be with the VB attached onto the intermediate band (?). I felt around the area and wiggled and moved the band with my fingers. the two spikee looking things on the band is where I assume the end of the band would normally be attached (like in the pic in this thread: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212051&highlight=band+anchor ) and it feels like broken metal to the touch (rough and sharp).

 

[BrooklynBay]

Could you see the part on the right of this picture?

If so, then the band is broken since this is attached to the end of the band, and is not a separate part.

 

[swiss]

No, I was looking for that part since I read most posts concerning the transmission troubles but couldn't see, feel or find it. I just assumed that the "clip"-looking part (end of the band) broke off of the two darkened spikee looking things on the band in the pic.

below I attached a pic by whoathere out of the rebuild diary to illustrate where the pic is aiming at into the transmission.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The band has 2 sides, so wiggle the opposite side, and see if the metal end on the side with the picture moves at the same time.

 

[swiss]

I tried moving it a little to get a better view, I am not sure how far I can move it, I didn't wanne screw something up before trying to figure out the situation. Are you saying I can try to turn the band all the way around, what do you mean by wiggling the other side (the part in the pic is the only thing accessible to me I think).

Thank you by the way for your help!

 

[BrooklynBay]

The band has 2 sides. If you wiggle one side, you will see the other side wiggle unless the part you are looking at is cracked off.

 

[Glacier991]

You clearly have a broken band. The damage to the apply strut was probably caused by other rotating parts within the transmission after the band achor gave way.

It's rebuild time.

 

[swiss]

Ok, so I figured out what you meant brooklyn (there's another opening where I got access to the other side of the band; for others who might stumble across these posts). The band itself seems intact but the end on the servo side is def. broken off, can't find the broken part as it is probably inside somewhere. Now back to the Q's earlier in the post:

Is it feasible for me to rebuild it myself with the tools accessible to the average person (i.e. sockets, wrenches and all that kinda stuff) or do I need special tools if I only plan on trying to get it running again and not go through the whole shebang of micrometers and the air tight rebuild you guys all seemed to have gone through? I think I can get help getting the transmission off of the truck and there's plenty of local salvage yards (L.A.); called one today and he had one for $600 over the phone price, so prolly like 500-ish. Should I just swap and hope the used one is in order (and maybe rebuild mine on the side and sell it cheap or keep as backup) or mix match, or try and fix mine? (I understand that there is more than enough quality information in this forum to get a grip on the rebuild but what I'm asking is whether it is feasible with my limited resources?)

Thank you for any input on this,

Stefan

 

[BrooklynBay]

You will need a special pump alignment tool if you open the pump. Seal drivers, and lip seal installation tools are nice to have, but you could improvise. A used one from the junk yard is a gamble.