02 Explorer Limited 5r55w in trans-trouble

[Dora-th-Explorer]

Hello Everyone,

I have been reading different post and replies on different topics and there seems to be a lot of good information on here.
Unfortunately, I have not found a thread that sounds closely related to my problem.
I have an `02 Explorer Limited 4.0 V6 5R55W transmission, and I am experiencing the ever so popular tranny trouble.
About a year and a half ago, I replaced the soleniod pack and once again everything was fine. I now have 128k miles on the truck and I have noticed that once the car reaches normal running temperature, I get a sometimes hard shift into 3rd gear and a shuttering while switching from 4th to overdrive. The shuddering feels similar to a missing cylinder, but I know that`s not the problem. While in od cruising at 55-65 mph, the truck will run smooth; but the second you start gradually accelerating, it starts shuddering again. Letting off the gas and then back on the shuddering will stop until next time you gradually accelerate. By hitting the gas, you can go straight into passing gear, but you will still get a little of the shudder going back into od.
The RPM`s do not jump around while all this occurs, this makes me think the tranny is not slipping. I have had the fluid changed out three different times, fluid was not to bad and the filter showed normal wear. Computer does not give any trouble codes. So I am kinda stumped and don`t want to be taken to cleaners over getting this fixed.
If there is anyone out there who would be willing to share some thoughts or experiences, it will be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[swetrid]

You could have an engine miss even though are no codes. You will have to look at whats called Mode 6 data which will give history misfire but is usually only available with Ford scanner or high end Snap on scanners.

 

[Dora-th-Explorer]

Thank You for the reply. I also thought at first it could be a misfire as well. So I pulled the wires one by to make sure I was getting fire out of them. All fired very strong, so I ruled it out.

 

[Dora-th-Explorer]

Well, took her down to two Transmission shops, got the same computer code from both "5th gear incorrect ratio". I believe this is a fluid problem, because the tranny runs fine when it`s cold (when the fluid is thicker). When the truck warms up, the problems begin (when the fluid is thinner). Any ideas out there?

 

[EasyRhino]

Hello Everyone,

I have been reading different post and replies on different topics and there seems to be a lot of good information on here.
Unfortunately, I have not found a thread that sounds closely related to my problem.
I have an `02 Explorer Limited 4.0 V6 5R55W transmission, and I am experiencing the ever so popular tranny trouble.
About a year and a half ago, I replaced the soleniod pack and once again everything was fine. I now have 128k miles on the truck and I have noticed that once the car reaches normal running temperature, I get a sometimes hard shift into 3rd gear and a shuttering while switching from 4th to overdrive. The shuddering feels similar to a missing cylinder, but I know that`s not the problem. While in od cruising at 55-65 mph, the truck will run smooth; but the second you start gradually accelerating, it starts shuddering again. Letting off the gas and then back on the shuddering will stop until next time you gradually accelerate. By hitting the gas, you can go straight into passing gear, but you will still get a little of the shudder going back into od.
The RPM`s do not jump around while all this occurs, this makes me think the tranny is not slipping. I have had the fluid changed out three different times, fluid was not to bad and the filter showed normal wear. Computer does not give any trouble codes. So I am kinda stumped and don`t want to be taken to cleaners over getting this fixed.
If there is anyone out there who would be willing to share some thoughts or experiences, it will be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks.

Dora Da Explora' - lots of good folks on this site with lots of knowledge and helpfulness. Lord knows they've helped me a ton.

Sorry that you are having problems with your Ex, but recommend that you post a link in the section on transmssions, etc:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=109

There are folks that come by that may be able to offer very expert advice, although it is hard to trouble-shoot a transmission sight unseen. Just be patient as these are volunteers.

Your level of detail and description of the problem will be very helpful to the good folks over there.

I'm going to guess that your Torque Converter is struggling with going in and out of lock-up, but that is pure guesswork.

Good luck.

 

[swetrid]

It needs the servo piston bore repair kit. The bore wears and then lets fluid bleed by when it gots hot and will give you soft shifts.

 

[bcurbox@aol.com]

Hoping for an update from Dora-th-Explorer

I see we have same issues. Your write-up sounds exactly what I am dealing with now. Hoping you found the fix and could share it with me. I am adding below a write-up of what I have done so far to mine.


