2005 Explorer transmission only moves in 1st/2nd

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

Ok so yes I did some searches but I feel like I should just post this anyways and get some more definitive answers instead of posting in older threads.


so......my Parents have an 05 4.0 4x4, my mom took it to work today, ran/drove fine.


she called me later in the afternoon when she was trying to leave to go home and it wouldn't go into gear, it would make like a normal slight jerk when you shift it into gear but then nothing when you hit the throttle except for some light whining noise.

so I drove into town to look at it and after putzing with it for a bit i found that it would move in 1st and 2nd position, it would jerk a little abruptly when you shifted from parked to 1st or 2nd after throttling a little bit but then it would move find but only in 1st and second.

so I looked for some answers, when i got it home, on google and on here.

Sounds like its a good possibility that its the Overdrive sprag?

I'm just wondering if its worth all the trouble to pull the transmission out and take it apart and fix this component if thats indeed what it is. or if i should get just get a different transmission like most likely a reman.

The explorer is in fairly decent shape, minimal rust, runs fine has about 144.000 miles on it.

Just looking for some input from others that had this situation on what you think would be best.

I would be doing the work myself so its not going to be an immediate fix, probably start on it next week after my work week ends and go from there.


also.....if the Reman transmission is the better route, what brand reman do you suggest and where to get it? I've never had to buy a reman so i have no idea where to get a good one.

anyways. Thanks in advance.

 

[TechGuru]

Check the fluid level first.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

fluid is full and good color

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

i guess thats it then?

 

[imp]

i guess thats it then?

@Ford_Racing_Guy
The last reman I bought, I got from Ford, for my '96. O'reilly wanted $2600 for theirs, who knows who does their rebuilding? They also only offered a 90 day warranty. Ford's was $2300, came with a rebuilt or new converter, they won't sell a reman without converter replacement. Ford warranty was 36 months/36,000 miles. The trans. worked fine, only noticeable difference from the OEM was 1st. gear made an audible hum, not loud, just noticeable. No problem. Different trans. from yours, true that. imp

 

[TechGuru]

Ya would be real dumb to not replace the torque converter while the transmission is removed after 100K for any reason.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

Advance auto has a brand called ETE and i checked out their corporate site, they seem to be well known.
I can get one through them for roughly 1900 bucks after the core charge is deducted and it comes with a torque convertor

Oreilly's has 2 different brands, one is All Trans about the same price as the ETE and also comes with a torque convertor

looks like they both have a 3 year warranty

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

the Napa line has them for just over 2 grand. don't know the brand, doesn't say.

Rockauto has one for 1500 but of course thats before shipping etc and then there's the chore of sending back the core, that one is made my Transmission Authority

Shift Rite has a reman on ebay for 1300 but i think thats without the convertor and you have to pay extra for the warranty.

probably less of a headache to go the parts store route.

I'll look up a ford reman as well. if its not that big of a difference maybe thats the better idea.

 

[transman304]

ETE is a very good re manufacturing company. Great warranty to boot. Good luck.

 

[TechGuru]

I wish there were alternative transmissions we could install, preferably ones made by Allison or Eaton.

 

[transman304]

I wish there were alternative transmissions we could install, preferably ones made by Allison or Eaton.

They have just as many problems as what you are experiencing but much more money to repair.

 

[TechGuru]

They have just as many problems as what you are experiencing but much more money to repair.

So better to just get a manual transmission?

I have a manual in my car, never any problems with it! Main reason I won't get rid of it even though it's a 1991. It's very reliable.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

ETE is a very good re manufacturing company. Great warranty to boot. Good luck.

thank you, exactly the reassurance I needed, I'll head to advance auto parts on my next day off and look into them.

 

[transman304]

You're welcome. Good luck and let us know how it works out. Also make sure to flush the cooler and cooler lines of debris before installing them back on the replacement transmission. Often overlooked and will cause repeat failure.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

hey thanks, yeah i'm not looking forward to it, but hopefully its not too bad.

at least it shouldn't be as heavy as the E4OD that i swapped out of a 92 f150 a couple years ago, that transmission is huge.

 

[transman304]

I hear ya! This thing I have on the bench now makes the E4OD look like a toy!
It is the Ford 6R140.

 

[imp]

I hear ya! This thing I have on the bench now makes the E4OD look like a toy!
It is the Ford 6R140.

@transman304
Neat! What plugs into the square hole on LH side? Unlike most automatic cases I've seen; looks like an old manual's PTO port. Thanks for those pics! imp

 

[transman304]

Imp, that is exactly what that is. Good eye! This is out of a specially truck for the coal mine industry.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

well i started on it earlier tonite and so far its been quite a nightmare


I have about 4 to 5 hrs in it and i don't even have the crossmember or exhaust completely off.

all the bolts on the bottom of the crossmember have snapped off.

about the only thing that has gone right is taking off the drive shafts.

I have no idea how to get the 2 upper bolts out of the right side of the crossmember without taking the gas tank off and I already have an idea of how well thats gonna go.



and while i was underneath I noticed it has a reman tag on it. so this is already its second transmission so maybe if i do ever get it out maybe i will just fix it and put it back in since it should have the updates.


then i'm gonna suggest they sell the damn thing cause i'm not ever gonna do this again.

 

[transman304]

If it is a Motorcraft Reman it will not have any "updates" it will be as produced. Some remanufacture company's will do some critical updates. Most not. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.