5R55E Tranny Trouble (no first gear)

[ok89]

Ok well I'm on my way home from school today and i stop because the truck in front of me is turning into the shopping center. Well he turns and then I accelerate moderately to get back up to speed. What happens? Absolutely nothing. It feels like I'm in neutral. So I let off and then try again same result. Then I tried to go into neutral and back into D. Still nothing. So using the little momentum I have going I manage to turn into the shopping center and then push the X into a parking spot. I turn it off and call my parents who of course are no where to be found and then decide to check the tranny fluid. So I turn on the car and check it. Its looking nice and red and doesnt smell burnt and is at a nice level. So then I get back in the X and try the gears. I try Reverse and it works. I try D and it moves just barely when the rpms are at about 4k. I try 2 and it works. I try 1 and I get the same result I got in D. So I decide I'm only a few miles from home I will just drive it home in 2 nice and carefully. So now I'm at home and I have no 1st gear. I've already taken all the stuff out of the X and am probably taking it to the dealer in a few minutes because we do still have the extended warranty. The X has 74980 miles on it. The tranny fluid was changed at around 70000 miles. Recently there has been smoke coming from one of the catylitic converters which is located right under the tranny. So I guess I'm just wondering if any of yall know what is going on. Thanks for listening to me and I appreciate any and all replies made.


EDIT: It is now at the dealership.

 

[Robert]

Maybe the catalytic converter is plugged and was causing a lot of excess heat. Heat is not good for a transmission, especially when the source is 3" below the transmission. Look at it the other way and maybe your transmission was leaking fluid onto the catalytic converter underneith causing it to smoke. Be thankful you still have a warranty. I just found out Monday that my Wife lost OD on her '93 Mercury Sable. It happened sometime within the last two months since that is how long it has been since I have driven it. It's not under warranty and I am fearing a $1500 transmission in my future.

 

[ok89]

Well I just got off the phone with the service writer and he informed me that it needs a new transmission and my warranty company covered it so tomorrow morning I get to pick it up and only have to pay 100 dollars .
Is a rebuilt (from the dealership) as good as a new transmission?
Also I can't believe that after dropping it off yesterday afternoon I can pick it up tomorrow morning. Thats the fastest service I have ever had. So if they are telling the truth I will be really really happy.

 

[TarHeel085]

ok89, if you dont mind, what company do you have your extended warranty through and how much does it cost?

 

[ok89]

The warranty we got was the Ford ESP BaseCARE for Used Vehicles. I don't remember how much we paid for it but it has seen alot of use. (I'm almost positive that all the things its been used for and now this transmission that it has easily paid for itself) They have never tried to say that something was caused by neglect or anything like some other companies do. For more information try this link www.ford-esp.com

 

[ok89]

Well we just got it back today. Its got a remanufactured transmission in it. That cost $1450. Total for all parts and labor was $2157.52 Total cost for us was $100 dollars .
Hopefully this one will last more than 74980 miles.
The problem was apparently a broken sprag clutch. Anyone know what a sprag clutch is and what it does?

EDIT: The service was done at Helfman Ford in Stafford, TX. The Service Writter was very nice even to me (18 year old).

 

[Jason_25]

Yuck! Sorry to hear about your tranny failure at such a low mileage ok89. Now you have to post in this thread:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=39535&highlight=a4ld


Do you drive the truck hard?

 

[ok89]

Well I don't have the A4LD I have the 5R55E so I don't think I should vote in that should I? Also I drive it hard maybe once a week depending on what kind of mood I'm in. But I never neutral drop it or anything crazy like that. Also we got this Explorer at about 40k so I'm not sure how the previous owner drove it. It was a fleet vehicle so it could be good or bad.