2003 Explorer Transmission solenoid and overdrive servo

[Ta2MikeP]

You may need more of a mechanic than a tuner. Rebuidling the trans shouldn't require a reflash, only modifying parameters should. That said, if you decide that you need custom reprogramming, check out sctflash.com to locate a tuner in your area.

According to Ford, and an independent trans specialist whenever there is a critical mechanical issue with the trans or engine the computer enters into a "safe mode" so that you can get the vehicle home. Simply resetting the computer by disconnecting the negative battery terminal will not reset the codes that caused the computer to enter this safety mode, and the computer must then be reprogrammed. It sounds wweird to me that solving the mechanical issue that caused the problem to begin with did not relay the information to the computer. If there is supposed to be real-time monitoring by the computer, why have to reprogram it?

 

[Pontisteve]

According to Ford, and an independent trans specialist whenever there is a critical mechanical issue with the trans or engine the computer enters into a "safe mode" so that you can get the vehicle home. Simply resetting the computer by disconnecting the negative battery terminal will not reset the codes that caused the computer to enter this safety mode, and the computer must then be reprogrammed. It sounds wweird to me that solving the mechanical issue that caused the problem to begin with did not relay the information to the computer. If there is supposed to be real-time monitoring by the computer, why have to reprogram it?

That doesn't make sense. Any time Ford sees a sensor failure, they ignore that sensor and go into FMEM (Failure management effects mode). This is where the PCM either goes into a safety mode, or just fills in the blanks in the PCM with realistic fake data. For example, if your coolant temp sensor reads 360 degrees, the PCM knows thats bogus and ignores that reading. It then throws a code for back CTS sensor, and plugs in a realistic number like 195 into the equation. This keeps the car running fairly normal so you can drive it until its fixed.

If you have an engine or trans code, you simply fix the mechanical issue, clear the code, and run it again to see if the code comes back. Sometimes you don't even have to clear the code. You can just drive it, and as long as the problem doesn't re-emerge, the code will eventually clear after maybe 50 key cycles.

Reprogramming rewrites the calibration on the truck. Clearing keep-alive-memory (by clearing the codes) simply erases any past history of problems, so the PCM starts from scratch (the original program) without any adjustments that have been stored in keep alive memory.

 

[brokedownford]

So many problbems with these trannys are there any recalls or upgrades to help that are free like other manufacturers do when there is an obvious design flaw we are spending alot of money trying to keep these explorers useable where's the love man

 

[dartt99]

Hi All, My 2003 Explorer XLT 4x4, 4.0 77K miles driven lightly and never towed..Had a problem with the transmission not coming out of 1st gear unless I let off the gas pedal and kind of manually shifted it with the gas pedal and it would not go in to overdrive(5th). Then the overdrive light started to flash and it threw a service engine light. I went to auto zone to get the code read and it said P0775 and another code that said 5th gear ratio wrong. After reading these threads I replaced the solenoid in the trans and it did the same with no repair. I talked to a Ford tech at the local dealer and he said to replace the overdrive servo and adjust the band. I got him to do it and he update the trans programming and now it is back to new. I wish I knew if it was fixed before the reprogrammed was done but he did it all at one time. I wrote this thread because I was told by the dealer earlier and a trans shop that they would have to pull the trans for more testing or a rebuild which was expensive. The overdrive servo was done in 2 hours or less and only cost $30.00 for the parts and I gave the tech 200.00 for labor and the reprogram. I was going to do the servo myself but thought for 150.00 labor he new what to do if something went wrong(which I don't with transmissions).
I hope this may help others with these symptoms like mine, he said this is now common.

Thanks for the info. I was wondering how long did this fix last? I just did mine and it was doing the same thing as yours.