2002 Explorer Tranny Problem...Revisited

[gbranh]

Okay, I posted over in the 2002 Explorer/Stock Explorer forum about a month ago, about a tranny problem in my wife's 2002 4.0, 4x4 Explorer. Bone stock, 109,000 miles. Since we've owne it (purchased 4 yrs ago at 59,000 miles), it has not had a fluid change.

I noticed the tranny would sometimes shudder a bit when hitting the gas lightly, to keep constant speed up a slight incline. It seems as though it shifts early into 4th and 5th (O/D?), and under light load, actually lunges slightly when shifting into these gears. Once in 5th, lightly applying gas to cause an upshift results in a shudder of sorts. Applying gas more "spirited" will avoid all of these symptoms altogether, and turning off the O/D seems to help, as well. Applying gas gingerly seems to make the symptoms more pronounced.

We've never towed with the truck, nor off-roaded. Seldom 4HI use in snow, and mostly 4AUTO when needed. 4HI, 4LO, and 4AUTO currently operate as expected.

I took it to a local tranny shop, and they gave it a good look-see, and found nothing wrong. Fluid looked fairly clean, but not dirty. Everything else seemed to be healthy, so they had us come get it, charged us nothing, and told me to bring it back if the problem came back/persisted/got worse, etc, and they'd start with the cheapest thing first: a fluid change.

I'm thinking about taking it back next week, because the guy seems honest, and "wants my business for life", and isn't "trying to make his day or week off of one customer". He seems like he won't simply take me for a ride and rip me off. His shop is a member of www.atra.com.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Greg

 

[dogfriend]

I once had a slight shudder when going up hills and when towing my trailer. I thought it was a transmission problem, but it turned out to be a misfire under load. It never set a code, but I was able to capture it by reading the PID (parameter ID) with a scan tool while driving up a hill where I could reproduce it. It turned out to be the coil pack (high resistance on the secondary side).

In any event, I would go ahead and change the fluid. It won't hurt and you are overdue for a change.

 

[gbranh]

I think I'll do that, thanks.

I considered a misfire as the culprit for the shudder, but it only shudders for a second when it shifts out of O/D, precisely when it shifts, as if a solenoid isn't opening quickly enough, a band is slipping, etc.

We'll give it the ole service shot, and see what happens.

I'll report back.

Thanks,

Greg

 

[gbranh]

Okay! Here's an update:

I took it to the tranny guy Tuesday, and had him and his mechanic drive it. We talked about solenoid packs, valve body gaskets, tranny flushes, 4x4 modules; pretty much everything I've learned from you guys. I gave them the opportunity to replace any and/or all the above, and they said "We'd be wasting your money if we replaced all of those components, because that's not the problem, and you don't have any codes to support a problem with those components".

Fair enough, then.

So, they flushed the tranny, replaced the tranny filter, replaced with Mercon V fluid and an additive package of some sort. I shared my (somewhat) concern about flushing the tranny, since the fluid hadn't been changed in forever, and he said he'd be concerned, too, if the truck had (his words), 280,000 miles on it, and it had never been changed, had been driven in severe conditions, etc. But, he said at 109,000, the fluid was definitely "used up", but not horrible.

So, they did the deed. Took about 90 minutes, start to finish, including an extensive drive by the mechanic when he was done. They told me it might take 400 or 500 miles for the additive package to do it's work.

They gave me the keys, I paid my $188 for the work, and I walked out to the truck, expecting a minor improvement, and to feel generally underwhelmed. Wouldn't you know...the tranny was perfect! It drove like a brand new truck! Simply amazing. They told me they were confident that's all it needed, and now, after putting 60 miles on it in a few days, it's still running absolutely flawless.

I guess the moral of the story on these Explorers is to CHANGE THE TRANNY FLUID even though the service manual tells you not to.

Greg

 

[dogfriend]

I guess the moral of the story on these Explorers is to CHANGE THE TRANNY FLUID even though the service manual tells you not to.

Greg

Does it really say not to change the trans fluid or does it say a change is not required?

There is a difference. The truck can usually make through the warranty period using the original fluid, but if you are going to keep the truck longer than that, it is wise to change the fluid on regular intervals.

For my 97, I took the truck to the AAA diagnostic shop before I bought it to have it checked out. Everything was fine, but the tech recommended having the ATF changed as it was starting to turn dark. The truck had 33k miles at that time. IMO, Mercon V is not a lifetime fluid.

 

[jrford]

ya, they called it 'Filled for Life' or sealed for life or something which was about 150k miles. Thats why they deleted the fill tube.

 

[dogfriend]

ya, they called it 'Filled for Life' or sealed for life or something which was about 150k miles. Thats why they deleted the fill tube.

Deleting the fill tube and dipstick has to be one of the craziest things that Ford has ever done. Especially on the Explorer. What are Explorers famous for? Blowing transmissions. :