automatic trans delayed shift

[john cris]

Hey everyone,
My 5R55W has been a pain to get the trans oil level correct. I use a scanner to read oil temp and check it at 100 degrees F . When the plug is removed to check level the oil drips out. So apparently this means the warmed oil is at a correct level. Now I have a delayed shift occurring when the oil is cold. I assume this means the level is still low? I will check and adjust again this morning. Question is, what temp would be best to check it at? The manual says between 80-120 F. Should I be checking at 80 or 120? Every trans I've ever serviced has a dip stick that needs to be checked while "hot, idling and in park". Very simple to get right. There is no proper "range" within to check. Is this because this trans a closed system? What a ****ty set up! To me it makes sense that oil level should be checked after the oil has expanded due to temp. What am I missing here? When you have your trans serviced at a shop they must be doing it in a way that prevents people from coming back for adjustments. What is the trick? This is very frustrating BS!
John

 

[imp]

Hey everyone,
My 5R55W has been a pain to get the trans oil level correct. I use a scanner to read oil temp and check it at 100 degrees F . When the plug is removed to check level the oil drips out. So apparently this means the warmed oil is at a correct level. Now I have a delayed shift occurring when the oil is cold. I assume this means the level is still low? I will check and adjust again this morning. Question is, what temp would be best to check it at? The manual says between 80-120 F. Should I be checking at 80 or 120? Every trans I've ever serviced has a dip stick that needs to be checked while "hot, idling and in park". Very simple to get right. There is no proper "range" within to check. Is this because this trans a closed system? What a ****ty set up! To me it makes sense that oil level should be checked after the oil has expanded due to temp. What am I missing here? When you have your trans serviced at a shop they must be doing it in a way that prevents people from coming back for adjustments. What is the trick? This is very frustrating BS!
John

Understand your frustration. Perhaps JK080 can help. From my own point of view, I believe the designers build-in plenty of "cushion" as far as quantity of fluid present to ensure normal operation. Maybe it has happened often enough that folks dump in the wrong fluid as "make-up" that it was desirable to "seal off" the ability to add, for the do it yourselfer. If you get a dribble out of the plug, that indicates there is an adequate amount present.

The system pissed me off enough that I rigged the pan with a dipstick, calibrated it to correspond with "full mark" at top of the standpipe in the pan. Poured in the juice from underhood with the standard long-neck funnel, and it's been 50K + since, never touched again, checked maybe once or twice, unnecessary as not a drop seen underneath ever. imp

 

[john cris]

Understand your frustration. Perhaps JK080 can help. From my own point of view, I believe the designers build-in plenty of "cushion" as far as quantity of fluid present to ensure normal operation. Maybe it has happened often enough that folks dump in the wrong fluid as "make-up" that it was desirable to "seal off" the ability to add, for the do it yourselfer. If you get a dribble out of the plug, that indicates there is an adequate amount present.

The system pissed me off enough that I rigged the pan with a dipstick, calibrated it to correspond with "full mark" at top of the standpipe in the pan. Poured in the juice from underhood with the standard long-neck funnel, and it's been 50K + since, never touched again, checked maybe once or twice, unnecessary as not a drop seen underneath ever. imp

Yeah thanks imp,
Just checked it again, added some and it seems to be shifting better. Guess I'll just keep checking/adding till it shifts how I think it should. I hear ya about the install of a dip stick. I might get there, never know
thanks again
jcris

 

[Harpua216]

this is what was happening before my servo blew and i lost 2nd and 5th. hope its not your case though but i feel like i am reading an account of what just happened to me. almost to a "T". time for another trans for me..

good luck to you.

 

[john cris]

I'm trying to keep this running for another 50k. If I had the cash I'd buy something else now. You know, sell it before it pukes another tranny. And yes this trans was rebuilt about 3 years/36k ago. Thing is I don't want to buy another problem or at least one that I can't wrench on myself. So frustrating.

 

[imp]

I'm trying to keep this running for another 50k. If I had the cash I'd buy something else now. You know, sell it before it pukes another tranny. And yes this trans was rebuilt about 3 years/36k ago. Thing is I don't want to buy another problem or at least one that I can't wrench on myself. So frustrating.

When I bought my rebuilt 5R55E from Ford, it was warrantied for 3 yrs., 36,000. Surprised yours did not last longer, considering. imp

 

[Harpua216]

i was thinking rebuild, i was thinking replace servos, then solenoid. but after reading up around here and about general transmission stuff, the best option for me at least is to call around and find a truck where the timing jumped which has been all to easy to do for these trucks. its either the transmission or the chains in these trucks, or they got hit.

A hint to you or anyone that I found to be a pretty good idea for me: this model was a big state agency buy for most states. They have strict guidelines and follow the maintenance program to a "T" to maintain warranties etc.,., some are high mileage, but if something was wrong with them, they went straight to Ford for the fix.

With something like a transmission, where i am totally still wet behind the ears with, its moreover the person from which you buy it from that matters. What they can, want to or willing to tell you matters more than anything unless you know things..which i dont about transmissions..lol

bs that the trans acting up already. any chance you can talk to the shop that did it? see if they have some mercy?

 

[Harpua216]

@john cris you mentioned you had the 55R5W in your 2003. was that the original in there or did you have the 55R5S first? thanks

 

[john cris]

The original was a 5R55W which I had rebuilt. The issues with that trans have settled down now that I have an angle on checking the oil level properly. Checking in the temp range of 80-120 is important but also knowing how the oil should be dripping out is key. I know that sounds ridiculous but I think that was the problem. At first I watched a bunch of vids on you tube and it seemed that a small consistent drip indicated correct level. What I finally figured out is that I really needed to get it overfilled so I could monitor the flow out of the port. Once I had a steady solid stream of oil coming out I just waited until it began to slow down. Put the plug back in and bam no more shift delay. Learning curve **** and Ford's "better idea" b.s. Sealed trans my butt. Anyway, thanks for the help guy's
Have a great 4th,
Jcris

 

[imp]

The original was a 5R55W which I had rebuilt. The issues with that trans have settled down now that I have an angle on checking the oil level properly. Checking in the temp range of 80-120 is important but also knowing how the oil should be dripping out is key. I know that sounds ridiculous but I think that was the problem. At first I watched a bunch of vids on you tube and it seemed that a small consistent drip indicated correct level. What I finally figured out is that I really needed to get it overfilled so I could monitor the flow out of the port. Once I had a steady solid stream of oil coming out I just waited until it began to slow down. Put the plug back in and bam no more shift delay. Learning curve **** and Ford's "better idea" b.s. Sealed trans my butt. Anyway, thanks for the help guy's
Have a great 4th,
Jcris

Why aren't you suffering with the crap Chevy builds, instead, then? imp