5R55E Valve Body Questions

[Stangyog]

I have a '97 Explorer Control Trak, with 150,000 miles. I have had no issues with it til lately. Every now and then the Over-Drive light on the dash starts to flash, and the shifts become hard, generally after an extended trip. I have been doing alot of looking on the forum and was going to go to a tranny shop and get the codes read. Thinking it might be a solenoid issue, with the help of a repair manual I was going to try to replace them myself, and maybe put in valve body upgrade kit. I am pretty mechanically inclinded and do all of my own repairs. How hard is this to do? Can the valve body be removed with the tranny still in the vehicle? What should I look for as I am taking it apart (ie.. little parts to fall out and get lost, big parts to fall out and hit me on the head)? If it is a solenoid problem will this correct the problem, or will it be just a temporary fix? I have read the valve body rebuild diary, and I am just looking for all the info I can get.

Brad

 

[jimbo74]

talk to glacier, he is cool and is the man.....

from what i gathered he does upgrades to the valve body and its the best avaialbel, i plan on having him do mine one day--- he said most of the issue with failure is due to the valve body....



the light flashing is the first sign the tranny is going south, overdrive is the first to fail

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Go to the trans section and look in the list of threads at the top, there is a VB rebuild diary full of pictures and very helpful info.

 

[Glacier991]

When you have the flashing OD light tht first thing to do is to get the codes read. That will give you some place to start in your diagnosis and repair.

At 150,000 miles I can practically guarantee you that the EPC is tired.

Anyway get the codes read and let us know what you find. We can tailor a more specific responseonce we know that info.