4R55E-Simple fix or Costly Problem?

[HotRodBAMF]

Hey guys! I gotta 95 explorer 2wd with the 4r55e. I think it has more than a few problems, but lets see what you all think.

1). Linkage problem?- won't engage in park. almost like it's between reverse and park because it won't start unless it's in neutral and the parking pawl won't engage. also reverse and neutral is hard to find and drive through first manually selected is only "drive". Doesn't feel like it's going all the way down or up even though thegear selector says it is. mabey streatched cable? dunno how the linkage is set up in an explorer.

2) Transmission shot?- won't go anywhere in reverse. no movement at all at any rpm. first gear engages innitially with a clunk with a little rpm but slips outragiously and will not engage 2nd gear. if you add gas it'll pick up speed but it'll be slowley at a high rpm. When it first started this mess, i could go down the bridge close to my house and the inertia would help it into 2nd. Now it won't engage 2nd gear.

I'm hoping these are simple fixes. I do know alot about mechanics, so you can have a conversation with me. But, i know nothing of trannys. besides, the damn thing has 188,000 miles on it. not hoping for a whole lot really, but with money the way it is, i will consider all options availible to me! thanks alot guys!

 

[BrooklynBay]

You could try adjusting the linkage to see if that will help. Sometimes it could be the range sensor.

 

[HotRodBAMF]

ok, thanks. i wasn't sure if the 95's were cable driven, or what. what about the other tranny problems? thanks

 

[BrooklynBay]

The misalignment might throw off the manual slide valve so start with the adjustment before doing anything else on the transmission.

 

[eXcali]

I agree BrooklynBay, I was thinking linkage from the start and I know little to nothing about trannys! If the linkage adjustment helps I would drop the pan, drain the fluid and put a new tranny filter in there and fill it with fresh fluid. One would be amazed at how fresh fluid helps a troubled tranny.

 

[HotRodBAMF]

OK thanks guys. like i said, i can work on just about anything on a car or truck except for trannys and diffs . I know nothing in that department. so how can i adjust the linkage an this beast? haha

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the links in # 19 in my list of useful threads for more information.

 

[HotRodBAMF]

Ok. thanks brooklynbay for the tech info! got that squared away, but the tranny still has no reverse and is slow to engage first gear. i haven't road tested it, but before it was slipping in first and wouldn't come out of that gear into 2nd. mabey it's the bands? how much do i tighten them up and wich one is which? I'll probably do a filter/oil change as the tranny fluid is brown, not red! I had to smell it to make sure it wasn't motor oil from the previous owner, but it is tranny fluid. also noticed your tech page on the bad seperator plate/valve body gasket. how do i know if that's the part that went out? thanks guys

 

[BrooklynBay]

The TransTec Viton O ring kit for the low/reverse servo might help the delayed engagement problem while going into reverse or low gear. Check these links:
http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/A4LD_4R44E_5R55E_reverse_servo_D_ring_kit_p/230-00023256k.htm
http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/FORD_A4LD_transmission_gaskets_p/230-000023128.htm

 

[HotRodBAMF]

ok. but it has no reverse.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Since there is a problem with reverse, and low gear, it would be a good idea to start with the low/reverse servo, and the valve body.