80% of 2005 Explorer Transmissions Fail

[Joe Dirt]

Probably said 80% because he gets 70% of his money from 40% of the people who believe what he says 50% of the time...

 

[speedracer g37]

Mine is at 137k and I think I'm starting to feel juddering at 2 to 3 shift.

 

[Rotorhead]

Anyone,

I may be looking at a rebuild on my 05 with 76,000 miles...having codes read today. I had the flashing o/d light with hard shifts three days ago. Although this has not happened again in the last 3 days.

For those of you that have had your tranny rebuilt, what would you say is the expected life of the rebuilt tranny?

Just trying to figure out if I need to get a new vehicle or if I should stick it out with this one...just spent $1300 on 4 brand new tires and new front/rear brakes so this is driving me somewhat crazy. I really like this vehicle and do not want another, but need to make a sound decision.

Thanks for any responses/advice.

 

[JohnnyO]

IMO trannys are getting weaker as the automakers try to make vehicles lighter and more fuel efficient, as well as cheaper to make.
As mentioned, Ford trannys won't last if you don't flush them. Every 30k was the standard for a long time, my '08 Sport Trac says 100k but I had it flushed at 50k anyway.
Tauruses are especially known for having weak trannys but my wife's '03 has 142k on it and the tranny works perfectly (knock on wood). Been flushed every 25k since new.
Basically what I'm saying is that if you get them flushed regularly you stand a chance of it lasting a while. If you don't flush them, then you have no chance at all.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Very true- they have to be flushed...

 

[94Eddie]

Anyone,

I may be looking at a rebuild on my 05 with 76,000 miles...having codes read today. I had the flashing o/d light with hard shifts three days ago. Although this has not happened again in the last 3 days.

For those of you that have had your tranny rebuilt, what would you say is the expected life of the rebuilt tranny?

Just trying to figure out if I need to get a new vehicle or if I should stick it out with this one...just spent $1300 on 4 brand new tires and new front/rear brakes so this is driving me somewhat crazy. I really like this vehicle and do not want another, but need to make a sound decision.

Thanks for any responses/advice.

I think the third gen transmissions can be made fairly reliable and durable if their weaknesses are addressed in the rebuild process. First make sure the servo bore issue is addressed and the shop is using high quality components. If you ask them how they handle the servo bore portion of the rebuild and they can't answer correctly then find another shop. Read up here as there is a lot of info on it and other things to consider for a tranny rebuild.

 

[blue_goose]

Your mechanic is right. There aren't many that go beyond 120k miles without a rebuild. The 80% by 120k number seems a little high to me but by 150k to 200k he might be right.

150-200k seems normal to me for how long an automatic transmission should last, no matter the vehicle. Even the some of the most reliable vehicles like the chevy 350's that go 300k and the ford 7.3L that have 400k have tranny issues well before 200k..... I'm closing 150k on mine and it runs smooth as can be and it needs a flush too. maybe I just got lucky.....

 

[Joe Dirt]

Good point on the servo bore- and that really extends to any major repair on any Explorer. Any shop that acts like they don't know what you're talking about with regards to some Explorer repairs doesn't have a tech experienced enough to deal with them. I mean how may Ex's are around? Any shop that hasn't heard of a chain tensioner failure, or a 3rd gen tranny issue doesn't need to be wrenching on an enthusiasts car. That's what led to me working on my own stuff, when the dealer refused to work on a new 2nd gen Taurus SHO because it had an "aftermarket engine installed"

 

[94Eddie]

150-200k seems normal to me for how long an automatic transmission should last, no matter the vehicle. Even the some of the most reliable vehicles like the chevy 350's that go 300k and the ford 7.3L that have 400k have tranny issues well before 200k..... I'm closing 150k on mine and it runs smooth as can be and it needs a flush too. maybe I just got lucky.....

My gut tells me that by 120k miles maybe 30%-40% of third gen Explorer transmission have gone bad. IMO, those numbers is way too high at that mileage point. I think that with proper maintenance and normal use, a transmission should go, on average, 200k+ before a rebuild if it is designed well.

 

[Rotorhead]

Had to take it to the dealer; local guys closed today. Told me that the codes read an 'internal transmission failure'. Quoted me three scenarios: #1--$3300 for a brand new tranny, #2--$2800 for a rebuilt, and then #3--$500 to take mine apart, look at what parts failed, and then replace those parts. He said maximum parts would be is $1700, so $2200 for scenario #3.

Going to give it some time to think about what the heck I should do. On top of the new tires and brakes I just bought, my extended warranty expired 6 months ago and I am only about 800 miles over the mileage for that warranty. What a way to spend Thanksgiving weekend. I may call Ford Customer Service to just vent my frustration, even though it will get me nothing.

I appreciate those answering my questions.

 

[Exproblems]

Anyone,

I may be looking at a rebuild on my 05 with 76,000 miles...having codes read today. I had the flashing o/d light with hard shifts three days ago. Although this has not happened again in the last 3 days.

For those of you that have had your tranny rebuilt, what would you say is the expected life of the rebuilt tranny?

Just trying to figure out if I need to get a new vehicle or if I should stick it out with this one...just spent $1300 on 4 brand new tires and new front/rear brakes so this is driving me somewhat crazy. I really like this vehicle and do not want another, but need to make a sound decision.
QUOTE]>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

When my first rebuilt tranny took a dump after just 32 days of use, the O/D light also flashed and I got a "check transmission" message on the message screen as well. I'm still on the 2nd rebuilt tranny, still working okay 8 months later. MY whole rebuilt tranny ordeal didn't cost me a dime, just a lot of aggravation.
If you get your tranny rebuilt, try and get it rebuilt with the better, aftermarket parts kit, not the factory Ford kit. I don't know the exact name of the kit, but it has to do with using brass parts instead of Fords aluminum parts. The Ford parts wear out fast. I think it was "Esclamada" who mentioned this in one of his posts the other day. $1300 on tires and brake pads is a little steep. Did that price come with new rotors as well?

