1999 Explorer Auto 4x4 Transmission Shift Problem

[dtunget]

Here's the story: We started having an issue about a month ago where our explorer would not go into gear right away from, say, a dead stop at a traffic light, so it's in D, try to take off and the engine just revs for a second then goes into gear. Then this progressed to happening when going from 1st to 2nd gear. So at say, 20mph and under, I'm having the transmission come out of gear and the engine just reving up like it's in neutral. This seems to happen less when the explorer is cold and more frequently when we've driven a few miles. It works just find if I manually go through the gears.

So, I took it to a fairly respectable shop here and had them take a look. Well, you guessed it, it only happens when it's warmed up good and they didn't drive it far enough for it to start messing up. They didn't have any trouble when they drove it, so we just had them service it (no significant findings in the fluid,) and we went on about our way, however, this did nothing to correct our problem and it's only been getting worse.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I really don't know what tranny I have. Is there an easy way to tell from the VIN or something or does auto 4 wheel drive tell you all that you need to know? Also, this problem doesn't happen past 30mph or so. Once it's out of the lower 2 gears it's all good to cruise down the highway or whatever, it's just taking off that's a problem.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!

 

[Glacier991]

You have a strong liklihood of having a blown or partially blown valve body gasket is my guess. I'd suggest you read the 5R55E Valve Body rebuild Diary in the stickies section above.

ps. Welcome to the site !

pps. Try this thread ... it illustrates what I am talking about.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149830&page=1&pp=20

 

[dtunget]

So just a valve body gasket kit? Looks like something I may be able to do myself. Any special tools required? This tranny is under warranty, but the warranty only covers "internal lubricated parts." Valve body gasket isn't one of them. I'd like to do this myself at the lowest possible cost. I don't have a shop full of tools to do it with, but I have the standard stuff and unless there is some rocket science to it, I have the ability. Just point me in the direction of a cost effective kit!

 

[Glacier991]

Everythihg you need to know is contained in the "5R55E Valve Body Reapir Dairy" in the "sticky threads" at the top of this forum.

 

[Joseph O'neil 3]

Hey my name is Joey I've got a 99 ford explorer 4x4 v6 and my dad thinks the transmission is slipping. these are the reasons why: 1.we took the dipstick out to check the oil and it smelt burnt 2. when we go to drive it take almost 10 secs for it to go.
Is my transmission going to die completly and will I have to spend big bucks on getting a new one. thanks

 

[dtunget]

Hey my name is Joey I've got a 99 ford explorer 4x4 v6 and my dad thinks the transmission is slipping. these are the reasons why: 1.we took the dipstick out to check the oil and it smelt burnt 2. when we go to drive it take almost 10 secs for it to go.
Is my transmission going to die completly and will I have to spend big bucks on getting a new one. thanks

I'm not an expert on these, I don't even own my 99 explorer anymore, but I can tell you that I experienced different times where it would take a few attempts to get going when I would stop, with the car in drive, like at a red light...this got worse as the engine/tranny got warmer, so I might not have it first thing in the morning, but after a couple hours of errands it'd start to happen.

Mine ended up being covered under my extended warranty, I can tell you the fix required a rebuild and in Oklahoma City at the garage I went to, it ran right at $1500 for the repair job. Keep in mind this post is a couple years old so that might not be absolutely accurate.