-----
I got my 02 Explorer 4.0 2WD 5R55W 6 years ago. When I got it, the trans was slipping bad so I took it to AAMCO and they rebuilt it also did the servobore sleeves. I also got the Lifetime Warranty because I did a lot of research on these trans and knew I was going to have problems every 70,000mi's or so. So like I was right. Less than 7mos ago it started to shift hard in 2nd and shudder/hunt between D and OD while doing normal freeway speeds (happens once fluid is warmed up, the OD light would flash rapidly when it did that until I would turn off the car then turn it back on). Side note, I called about the Lifetime Warranty and I had to produce the paperwork to have it serviced under the warranty, but since the car was broken into and the papers lost with other items, I could not produce any papers and that company does not have any computer base showing I purchased it, even called corporate offices and said I was out of luck. So I did ordered the o-ring servo-bore kit and did it pretty much like brentburton's post without taking any exuaust piping off, just the heat-shields and using the crowbar, pain to do. I could see the brass sleeves while it was opened up, also did the 400 grit around a pencil to just slightly take out any rough edges of the bore, but just a little, I did not grind away. Other things I did was change the filter, filled the fluid twice and replaced with Mercon V, also tightened the bands IAW techman. The fluid that was in it was pretty clean to start and the pan had no metallic in the fluid or anything in the pan or magnet other than that fine fuzzy black stuff just barely on the top of the magnet. Put it all back together and took it out for a test drive and no more hard-shifts in second, but still have the shudder while driving at highway speeds (mostly between 65-75mph while its shifting into OD, and more-so going up inclines). I took it on a trip from LA to Vegas and it had the shudder while on inclines mostly and the OD light didn't come on, until the trip home... it started to flash about half-way back home and funny thing is, for the next 100mi's there were no shudders and trans worked wonderfully, but the light was blinking, so we pulled over with 50mi's left on our trip home, shut the car off, started back on the highway with the OD light now off, and the shudder was back. So I then did a lot of research thinking I could fix this with a new shift-kit and solenoid pack(rebuilt) from TRANSGO. All parts came in and did the job this weekend. I took the pan and gasket off after draining fluid (always use a clean glass jar and catch fluid coming out to get a good look at it) the fluid was still very clean, took off filter, reverse-servo, solenoid pack, and valve-body. After inspecting the pan gasket, separator plate and gaskets, they looked good to me. I started doing the shifter-kit which has a pretty good video online someone did for their 5R55S. It was pretty easy. Turns out I already had that same kit in it from rebuild years earlier, but replaced with the new kit any way. I soaked the solenoid pack in Mercon V while I did the valve-body. I then placed the separator back on the valve-body and put it back up into the trans (I took a long thin box and drew out the valve-body, filter, reverse-servo, and solenoid pack and punched holes in the drawings so when I took a bolt out, I just put it in the designated hole to make sure I put them back exactly, also pretty handy to not lose any. Valve body back on and tightned IAW techman sequence/torque, I then installed the reverse-servo, then the solenoid pack, a new filter and pan, all IAW sequence/torque. Another thing I did before I started this job was reset the brain on the car so it would later re-learn shift values and left the battery disconnected till I was all done. I filled the fluid by the book, vehicle was level, had pumped 6qts prior to starting ($5 handpump from HF and nipple bought on amazon), started it, let it warm up, shifted through all gears and let the fluid get to the point of first signs of dribbling out the nipple. ( I was also following steps during this time to correctly let the car learn the new values I purged prior to starting this job). I took it out for 2 test drives. First one was to run the fluid in the trans and other was to learn shift values, and then came back, leveled the car and checked the fluid a 2nd time. A few hours later I took it out again, both test drives it still has the shudder in the same gears when giving slight acceleration as well shifting into OD with slight acceleration. Same symptoms. But this time the OD light did start blinking rapidly near the end of the 2nd test drive as I was nearing the highway exit. But I turned off the car and restarted it and drove and it stayed off. Just got in to write this. Not sure what to do now. What I wrote is not a go-by to do any repairs, just wrote what I did. Retired Navy engineer who likes working on his own cars, but this has me stumped. Also, what's the easiest way to read the codes on this without a scantool, is there a way to jumper and read?