 

[Rotorhead]

If you get your tranny rebuilt, try and get it rebuilt with the better, aftermarket parts kit, not the factory Ford kit. I don't know the exact name of the kit, but it has to do with using brass parts instead of Fords aluminum parts. The Ford parts wear out fast. I think it was "Esclamada" who mentioned this in one of his posts the other day. $1300 on tires and brake pads is a little steep. Did that price come with new rotors as well?

Thanks for the info. I will look on the site and see if I can find out about that kit.

Yes, the $1300 was for 4 new tires, new pads and rotors for front and rear.

 

[Rotorhead]

It's a bad design, so even if you have a rebuild now and it doesn't have the update servo pin bore (brass instead of using the aluminum body) then it's possible for another rebuild. It's just a matter of luck. IMHO frequent oil changes will not help either. Ford engineers were probably using crack when they designed this.

http://www.servobore.com/kits/5rw.html


Esclamada,

Do the parts in the link above work on the 2005 Sport Trac transmission as well? Thanks.

 

[RaistliN]

Woah I consider myself lucky. Just turned 158k miles, and the tranny is still running strong, plus I pull my 14 foot enclosed utility trailer more often than I should, and spend a lot of time in muddy trails. Shifts a little hard when cold but that's to be expected.

 

[2002GreyHD150]

over the last several weeks I ahve been reading alot on here as I am in the middle of an engine swap and several upgrades on the wife's Monty...

seems that the 4.0L guys are getting killed from all directions... 10-15mpg, transmissions made of glass, etc....

I think that the combination of the 4.0L & the overall weight of the Explorer/Monty is a big part of the equation. I hear most of the horror stories from 4.0L owners about the dreaded o/d light flash of death and the tranmission message etc.

'04 Monty here. 4.6L V8 AWD 181,183 miles... engine developed a knock-tap-rattle combo... the trans gave us fits early in its life. Went through (3) sets of servos finally a valve body and the 4th set of servos, so the fluid has been cycled several times before the warranty was up. Its due for another flush and filter once I get the engine back in this weekend. All fluids will be fresh after this round of mods...

So at 182K on the original trans.. I am happy. If it goes... Performance automatic will get my business. I will basically order a Mustang performance trans and then bolt it up to the AWD transfer case...AND I will be adding the dipstick conversion!

http://www.performanceautomatic.com...5r55-transmissions/5r55-s-w-transmission.html

Rob

 

[IZwack]

'04 Monty here. 4.6L V8 AWD 181,183 miles... engine developed a knock-tap-rattle combo... the trans gave us fits early in its life. Went through (3) sets of servos finally a valve body and the 4th set of servos, so the fluid has been cycled several times before the warranty was up. Its due for another flush and filter once I get the engine back in this weekend. All fluids will be fresh after this round of mods...

So at 182K on the original trans.. I am happy. If it goes... Level 10 or performance automatic will get my business. I will basically order a Mustang performance trans and then bolt it up to the AWD transfer case...AND I will be adding the dipstick conversion!

IMO, I wouldn't really call a transmission "original" if it's on the 4th set servos and has had its valve body replaced .

 

[esclamada]

It's a bad design, so even if you have a rebuild now and it doesn't have the update servo pin bore (brass instead of using the aluminum body) then it's possible for another rebuild. It's just a matter of luck. IMHO frequent oil changes will not help either. Ford engineers were probably using crack when they designed this.

http://www.servobore.com/kits/5rw.html


Esclamada,

Do the parts in the link above work on the 2005 Sport Trac transmission as well? Thanks.

Yes but it's a different kit (the one above is for 5R55W/S), there's a kit for A4LD (possiblly 4R55E or 5R55E for Sport Tracs) They have some for Mazda, Chrysler and GM transmissions too. I suspect these are the same set of engineers who build this crap design.

I highly recommend doing the upgraded servo bore kit when doing a rebuild. The dealership will just rebuild it with a new case.



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MY MOUNTY
http://www.facebook.com/diyfordexplorer?sk=photos

 

[Kage_]

I have a '05 with almost 150k with no work done. There are two other '05's in the group I worth with and they have 160k and 170k with no trannie work.

 

[Rotorhead]

Yes but it's a different kit (the one above is for 5R55W/S), there's a kit for A4LD (possiblly 4R55E or 5R55E for Sport Tracs) They have some for Mazda, Chrysler and GM transmissions too. I suspect these are the same set of engineers who build this crap design.

I highly recommend doing the upgraded servo bore kit when doing a rebuild. The dealership will just rebuild it with a new case.


-----------------------------------------------------------
MY MOUNTY
http://www.facebook.com/diyfordexplorer?sk=photos

Thanks very much Esclamada.

It has been over a week and I've only had the one incident of the O/D flashing light with hard shifts. Car has been driven around town every day without any further issue.

Someone told me that perhaps the filter is breaking up and I should flush and get a new filter now. Another told me that a piece of debris could have gotten up into the transmission and caused this momentary condition. Anyone think these are possibilities? Would flushing/new filter now be a good idea or no?

 

[ExPlOrErImPoRtS]

ford makes sure parts start to fail at 100k so you buy a new one. sucks.