1993 Ford Explorer 4x4 XLT Transmission issues

[Bertolo1988]

Okay so last year I took it to a tranny shop and had it rebuilt. I had to take it back 4 times before the shop decided to install the external intercoolor and after that it seemed like it worked great except for Low range would not engage, 4x4 would engage but LOW RANGE would not, and yes I followed the procedure specified in the owners manual to the T... I used it plenty of times before the tranny went out the first time... I know how to engage low range properly. (stopped, depressed brake, neutral, hit the button, wait for it to engage cept not it doesn't)

so here we are now with the transmission not changing gears, when I put it into reverse it kicks into the gear pretty roughly, drive and overdrive only uses 1st gear so I'm forced to drive everywhere in 2nd if I wanna go over 20 MPH without wasting fuel.

I'm still under warrantee so the problem of the tranny isn't really the issue. The shop (http://advancedtransmissionandgear.com/) mechanics told me when I had brought it back one of the 4 times that low range had absolutely nothing to do with any of the work they did on the transmission.... I want to know if this is true? I just need some knowledge of it so when I take it back this week so they can rebuild it(for the 5th time) I can tell them they need to make sure 4x4 and the low range works.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Are you referring to low gear on the transmission or the transfer case?

 

[Bertolo1988]

I'm referring to the low range. there is only one button for it. says Low Range on the dashboard right underneath the 4x4 button that engages the 4x4. I can take a picture of the button if it will help.

/edit

Before I took it to them the first time when it engaged the RPM's would go up and I'd hear and feel it engage, it now does nothing.

that's not my specific buttons but it's the same thing, the 4x4 button engages the 4x4 properly but the low range button does nothing anymore.

 

[timtimtimajim]

The issue you are having with your transmission and the low range not engaging are two separate issues. Transmission wise I guess take it back to the shop to have it rebuilt again. Though it seems like if you've had it rebuilt that many times there may be an issue with the shop you're taking it to.

Low range not engaging has to do with your transfer case. My guess would be the shift motor on the transfer case isn't working properly to put it in low range. I'm not totally sure though.

 

[Bertolo1988]

seems like they must have messed up taking the transmission out or putting it back in or didn't reconnect something during the repairs because it worked before they touched the explorer. Just doesn't make sense why rebuilding the transmission would make the transfer case break or whatever it did.

 

[timtimtimajim]

No I agree with you. It does seem like they did something. What that something is though, I'm not totally sure. Maybe have them look at the transfer case when you take it in for the transmission. I'll bet they could figure it out pretty quick.

 

[Bertolo1988]

I was just wondering what the chances were because one of the times i had to bring it back because the tranny exploded with tranny fluid over the entire outside of the truck, I asked the mechanic about it and he sternly said no it has nothing to do with what they did and said he had no idea why it would not work anymore after they rebuilt the transmission. Considering this would be the 6th time I returned with it broken again during the warranty I think they just have no experience with this transmission and learned on the fly or something.

 

[natenkiki2004]

Can you start the engine when in OD/D or Reverse? I'd suspect an issue with the neutral safety switch as it's an input for the Low Range switch. You have to be in Neutral, foot on the brake and stopped. That brings up another sensor, the speed sensor.

 

[Bertolo1988]

So, it starts while in reverse, drive, and overdrive. That would mean the Neutral Safe Switch is bad?

 

[natenkiki2004]

So, it starts while in reverse, drive, and overdrive. That would mean the Neutral Safe Switch is bad?

Yea, something is off then. Do your reverse lights work?

The issue I have is I don't know if the neutral safety switch is normally open or normally closed. What I mean is, if it's normally closed and putting the gear selector into D/OD/R/2/1 opens the circuit and prevents you from starting, then it's likely that the switch is just unplugged. This would also explain why you can't put the transfer case into Low Range, the computer isn't seeing the neutral signal from the switch.

Have a look underneath and see, it should be on the driver's side above the gear selector input shaft. See if there's a loose plug.