05 explorer 4.0 Transmission

[oneeyemike]

I have a 2005 Explorer 4.0 that the transmission decided to rear its ugly side this morn as we came home from getting our Christmas tree. During initial acceleration it made a growling noise and I let off the throttle then got back into it and everything was fine. Then less than a mile later the OD light started flashing with transmission message center warning. Drove it home since it was only a few miles. It did clunk very hard when downshifting and i believe once during throttle. I have checked the code and got p0775. I have read the posts in this forum and the literature in the factory service manual and am now more confused than ever. I work in collision repair and fix my own vehicles, transmission ....not so much. I can use the lift where i work but its 30 miles away and i dont want to damage it further. I read the diagnostic procedures in the service manual and am going to attempt to read the resistance values in my driveway tomorrow. Just hoping that you guys that have traveled this road might be able to steer me in the right direction. Thanks

 

[Tyleryac]

It's probably time for a new transmission. How many miles do you have on the truck now?

 

[oneeyemike]

120,000 miles

 

[Mrooney322]

your servo bores are wearing out, there is someone who modifies the oem ford shift servos so you do not have to get them reamed and sleeved
http://www.fordservoboretransmissionfixsolution.com/

from what ive heard they work, i took mine to the transmission guy and ended up being "too far gone" for that fix but i would look into it if you are mechanically inclined,

 

[oneeyemike]

ok.. Ig got to test it out today and here are the results.. Made it about a mile before the OD light flashe , service engine light, and check transmission in the message center. First gear seems to not shift till about 4000. Still have 5th gear but cant manually switch out and in of OD and a very noticible clunk when downshifting to First i believe. Still sound like OD and IM servo?

 

[Rickademus]

yes it does im afraid. The problem is if you carry on driving it may break the tab off one of brake bands. I rebuilt mine a couple of months ago first ever automatic (5r55s).

Your transmission made it to 120000miles thats good so im lead to believe my truck went out at 107000miles. You are going to have to remove all internal components and get sleeves installed for the servo bores there is alot of info on the net thats why i decided to take the job on. Its going to cost ya probably better to put a new torque converter in as well because they are know to eat themselves . I put a transgo shift kit in a little over the top british tranny builder told me but almost standard pratice in the states must say it shifts slick apart from the play in the diff that i have. I bought my truck with a broken transmission you see. All Explorers with 4r and 5r units suffer .

I guess you are state side there must be alot of rebuilders there able to help you

 

[oneeyemike]

im going to check the solenoid resistance tomorrow and if that looks good im considering the o-ring servo but wondering about the whine when it is cold. I have always attributed it to the power steering pump but is worse now and wondering if it could be related. Coiuld a whine noise be caused by this condition?

 

[Rickademus]

The whine sounds like it's from the PAS pump disconnect the belt to see if it goes away . Then you will have a better idea. I bought the superior servo piston kit with the oversize orings I never used it still got it don't need it. The reason why your tranny shifts late is because it's building up pressure behind the servo and boom adventually builds up enough pressure and slams at the last second into the brake band which can break the tab off. I learnt all this from watching all the YouTube videos related to this subject .

Pls don't take my word for it make your own mind up . What tipped the scales for me was the guy selling the servo bore repair kit on eBay he quotes over 70000 miles you will need this mod done period!
I had another car to drive and wanted to rebuild the transmission for the experience. If you want you can watch my teardown video on YouTube I warn you it's long and might send you asleep Rick Chapman 5r55s teardown I made a reassemble video but haven't published yet

 

[oneeyemike]

Well its been a heck of a week and i just got time this evening t work on the Explorer. Dropped the pan and big chunks of metal were in there with what looks like pieces of needle bearings.. I think Im done with this thing....or its done with me ... one of the two

 

[5whiskey]

FWIW, it may be worth looking into a junkyard tranny. Easy enough to swap trannys (swapping and rebuilding are two entirely different things!), and you may luck up and get one on the cheap.

Otherwise, I would get several quotes to rebuild and go with the cheapest that offers a 30k warranty. If the actual rebuild is bad 30k seems to be the magic number that will catch it (most of the time, in my experience).

Or, if it's not worth any of this... sell it for scrap