sons 2002 explorer

[toughguy]

My sons 2002 ford explorer has a few issues, the first one is: all 4 door pin switches don't work, the previous owner took all the bulbs out of the interior because they stayed stay on, I need to find out where the pin switches are so I can replace them. the second is there is no tranny dipstick, sealed tranny he has 145000 miles and the owner has not changed it, would a simple tranny drain and refill be good? the truck starts and runs great, just trying to make it last along time till he finishes school. thanks all.

 

[Number4]

The lights are either due to a bad drivers door switch, or a broken ground wire in the door.

As is an '02, I'd be inclined to think it's the black wire. Someone will post a link here shortly.

 

[fordysenior]

I have the same tranny, and have called the dealer on it. They say change the fluid at 150k. I've had no trouble with my transmission with 127k miles on it. Still factory original, still running good.

 

[toughguy]

I have the same tranny, and have called the dealer on it. They say change the fluid at 150k. I've had no trouble with my transmission with 127k miles on it. Still factory original, still running good.

yes mine too, will change at 150. ty

 

[imp]

yes mine too, will change at 150. ty

@toughguy
My '04, same transmission, though your son's may be the "W" model, mine "S", experienced the minor issue of Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid failure at around 110K. I replaced the Solenoid Module (which has 8 solenoids, not individually serviceable), contrived a fill-tube and dipstick, added an in-line filter since the Torque Converter has no drain plug provision, filled her up, off we went, ~ 160K now. FWIW, here's how I did it:

The fitting brazed to the pan is a 3/4" NPT male X 3/4" Compression Fitting. The tube is a 3/4" OD seamless steel hydraulic tubing, the dipstick for early-'90s vintage 5.0L HO engine oil stick. Somewhere, I'll have to look for them, I have pics of it installed in the truck, from below and above, both. Ask, and I'll dig.
imp

 

[Harpua216]

these are closed transmissions. meaning you cannot check the fluid unless you buy a special nozzle (NPT 1/4) i think though there is a thread for this somewhere. you have to get the car to running temp, hook the nozzle up and watch for a trickle. you will need a pump to get any fluid you need back into the unit.

this is just a general scratch out for ya so you get an idea of what it takes. good luck

 

[fordysenior]

Since I don't have a garage, and no good place to do this kind of work, plus I'm getting older than I want, I'm probably just going to take it to a shop and have them do it. But here's a link to check out -- http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php?threads/5r55w-fluid-fill.118654/

I have the 5R55W tranny, with no pan and no dipstick. Apparently some of the 5R55W do have pans ??? some of this confuses me. I know mine is an early build 2002.

 

[07gtman]

spray the door latches with WD40, on the edge of the door, the switches are in there happens to my 02 mountaineer every now and then, it works ..open and close the door several times with the light installed, hit the lock button and see if the light goes off, if it does not, move to the next door..Dont be shy with the WD40 these switches are most likely just stuck...hope this works.

 

[imp]

these are closed transmissions. meaning you cannot check the fluid unless you buy a special nozzle (NPT 1/4) i think though there is a thread for this somewhere. you have to get the car to running temp, hook the nozzle up and watch for a trickle. you will need a pump to get any fluid you need back into the unit.

this is just a general scratch out for ya so you get an idea of what it takes. good luck

@Harpua216
Not exactly. First, no gearbox can be "sealed" completely; they are vented. The OEM set-up has a small screw-plug in the bottom of the pan. Removal of it tells whether the fluid level is adequate: OK if just a slow dribble comes out, low if none. How low? Can't tell. Second, fluid may be added using a plastic squeeze bottle, with a short hose attached, by removing the pipe plug located at right-rear of case, just above the pan flange. That hole is designated as "fill hole" in the various literature.

@fordysenior " I have the 5R55W tranny, with no pan and no dipstick. Apparently some of the 5R55W do have pans ??? some of this confuses me. I know mine is an early build 2002. "

They ALL have pans. None have a dipstick. I rigged my own pan with a dipstick as I outlined above, and filled the trans. through the tube. I did that after being disgusted with the original design. imp

 

[fordysenior]

Oops, yes, it has a pan. Wow, I've been carrying that bad information for awhile.

 

[toughguy]

who sell the pump to get the fluid back in the pan?

 

[imp]

who sell the pump to get the fluid back in the pan?

@toughguy
Look at the bottles of gear oil at a parts store. They are about 1 qt.,, you squeeze them, and they pump the oil out through a spout. Cheapest, simplest, use a clean one if you do transmission fluid. Slow, if refilling a whole transmission. There is also available hand-held suction pumps made to remove or pump in fluids. Those look like a grease gun, have a piston and handle to push, made of metal. imp

 

[deaconblues]

A garden sprayer works really well for refilling the tranny from below, just clip off the nozzle and push the tube in the plug. Can do over a gallon at a time with just an easy pump up to get pressure to push the fluid in.

Very important (CRITICAL) point- make sure you add friction modifier with fresh tranny fluid or you will get chatter in the torque converter.

 

[imp]

A garden sprayer works really well for refilling the tranny from below, just clip off the nozzle and push the tube in the plug. Can do over a gallon at a time with just an easy pump up to get pressure to push the fluid in.

Very important (CRITICAL) point- make sure you add friction modifier with fresh tranny fluid or you will get chatter in the
torque converter.

@deaconblues
Interesting point. Never heard this before. Always implied the new Mercon V had such stuff already in it. Where did you acquire this info? Not questioning it's validity, OK? Just news to me. imp

 

[Tech By Trade]

Just use Mercon V and nothing else and you will be fine. Additives are asking for problems with this transmission.

 

[07gtman]

A garden sprayer works really well for refilling the tranny from below, just clip off the nozzle and push the tube in the plug. Can do over a gallon at a time with just an easy pump up to get pressure to push the fluid in.

Very important (CRITICAL) point- make sure you add friction modifier with fresh tranny fluid or you will get chatter in the torque converter.

Has anyone ever took off the transmission return line off the radiator, and pumped in fluid until it came out clean? where did you find the friction modifier? i had to order it on line, for my mustang rear diff..never heard of it for tranny's though sounds like a great idea..

 

[deaconblues]

I've usually been one to avoid "snake oil" fixes, but in this case for the torque converter, I think this is different. Getting my tranny shifting normally was the first thing I had to sort out when I got the Mountaineer. Oringed servos solved one problem, but the TC was also shuddering. Mercon V has the friction properties to control shudder when the TC is new and the fluid is fresh, but neither is the case at 125K miles (in my case). Also, a drain and fill doesn't affect the fluid in the TC, so at best you are leaving a lot (half?) of old fluid in the tranny. Searching on-line, it seems like Ford techs address this with the additive. Best example I think I came across was a guy who was responsible for a fleet of Crown Vics, where even some NEW TCs would shudder until the additive was installed. I'm sure shuddering is much worse for the TC than smooth actuations with the friction modifier.

I now do drain and fills every 40-50K (garden sprayer makes it easier than an engine oil change), and add FM each time. Tranny has been perfect for the last 75K. That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.