Abnormal Revving After Hard Brake

[Blewyn]

Just recently I have noticed that occasionally, always immediately after a hard brake, my Explorer behaves as if it has fallen into neutral gear. Pressing the accelerator simply revs the engine, and the car rolls on at the same speed. I don't feel any engine braking so I don't think it has fallen into a lower gear. After a couple of seconds of waggling the shift stick and pumping the accelerator a little the car starts to drive again.

Can you offer any advice ?

 

[N1265]

How many miles on trans ?

 

[Kevlar7R]

Low tranny fluid perhaps? When you brake it sloshes away from the pickup and sucks air. Take a minute to flush the air out and start working again.

 

[Blewyn]

N1265 - no idea, sorry. I'm a car n00b.

Kevlar - thanks, will have it checked. On second thought, is this something I can do myself ?

 

[FloridaState]

N1265 - no idea, sorry. I'm a car n00b.

Kevlar - thanks, will have it checked. On second thought, is this something I can do myself ?

I'm not sure as I'm a car noob as well, but I think you can "top off" tranny fluid yourself. There's a dipstick for tranny fluid that you can use to see if it's low. I image you can add some if it is low, but don't quote me on that. If your fluid is low, then you probably have a leak, as I don't believe the car actually "consumes" fluid. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable could jump in?
lol

But you need to take it to a shop if you plan on getting the tranny flushed. They hook it up to a machine that sucks up the old, puts in the new, and back and forth 'till it's a nice, clean red/pink color.

 

[James909]

I agree with the low fluid comment. Blewyn, is the truck in question the 2004 Ex listed under your profile? Because if so that year truck doesn't have a dipstick for the transmission. So it might not be something you want to tackle yourself if you've never done it before.

 

[Kevlar7R]

Yea, checking tranny fluid is a simple process. It is outlined in your owners manual.

The engine and drive train needs to be either fully warm, or fully cold. Either is fine, because the dipstick has marks for both conditions, but just make sure it's fully either way. Then, with the engine running, truck in park, parked on a level surface, pull the dipstick (It is up near the firewall behind the engine, the handle is usually yellow) and check the level.

If you need to add, make sure says Mercon on the bottle (almost all ATF's are Dextron Mercon these days). You'll need a funnel to add it, but don't over fill it. If it is too full, it will foam and not perform in the tranny, plus, not cool the tranny.

If you take it someplace for an oil change, they generally check tranny fluid too.

If it's not low, find a reputable tranny shop, and have them check it out. Make sure you find a good one, because most production shops (Aamco, Cottman, etc) Will just want to pull and rebuild the tranny, no matter what is wrong with it ($2500).

 

[Blewyn]

James909 - no it's a '97....thanks for pointing out the mistake in my profile ! (strange...)

Kevlar7R thanks for the advice, and indeed you were right I should have RTFM....

Turns out the tranny fluid was close to empty - if I rounded a corner sharply then the transmission would cease and the engine would just rev freely for a couple of seconds. I topped it up, but then noticed the radiator water had gone a dark brown colour...

According to my Ford dealer, there is a seal in the radiator between the tranny oil line and the coolant (the line is bathed in the radiator to keep it cool ?), but the radiator itself is a press-fit aluminium and plastic design which cannot be repaired, so I need a new radiator and tranny oil top-up. He reckons 200R (=$500). That's for a new copper radiator. Does that sound correct or is he fleecing me ?

 

[N1265]

Anything done at a dealership is high, If it was mine, I would tow it home and replace the radiator myself.

 

[Blewyn]

That's fitted and with a seal on the front diff replaced....If I had the first idea how to replace a radiator, and had the tools and garage pit etc, I'd do it myself...but even then we only have a single source for Ford parts here, so they're expensive