Auto Transmission Shifting

[MSP]

I have a 94 Explorer. From a stop the auto transmission will not shift out of 1st until around 4000 rpm. All other shifting is normal. I happens with both a hot and cold engine. I have just flushed the tranny and replaced the filter, the problem is still there. Any suggestions?

 

[nyisles_99]

I am going through the same issue, exactly.

How many miles on yours?

I had my modulator change to and that did sqwat. I hear the speed governor can use a cleaning but have not tried that yet. Let me know if you do that or whatever you do.

THXX

 

[MSP]

Mine has 140k. The only attempt at fixing it so far was the tranny flush, that did nothing.

 

[SteveVB]

search the site

could be a bunch of things - valve body pressure, vacuum leak, governoir valve sticking (my answer for the day today) modulator, bad TPS, EGR problems

My top two answers would be Governor valve sticking, anmd high main control pressure. Search Governor valkve you will find the repair its also on the singleton site.

 

[nyisles_99]

Hey,

Whats the singleton site? Is that the glue thing? How much should it cost to clean/replace the governor?

Thanks!!

Dan

 

[TPLYNCH]

I posted the singleton link on the other Trany thread that you posted in....

 

[Hank]

Sounds like the vac. modulator

Not too painful. was about a 70.00 part from Autozone I believe. Check your tranny fluid and oil level. If oil is high it is probably sucking tranny fluid up throught the vac line off the modulator. You can also check by looking at that same vac line. Will probably be wet inside.

If so, change your motor oil after you fix the problem. Also consider adding an external trans filter at that time. Your a4ld will love you for it.

 

[MSP]

Thanks!, Were is the modulator & vac line?

 

[MSP]

I took the above advise and changed out the vacuum modulator. $29. Unfourtunatly it made no difference. Im afraid the tranny shop may get the best of me!

 

[nyisles_99]

From what people have been saying about our symptoms is a speed governor.

this scummy guy who wanted to rebuild my tranny said no way tot he speed gov, but then again he wanted $400 just to look at the tranny to diagose the problem...he is smoking some good sh*t if you know what I mean.

Let me know if you clean the speed gov, before I do

 

[majorlag]

Tried the kickdown cable?

MSP:

I just had my 94X in the shop (well, it's still in the shop actually-but that's another story) to replace front pump seals, rear main engine seal, and the torque converter. When I got it back, it wouldn't shift out of first until 4000 RPMs under mild throttle, or 4500+ under lead foot. Took it back to the shop, and they adjusted the kickdown cable (took out the slack, I believe). Cured the problem right up.

Do a search for adjusting the kickdown cable--I think I've seen some instructions on the board.

Hope this fixes your problem!

 

[nyisles_99]

very nice tip...

thanks .


KICKDOWN CABLE...Thats sort of what mine is doing.


I willing to tryanything but rebuild at this point.


When I get 5 min to breath I will look into thanks!!!

 

[410Fortune]

I agree, if it is not shifting into first when you come to a complete stop, the kick down needs to be adjusted first before you go throwing $$$$ at it........

 

[MSP]

Thanks "Majorlag". Any idea on how to adjust the kickdown cable? I did a search and found some hits but none talk about the actual adjusting. Also, what your thoughts or anyone elses on the vehicle speed sensor (VSS). Could this be a suspect?

 

[majorlag]

Kick Down Adjustment

MSP:

410Fortune posted a good cable adjustment description in this thread:

Dead Link Removed

Also, the Haynes repair manual discusses the two-person adjustment in some detail. Sounds reasonably easy to me.

Don't know about the VSS for sure. From what I've read on the board, it seems like a bad VSS would cause erratic shifting (having trouble choosing which gear to be in), particularly between 3rd and OD. The trans shop that just released my X (yay!) told me that a bad VSS would probably light up your check engine light or the OD Off light (if you have one of those push-button kinds).

Good luck!

 

[fordkrazy]

im not too familiar with the kickdown system on this tranny but it would seem to me like if it affected first it would affect all the gears.....i would lean more towards a clogged passage in the first gear circitry in the valve body or the spring for the first gear valve, or a little check valve bb is stuck or worn out. i think that if your carefull that removing the valve body for inspection would be a good dyi before the shop.

 

[MSP]

Well...the saga continues. I just can't bring myself to spend the $2000 for a new tranny. So far I have replaced the Vacuum modulator, TPS, adjusted the kickdown cable and nothing has changed. The tranny shop pulled the codes and came up with 332 ( egr valve not opening ). I followed the haines manual to try and diagnose the egr problem. Turns out the egr valve, evr are fine. Its the DPFE that is bad. Ford wants $200 for this. The parts stores around here don't carry them. SteveVB commented earlier in the thread that the tranny problem could be related to a egr problem. What does the egr system have to do with the tranny? Thanks for everyones continued advise!

 

[Opera House]

Speed Govenor

I looked at this thread and wondered just how hard it is to remove the govenor from the transmission while it is still in the car. So I decided to take mine out of my 92. Removed the pan, both driveshafts, removed the cats, and dropped the crossmember holding the transmission. After removing the bolts to the transfer case, I pulled it out a little an let it swing down. Then I pulled it out more and let it drop to some folded capets. Had to remove the tranny mount to get at the transmission extension bolts. The govenor valve is then just mounted with two bolts.

Although mine worked, it was very sticky. You could see wear marks on the steel piston. I polished it by hand with some very fine wet or dry paper and oil. Also the aluminum surfaces. The piston now operates freely. Being an old engine restorer, it's against my nature to buy new parts. If yours is sticking, it is because of wear and not contamination. This should be inexpensive enough to buy new. A new gasket / O-ring kit for this is under $30 at bulkparts.com. Top of the line filters are only $10.

Not a hard job at all. I think a lot of these are on the brink of failing. The only tricky part is getting the parking rod back into the extension housing. Put in park to extend rod, then shift into into low to bolt on the housing.

 

[MSP]

In talking with the service manager at the Ford dealership, he is quite certain that it is the valve body that is causing my problem. Because the poor shifting (or lack of) from 1-2 happens consistantly when the transmission is hot or cold he is almost ruling out the speed govenor.

Has anyone changed the valve body? I am told you can do this without removing the transmission. Should I try this myself or pay the ridiculous shop rates?

 

[Opera House]

I can't see why

he would rule out the govenor. Loose valve body bolts can cause a late shift also. I found mine loose on my 97 5R55E even though it didn't cause a problem. Torqe to only about 8 foot-pounds. Kickdown cable and vacuum leak to modulator or it is sticking are also possible problems. Check the vacuum tree for transmission oil from modulator. Is the fluid clean? Sticking valves could be a result. These are all from the A4LD manual.