96 Ranger 4R55E Problems

[pgilbeau]

As the title states have a 96 Ranger 4 x 4 and having problems with the transmission. When this has happened I have generally been driving at highway speed for 30+ minutes. the first thing that will normally happen is I will see the O/D Off light begin to flash, once that comes on the truck will begin to shift hard (been told this is a limp home mode). This has happened 3 times now. The first time after it happened I shut the truck off and it seemed to have reset. It was good for a month after that. Second time it happened was good for 2 weeks. 3rd time and it did not stop shifting hard but the O/D off light went off when I shut the truck off and has not come back on. Not sure what to do, if there where any codes they seem to be gone once the truck is shut off. I Tried to pull codes but all I get is " no DTC's stored" Pretty sure my reader does transmissions, it is an Innova 3120 if anyone is familar with it. I checked the fluid and it seems to be fine and does not smell burnt. I originally posted in the 5r55e valve body thread because I figured if I did a rebuild and replaced the EPC solenoid it should be good, made this post since I don't want to take over the other thread with what may be a non related issue. Need some help quick because I will be leaving Hawaii soon and if I can't fix it the truck isn't going with me. Thanks

 

[badge49]

Mine did the exact same thing...going down the highway, blinking light, pull-over and reset. The blinking light will later come back. My OBDII doesn't show a code there, but when I tell it to erase everything anyway, the blinking light goes away and the truck runs smoother. My transmission progressively got worse over two years. I lost 5th gear and the trans. doesn't work to slow me down when decelerating, even when locked in 1st gear. Picked up a used/new tranny and its getting installed as I write this.

The build up of gunk and particles causes the solenoids to not function correctly and send up the code. I originally took mine to a trans. shop for their opinion and they said it was toast. Got two more years out of it after that, but it will get progressively worse unless you do something. Start looking for the replacement trans. because they can be hard to find.

 

[pgilbeau]

Replacing that transmission here in Hawaii will almost certainly mean a trip to a repair shop because there are hardly any junk yards here and it is pretty rare to find 4 x 4 rangers that don't cost an arm and a leg. My concern is I want it fixed or there is no point in shipping my truck when I leave. I will be shipping it to California and driving to Colorado and don't want to take the chance that it may or may not hold up. Just some backround I have only had this truck for 1 year and it was bone stock when I bought it, had a couple receipts for tires and stuff, that was it. It has 140,000 on it. Any suggestions on a fix?

 

[pgilbeau]

Anyone have any input on other possible solutions? I know there are plenty of transmission smart people that post here, just looking for help.