04 AWD Problem Help ASAP

[khodgens]

Sorry to be dramatic but we're 300 miles from home trying to buy a 2004 Explorer EB AWD. Owner had his mechanic replace a tranny sensor yesterday and flush it. He say's it's an enclosed system and you can't add fluid. We came here today and test drove it about 20 miles in traffic in Denver and twice after comming to a complete stop when I went to give it gas is hesitated before it grabbed. Acts to me like it's low on fluid. I called the mechanic and he said it's not low on fluid and just needs to be driven to get everything working right in the tranny and that it should be good for many years to come. I've worked on cars most of my life and never heard this before. I don't know anything about the AWD tranny and could use some guidance. The vehicle is nearly immaculate except for a couple of minor flaws and would like to hear from others on whether to buy or go back home without it. Help would be greatly appreciated.
TIA

 

[rrgone]

Sorry to be dramatic but we're 300 miles from home trying to buy a 2004 Explorer EB AWD. Owner had his mechanic replace a tranny sensor yesterday and flush it. He say's it's an enclosed system and you can't add fluid. We came here today and test drove it about 20 miles in traffic in Denver and twice after comming to a complete stop when I went to give it gas is hesitated before it grabbed. Acts to me like it's low on fluid. I called the mechanic and he said it's not low on fluid and just needs to be driven to get everything working right in the tranny and that it should be good for many years to come. I've worked on cars most of my life and never heard this before. I don't know anything about the AWD tranny and could use some guidance. The vehicle is nearly immaculate except for a couple of minor flaws and would like to hear from others on whether to buy or go back home without it. Help would be greatly appreciated.
TIA

The hesitation before engagement of the tranny on these is pretty well documented in this forum. There is an undate to the shift strategy that the dealer can perform (PCM flash) to help this somewhat. It seems to be more pronounced with the 2004-05 models due to drive-by wire throttle I guess. Beware of any flare between shifts or slippage in the tranny. That is the real downfall here.

The AWD and A4WD models have the same tranny, just different transfer cases so there is nothing different there.

The tranny is not sealed but there is no dipstick thru which to add fluid. It has to be pumped in thru the fill/drain hole. The term sealed or enclosed is stupid - it's not sealed if it can be serviced. So, did the mechanic flush the tranny or not? It is indeed possible to tell if it's full up or low.

My hunch is that what you see is normal. I would be more concerned about the mileage and maintenance history. Good luck.

 

[fusseli]

I would agree that it's probably just low on fluid. If it's in immaculate good running condition with a tranny symptom, and the guy just toyed with the tranny, then there's your issue.

 

[khodgens]

Well we passed on the Explorer. I didn't know what was wrong with the tranny and didn't want to risk a 300 mile trip not knowing. As it turns out the mechanic? was a so called friend. Well the owner finally decided to take it to a transmission shop after we left town and come to find out it was LOW on fluid. Had he told me he was going to do that we probably would have stayed in town another day. As it turned out we were back home last evening when I got the call everything was now taken care of.
Now on to look for another one.
Thanks for all the input.