2000 4.0 Explorer transmission

[snow580]

Hello everyone I'd like to say how informative your site has been for me!!

A friend of a friend has this explorer that has been sitting for over a year ever since getting the engine rebuilt. Apparently from what I was told when they were pulling the old engine out they left a few electical connections connected and pulled a bunch of wires apart. Again this is what I was told third party.
Someone else went in there and supposedly fixed all the wires that were damaged.
They were not able to get the engine to even fire for the past year and that is where I came into the picture. They hauled it to my house dropped it off and I went to work checking over some stuff and here I find the crank sensor was not attached
Well it started right up and after tightening and rerouting some wires I thought all was well........that is until I tried to move. The check engine light was on with multiple transmission codes. I crawled underneath and the square plug on the side of the tranny was not hooked up and it was kinda damaged so that scared me but it fixed all the codes except a P0755 so I went to searching your site and found some info on which wire to check and it was open so I ran a new wire from the PCM to the tranny and now there are no codes and it still doesn't move.
I called the owner and asked if she is sure it moved before they started the project and it did. The fluid looks perfect but a little overfilled but I wouldn't think that would cause it.
Anyone have any ideas or anything I missed?

 

[vroomzoomboom]

i wounder if the converter wasn't engaged when they put the motor back in, and damaged either it, or the pump. does the fluid level change when its running vs motor is not running?

 

[snow580]

I did check the converter bolts at they were all in there and tight but yeah that would actually be a very good possibility that they did not get it engaged correctly. I don't think the level does change at all but I will go check that right now.
Thanks for the reply!!

 

[snow580]

Ok well I went and checked it and the fluid level does not change at all! It stays at what I would say 1 quart overfilled.
Is there any possible way that an electrical solenoid would cause this? I'm sure that's wishful thinking but I gotta ask.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

not sure, but i think it may be time to visit a trans shop for them to confirm

 

[snow580]

Oh that's what I was hoping to avoid.
Does anyone know what terminals on the transmission plug should have power and which ones should be grounded?

 

[Kevin-Truro,NS]

When you say it doesn't move, you mean the truck stays in park? Or will it roll as if in neutral?

 

[snow580]

It rolls just fine. It just won't move when I put it in any of the gears. I did notice that the engine revs a little when you hit 2 but not any other gears.

 

[IAmTodd]

not sure, but i think it may be time to visit a trans shop for them to confirm

Pull it yourself if you have a few jackstands and a good set of tools.

It rolls just fine. It just won't move when I put it in any of the gears. I did notice that the engine revs a little when you hit 2 but not any other gears.

Higher revs in second would be normal as the engine would have a higher load and would need to compensate.

 

[snow580]

Pull it yourself if you have a few jackstands and a good set of tools.

Oh I definitely will be pulling it myself but what i need to know is if there is any possible way that a solenoid or something electrical would cause the transmission to not function at all.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

Oh I definitely will be pulling it myself but what i need to know is if there is any possible way that a solenoid or something electrical would cause the transmission to not function at all.

i would understand if it wouldnt move in forward or reverse, but both imo would be a long shot. myself i would have to guess either the pump or converter is the problem. also, does the fluid look, or smell burnt?

 

[snow580]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking too. The fluid looks and smells like brand new yet so probably gonna involve taking the transmission out
Any other ideas please post them here!!
Thanks for everything
Jake

 

[snow580]

What would happen if the transmission gear range sensor was having issues? Would it not move from that?
If anyone has a similar vehicle could you unhook the plugs from the transmission and see if it still works in any gear?:notworthy
Probably grasping at straws but I want to exhaust all possibilities before going in deeper and pulling the transmission.

Thanks!!
Jake

 

[snow580]

Ok so I talked to the owners son who is the person who actually removed and reinstalled the transmission and he said that they pulled the engine with the torque converter still attached. I then thought out of poops and laughs that maybe the filter was possibly just plugged solid so I went ahead and changed that (installed a drain plug while I was in there) the old one was pretty dirty looking but no luck. I then took one of the tranny cooler lines off of the radiator and there is absolutely no flow coming out of it and it actually looked like there was no fluid ever in there. Totally dry....

Now while I've changed countless transmissions/engines I've never actually wrecked a torque converter or pump in that process so is there something specific I should look for on either of those two pieces?

Also what's everyones preference pull the engine or drop the transmission??

Thanks again!!

 

[IAmTodd]

Transmission will be much easier to drop than pulling the engine. Generally you'd pull the transmission out the bottom before pulling the engine anyways.

 

[snow580]

The reason I ask is the crossmember below the tranny is not removable like most so it doesn't look very easy.

 

[IAmTodd]

It's been a few years since I have been under a second gen but I would find it hard to believe the crossmember isn't removable.

 

[snow580]

The torsion bars attach to it so I'm guessing that's why it's welded in.

 

[IAmTodd]

I doubt it's welded. If it is a previous owner did it. It has to come out in order to get the trans out. You may have to remove the torsion bar adjuster skid plates.

 

[delexploder]

Look closer towards the tranny its three bolts on each side and two nuts for the mount and from what I have read ( pulled the motor with the torque converter connected) chances are very good the front pump is either not engaged with the converter or its damaged. I would drop it just enough to see if the converter is all the way in ( two clunks) then put it back with the converter nuts and say four bellhousing bolts and try it. I know its alot of work but if your on a budget I think its the best way to start.