Another new guy needs help

[PCTS]

Hello,
I bought my first ford explorer, a 1993, for my wife to use on her postal route. Later I found another one with a blown motor for next to nothing and picked it up for parts. As of late her tranny started slipping. Now I have read a bunch of the threads here and looked all over. My abilities are mid range, but I have never pulled or changed a tranny and would like to give it a try. Does anyone know of a good step by step with some pictures on how to change the tranny?

I don't think the whole tranny is bad, but for me I think it would be easier to change the whole tranny as aposed to tearing apart something I have no knowledge of. If there is anybody out there that can help me it would be great.

 

[CDW6212R]

I'm a Rural Carrier, and I learned in 1998 that the A4LD of the 91-94 Explorer is a big weak link. I'm very maintenance minded so I've avoided major trans problems.

Don't drive the truck hard or at all if the symptom gets moderate or worse. Burning up an A4LD is a big mistake, they cost $1500 and more to "fix", and they never last long afterwords. Burned up I describe means that $500+ of internal hard parts, not rebuild parts($150), the trans will fail again, if that happens toss/sell the radiator and trans.

The best thing to do would be to upgrade to a 98-01 Explorer. Beyond that have that extra trans built by someone, including a valve body upgrade kit, and swap the trans soon. Ask Chris here(Glacier) about a trans for your truck, he may be able to help you a lot.

I just got my 99 Explorer on route this Wednesday, hopefully my mileage will be better than my 93 or a 98 V8 Mountaineer. If the mileage turns out to be no better, then a V8 model Explorer would be best(reliability - far better transmission). Good luck,

 

[karnage]

Pretty easy to swap a tranny out.I pulled mine in about 2 hours.Everything is pretty accessable.The transfer case has 5 bolts and it slips right off.About 40-50 lbs.Take the drivelines out.If its slipping, check the fluyid level and condition first.If its burned, try changing the fluid and filter as this may solve the issue.

 

[PCTS]

well I've got the one in the donar explorer to put it, I just lack the experence to put it in. I know I can do it with some guidence on what order and the "don't do's" I am a maintence tech and have been working with 100HP DC three phase motors, gear boxes, and stuff like that for years. I really just need pointed in the right direction.

 

[PCTS]

Pretty easy to swap a tranny out.I pulled mine in about 2 hours.Everything is pretty accessable.The transfer case has 5 bolts and it slips right off.About 40-50 lbs.Take the drivelines out.If its slipping, check the fluyid level and condition first.If its burned, try changing the fluid and filter as this may solve the issue.

And I find those where?, in the oil pan?

 

[CDW6212R]

Search around here for threads where others have posted their experiences. This site is huge, likely it is in here. Do send Chris a PM about it, he may point you straight there more quickly. Regards,

 

[PCTS]

well I think I'm going to try swapping it, I have on sitting there in great condition. (It came from a little old lady, one owner, 85K) The only reason the motor blew, she never checked the oil, something jumpped up and punched a whole in the oil pan and she neve noticed

 

[Doug]

Get yourself a Haynes or Chiltons manual. If you're halfway decent with a wrench you can pull the trans out yourself. However you may need someone to help you get it back into place. Pulling the trans doesn't require and special tools or knowledge, it's pretty straight foward.

 

[Wrench]

Just curious, what year is the donor vehicle and is that trans also an A4LD? Is the original trans slipping in all gears and whats the fluid like? It would be wise to narrow down the reason for the slippage in the original trans than to install another unkown and possibly be at the same point or worse. Pulling the original trans oil pan off first to inspect for debris and maybe go thru the valve body is way easier than pulling the whole thing.

 

[PCTS]

Ok, yesterday I chose, do to lack of help and weather moving in today, to just pull the pan and change the filter. The fluid was a deep, dark, almost balckish red. There was a silver sludge all over the bottom of the pan and 1/4 thick on the magnet. It helped a little bit I think, it quits slipping faster. And it still only slips in first and reverse. Oh and it is an automatic. As for what one is in the donar, um....me not know these things. Tell me where to look and I'll tell you what they both are. They are both 93's but one, the one I drive, is an Eddie Bauwer.

 

[CDW6212R]

The 91-94 Explorer only came with one auto and one manual, so you have matching transmissions. Do they both have the same tailhousing though(2WD/4WD)? The tailshafts are different in 2WD/4WD models. If you have slippage in the 1st gear, I'd say you have to change or rebuild the trans. Good luck,

 

[karnage]

first and reverse is most likely the servo thats in the pan.Take the four bolts out evenly and clean that piston.Maybe throw new seals on the piston and servo cover.That should help the delayed shift into 1st and reverse.The tranny maybe savable.

 

[Glacier991]

I'm with Karnage. Clean fluid, new filter, D rings on the low reverse servo and a new cover gasket, and maybe the Sonnax Boost valve upgrade to the VB (an EASY one to do) may do the trick for you.