A4LD Lost my second gear (92 X)

[vulture007]

I have a 92 explorer XLT with 128k miles. Well looked after, tranny fluid changed 18 mos ago.

A while back the tranny lost 2nd gear. I cannot get to it at all, even by selecting 2nd. I am able to shift fom 1st to 3rd by getting up to 25mph and backing off the gas for 2 secs and then gently picking up from there once in third.

I checked a bunch of stuff without any luck. Vacuum is fine, checked the modulator (no fluid in the lines and holds vacuum), checked the intermediate band - the adjustment bolt tightens up fine which makes me think that the band is intact. I wanted to get some advice on what to look into next since all of these require a fair bit of work (like dropping the transfer case or removing the cat). Anyhow, this what I was thinking of checking next in order:

1. The servo
2. The governor
3. Drop the valve body and look in there.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

V

 

[custom20aj]

From past experience, I would check the servo first. It's the easiest thing to check while the tranny is still in vehicle. This is especially important if you don't have the heat shield attached to the tranny between the servo's and the catalytic. The 2nd gear servo is the one towards the back of the tranny (in front of the modulator valve). Here's my thread with all the fun stuff. The way I checked and changed the servo is down towards the end. The servo was about $8.00, and I think it was a "BB".

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131121

 

[vulture007]

From past experience, I would check the servo first. It's the easiest thing to check while the tranny is still in vehicle. This is especially important if you don't have the heat shield attached to the tranny between the servo's and the catalytic. The 2nd gear servo is the one towards the back of the tranny (in front of the modulator valve). Here's my thread with all the fun stuff. The way I checked and changed the servo is down towards the end. The servo was about $8.00, and I think it was a "BB".

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131121

Thanks AJ, I read your thread, it is very informative - this is exactly what I am experiencing. My X does have the heat shield - I had to mess with it when I checked the modulator from the access panel. Sounds like I will just cut the bolts of the cat and replace with stainless afterwards. Then use Glacier's method to extract the servo cover.

One more thing I wanted to check on. Is there any significance to the fact that when the gear selector is in second I start in 1st and never shift out of that? I thought that when the selector is in 2nd, the intermediate band is applied regardless of speed, hence if my intermediate servo was broken shouldn't I just be getting symptoms like in neutral (e.g. revs going up but the car is not moving)?

Thanks

 

[custom20aj]

That's what I thought as well, but it wasn't the case. Mine stayed in first with the selector in 2nd also. I may not know all the technical language here, but if you read my thread, I tightened the intermediate band and drove it down the road, which made it start out and stay in 2nd with no 1st (In my thread I explain that this really isn't necessary to try driving it this way, and it may not be that smart, but if anyone ever does make sure you don't have to back up). That told me that with the selector in 2nd, the tranny has 1st gear applied, and 1st gear applied plus the intermediate band applied equals 2nd gear. So, if the selector is in 2nd, and the intermediate band is not tightening to engage the 2nd gear clutches, or something is wrong with the 2nd gear clutches, you would have the symptoms of 1st gear even if the selector is in 2nd.

I drove mine without 2nd gear for about 6 months, and got pretty used to it. What finally put me over the edge to fix it was that we went to Skyline drive (a road on top of the mountains in North Carolina). The hills made it hard to do the shift from 1st to 3rd, but what I missed the most, was the 2nd gear holdback going down the hills. We ate through the brakes in no time.

I hope you figure your tranny out. Glacier and his threads were a big help to me. Regarding your list, I went from 3 to 1, which was the harder way.

 

[vulture007]

That's what I thought as well, but it wasn't the case. Mine stayed in first with the selector in 2nd also. I may not know all the technical language here, but if you read my thread, I tightened the intermediate band and drove it down the road, which made it start out and stay in 2nd with no 1st (In my thread I explain that this really isn't necessary to try driving it this way, and it may not be that smart, but if anyone ever does make sure you don't have to back up). That told me that with the selector in 2nd, the tranny has 1st gear applied, and 1st gear applied plus the intermediate band applied equals 2nd gear. So, if the selector is in 2nd, and the intermediate band is not tightening to engage the 2nd gear clutches, or something is wrong with the 2nd gear clutches, you would have the symptoms of 1st gear even if the selector is in 2nd.

I drove mine without 2nd gear for about 6 months, and got pretty used to it. What finally put me over the edge to fix it was that we went to Skyline drive (a road on top of the mountains in North Carolina). The hills made it hard to do the shift from 1st to 3rd, but what I missed the most, was the 2nd gear holdback going down the hills. We ate through the brakes in no time.

I hope you figure your tranny out. Glacier and his threads were a big help to me. Regarding your list, I went from 3 to 1, which was the harder way.

OK, that sequential application makes sense. As per your thread, I also tightened the IB and tried to reverse out of my drive, it vaguely worked but it felt like the brake was applied so I didn't want to burn something out and never tried going forward with the IB tight.

Incidently the point about brakes is very interesting, Seattle has a lot of hills and I have been driving around (not regularly since we have anotehr car) with the missing second for 18 mos. My rotors heated up a few weeks ago and I had to replace them and the pads - probably from applying the brakes too much downhill as you say. Plus, I tow a couple of jetskis once a week and second gear would be really nice.

Thanks for your advice, I will do what you suggest and remove the cat so I do't have to slide the exhaust back.

Cheers

 

[custom20aj]

As per your thread, I also tightened the IB and tried to reverse out of my drive, it vaguely worked but it felt like the brake was applied so I didn't want to burn something out and never tried going forward with the IB tight.

That's what mine did when I backed up.

 

[Glacier991]

When you drop the pan, check to see if you might have a broken intermediate band too.

Custom20aj's advice is top notch! Good job aj!