 

[bcurbox@aol.com]

update?

Hello Everyone,

I have been reading different post and replies on different topics and there seems to be a lot of good information on here.
Unfortunately, I have not found a thread that sounds closely related to my problem.
I have an `02 Explorer Limited 4.0 V6 5R55W transmission, and I am experiencing the ever so popular tranny trouble.
About a year and a half ago, I replaced the soleniod pack and once again everything was fine. I now have 128k miles on the truck and I have noticed that once the car reaches normal running temperature, I get a sometimes hard shift into 3rd gear and a shuttering while switching from 4th to overdrive. The shuddering feels similar to a missing cylinder, but I know that`s not the problem. While in od cruising at 55-65 mph, the truck will run smooth; but the second you start gradually accelerating, it starts shuddering again. Letting off the gas and then back on the shuddering will stop until next time you gradually accelerate. By hitting the gas, you can go straight into passing gear, but you will still get a little of the shudder going back into od.
The RPM`s do not jump around while all this occurs, this makes me think the tranny is not slipping. I have had the fluid changed out three different times, fluid was not to bad and the filter showed normal wear. Computer does not give any trouble codes. So I am kinda stumped and don`t want to be taken to cleaners over getting this fixed.
If there is anyone out there who would be willing to share some thoughts or experiences, it will be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks.

I posted on here, but hoping for a reply on what you did to fix your issue.

 

[bcurbox@aol.com]

Shudder fixed

NO MORE SHUDDER, ALL FIXED

Well today I got my 02 Explorer back from Walters Transmissions in Temecula CA. I was going to take it in to AAMCO where they pulled a P0741 and they said it needed a full rebuild and it would start at $1500 not including parts, as I wrote earlier in a post in 2012 I had same AAMCO do a complete rebuild and paid extra for the lifetime warranty which they now won't honor due to a stolen receipt from same explorer. So after talking to the guys at TRANSGO they told me of a trustworthy person they deal with which is Walters. I just drove it 50miles without any shudder or other issues, ran great. Let me again tell you what I have done till I threw in the towel and took it in. I bought and replaced the solenoid pack (rebuilt), put in a new TRANSGO shift-kit (not incl pump part due to couldn't drop trans), replaced int/od servo with oring type, checked bands each time I touched the trans, the separator plate was in good condition, changed the filter 2x during the process, the pan was always clear of any debris other than a little normal black sludge on the magnet, the fluid when I first dropped it was good, and probably drained the fluid 3x during the whole process of when I started on this adventure, even tried to drain the torque convertor but didn't find a plug as I marked it turning the engine by wrench looking up at it through the access cover (I marked an X on it with perm black marker to make sure I did do a full revolution to find plug, but no plug was there), I always torqued everything to specs (I always buy factory manuals for all my vehicles just for reasons like this). The trans looked great up to this point since it was rebuilt back in 2012 by AAMCO and I even saw the new sleeves when I did the servo-bores. So at that point I started looking for a misfire somewhere. I ended up changing my plugs, plug wires(yes, I did find a white spot on at least one wire), coil, air filter, pcv, fuel filter, and did the full reset of the memory by disconnecting the neg battery cable and jumped it from the positive so it could relearn the shift values (can find on youtube). At that point I talked to Mark and Larry at TRANSGO and got Walters info. I have a 69 mustang that is using all my trans stuff to drop another trans. I took the Explorer to Walters Saturday and on Monday they called me yesterday (Wednesday) and said after all the test I needed a new torque converter, I gave the go ahead and they told me it was done today. They also found a kinked evac line which they fixed which may have caused a misfire but not the shudder. They also checked it over pretty good, no other issues. As I was there today, I saw the the converter they pulled out, and it did have the X I marked on it. They said it was stuck pretty good onto the flywheel and took some to get it off. I just drove it home and it runs great. Yes, it's only been a few hours, but if you don't see any more post, you know it's still working. Hope this helps. Lesson learned, always pull your codes first and use a person you can trust. Walter did the job for half of what AAMCO wanted.