2001 Ranger 5r55e transmission - mechanic says it's dead - UPDATE! Fixed with new EPC

[brentoleary]

I have a low mileage (43K) 2001 ranger edge 4.0 litre w/ a 5r55e that is acting up. will not shift at normal point on 1-2 under light accelleration (revs to 3500+ and drops in gear shaking the whole truck apart- very disconcerting) shudders on 2-3. It is a 2 owner truck (bought it from my Dad at 24K about 1.5 years ago) so I know it was never driven hard. Neither of us ever towed anything with it and just commuted ~15 miles to work at < 50 miles/hour.

Anyway I read the 5r55e valve body rebuild diary and figured I would try the Ford blowoff valve and new separator plate upgrade last weekend. Unfortunately when I dropped the pan I could see that it already had the blowoff valve installed. I dropped the valve body anyway and put in the new separator plate making sure to torque it back per the instructions. I also noticed there were no (none/zero) metal shavings on the magnet in the pan and the fluid was generally red and new looking. So I have a hard time buying a catastrophic failure.

After I put it back together it seemed to run a bit better (different is probably a batter description), for a few days, but it is starting to act up again a week later. I dropped it off at a shop today and they say I need a full rebuild. I am trying to decide if I drop the $1500 plus, or give it another shot. Any thoughts? Any recommendations for a reputable shop/second opinion in Dallas, TX area?

Also - if anyone needs a new blowoff valve/ford tsb kit I have an unused one I'll make you a deal on .

Thanks

 

[Glacier991]

That is a low mileage tranny for problems. The 5R55 is better than that. And I picked up a brand new 2001 VB recently andnoticed it had the FORD mod installed, so maybe by the end of that year was when they started putting it in.

I am with you in my skepticism about mechanical failure.

Is your heat shield intact and in place?

Let's explore this a little before we throw you to the rebuild wolves.

 

[brentoleary]

That is a low mileage tranny for problems. The 5R55 is better than that. And I picked up a brand new 2001 VB recently andnoticed it had the FORD mod installed, so maybe by the end of that year was when they started putting it in.

I am with you in my skepticism about mechanical failure.

Is your heat shield intact and in place?

Let's explore this a little before we throw you to the rebuild wolves.

Yes, the heat shield is in tact. The bottom of the truck basically looks brand new (with the exception of fluid on the cross members from my mercon V shower last weekend)

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! EPC solenoids usually last a lot longer, but could still be the cause of the problems. Did you do a pressure test, and scan the PCM for codes?

 

[brentoleary]

EPC solenoids usually last a lot longer, but could still be the cause of the problems. Did you do a pressure test, and scan the PCM for codes?

I scanned the PCM and found nothing. I didn't do a pressure test, just tested the impedance of the various solenoids. The O/D off light has flashed about three times over the last month, but every time that happens I haven't been able to get a code. Light goes off w/ a key cycle.

I have the code reader in the passenger seat so I can catch it if it happens again.

 

[Glacier991]

I think we can skin this cat Brent..... hang on to your wallet for now.

 

[BrooklynBay]

If the light came on at one point, then it should have a stored scan code. Some readers will only show codes that cause a CEL, and not codes that are stored in the computer's memory. Most should be able to show everything. What scan tool did you use?

 

[brentoleary]

If the light came on at one point, then it should have a stored scan code. Some readers will only show codes that cause a CEL, and not codes that are stored in the computer's memory. Most should be able to show everything. What scan tool did you use?

The first two times time I had the auto-zone guy use his (an actron I think). Subsequently I bought a cheap one from harbor freight tools that just displays the raw codes to carry around in the truck w/ me, but the light hasn't flashed since I got it so I don't know if it will read them or not.

 

[Glacier991]

On codes, one thing to remember is that codes fall into 2 categories.... generic (most all readers can read them.... and proprietary... manufacturer special codes that not all can read. Often in trannies the codes that cause flashing can be proprietary and so Joe Schmoe's scanner/reader will not read it.

Generic codes are in the hundreds.... P0741 for example....Proprietary would P1746, in the thousands.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I have a feeling that there is a code stored in there since it did flash at one point.

 

[brentoleary]

I picked up the Ranger from the shop this morning and talked with the technician. They did not drop the pan, but ran a transmission tester on it and drove it. He said he thought the problem was related to the the valve body but the testing was sort of inconclusive. He also said their standard fix would be to rebuild the tranny. My guess is that it is easier and faster to replace the whole tranny w/ a rebuilt than to trial and error diagnose/order parts etc.

 

[BrooklynBay]

They make more money when they rebuild the entire transmission. That's the reason why they don't just do the VB. They should try the VB first. If there is only a minimal improvement, they wouldn't be wasting their time, since they would have to do the VB anyway.

 

[brentoleary]

Glacier,

Do you have any of your famous rebuilt valve bodies for sale? Is it worth swapping it out to see if it cures my woes?

Brent

 

[Glacier991]

See my PM... But I do have a brand new one you can swap out and try if you like. Might give you an idea what rebuilding yours might do.

 

[brentoleary]

Just wanted to update and close this off in case someone else has a similar problem. A neighbor of mine gave me the name of a good ford transmission guy who moonlights outside of his job at the local Ford dealer. He diagnosed it as a bad EPC solenoid and replaced it for ~$320 including parts and labor and just had to keep it overnight. I picked it up yesterday and the truck runs and shifts like a champ now. And the biggest plus is I don't have to take another Mercon V shower again (which incidentally scared the crap out of my 10 year old when he came in the garage and thought I had been bleeding all over the place ).

Also wanted to pass along the thanks to this group for all of the advice and help. If it weren't for this forum I would probably be about $1200 lighter in the wallet and have a "rebuilt" transmission with 90% of the parts with more miles than the "bad" tranny it replaced.

 

[Glacier991]

Another satisfied customer !! <g> Congrats ! And thanks for updating us.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update. Besides saving money on an entire rebuild, you have also avoided the possibility of getting a defective rebuilt transmission.