94 Tranny slipping

[Jon65]

Hi,

I just drove back from vacation, and was fortunate to make it home...maybe.
I have a 94 Explorer with 175,000 miles on the original transmission. Always well maintained, etc. Starting out on the highway, when I accelerate, the transmission will slip and seem to not downshift. No power, no acceleration. Once I get going it seems to kick down into a gear it is happy with. Once I get to 55-65mph, everything is fine. Drove home today about 150 miles. So, any ideas what I'm looking at here? I plan to take it to a reputable shop on Monday but I really don't know transmissions, have surfed here a bit, and am wondering if I'm going to need a rebuild. From my surfing it looks like rebuilts are about $2500. Edmunds.com tells me the Explorer is worth $2200. Is it time to say goodbye? Also, I've had an Apten chip for about a year. Should I take that out before I take the truck in to be looked at? All my driving is street/highway, mostly highway. Fairly conservative (with some "fun" acceleration thrown in occasionally).

Thanks!

Jon

 

[Jon65]

More info

Some more info I should have included:

Slipping occurs around 3000rpm.
Reverse works fine.
Haven't had a chance to check out gears 1 or 2.
Fluid level is where it should be - in the cross hatches.
Fluid is Redline and is changed every 50,000. Last change was at 160,000.
Filter is changed with it.
I replaced the vacuum modulator (?) about a year ago when I was losing fluid with no leaking on the ground. Problem solved.

Other than that, I have had no problems with this transmission.

Anything else I forgot that would help?

Jon

 

[Glacier991]

Jon.... slipping can be caused by a number of things... seals getting old and hard, control pressures not what they should be due to leaks and the like... given your mileage, I an thinking you have lived out this one's life. A rebuild should not cost $2500. How many more years do you want out of it? What kind of driving do you plan to do? I doubt your issues will yield to some "magic bullet" kind of fix. I see a rebuild in your future. Others may have better ideas.

 

[Jon65]

This morning I did the tests suggested in another thread.
Seems like the intermediate band is slipping. When I put
it in (2) it doesn't want to move very easily. All others seem
fine. Looks like I'm off to the tranny shop tomorrow. There
is a VERY reputable one near Baltimore. I have a friend who
does most of his own work and has taken several cars there.
He is very pleased with them over the years.

Jon

 

[Jon65]

Here's the damage:

According to the shop "Not too bad"

One band was burned (probably the intermediate)
One piston
Clutches needed replaced.
Torque converter was replaced.
Not certain what else.

I asked about other hard parts and was assured that everything
else was in really good condition. Because of all the info I gained
from reading this site, I have decided to go with the two year
warranty. Everything is covered: parts and labor.


Total cost was $1850 which includes the 2-year warranty, so
all in all, I'm pretty happy. Supposed to pick it up tomorrow and
then off to the beach for a week!

But first I'll have to put the Apten chip back in.

I'll post any unhappy news.