Complete Tranny Failure??

[John D.]

Hello all, been a member for a little while but haven't posted much.

Here's the deal. Mothers Day, yesterday, the wife, my son and I went to visit my grandmother and on the way the home our 99 XLT lost every single gear. We had zero gears... no reverse.. no drive... nothing. It was very sudden with the only precurser to this problem being a flashing "OD Off" light and slight rattling noise.

I checked the fluid and it looks fine, has a nice light red color and the level was fine as well.

I was curious if anyone else may have any ideas on whether a rebuild is needed or if it's a torque converter or something of the like. I keep leaning towards something other than the tranny just due to the loss of all gears forward and backwards.

Summary. 99 XLT 4.0 OHV complete loss of all gears... it just revs in any gear I put it in forward or reverse. 78k miles.

Thanks in advance

 

[TPLYNCH]

Have you tried starting in 1 or 2? Were you cruising and it just started reving, or did you come to a stop, then nothing happened? Try engaging 4x4 Hi, then Low and see if anything happens.

 

[John D.]

I tried everything you listed. I get nothing in any gear just the engine revving.
It started from a dead stop. It had shown no signs of slippage or any problems just 3 hours before. Drove it with no problems, parked it, started it up and it was done.

 

[TPLYNCH]

So, nothing happens if you switch to 4 Hi? Does the dash light come on? If it does, and you switch to 4 Low (in neutral with your foot on the brake), do you hear the clunk of it engaging?

Did the rattling sound / OD flashing start as you were decellerating to the stop, or was it happening prior to that?

 

[merc2dogs]

Had the same problem a couple of months ago, was running fine, filled up the tank, stopped at my MOMS, came back out an hour or two later, drove down the road, turned a corner and it was exactly as if I shifted into nuetral, tried everything to get it moving, shifting through the gears, going to 4hi,4lo, 2hi etc, and wouldn't budge, walked back to my moms, figured I'd let it cool for a few and see if it was heat or something, no luck, ended up having it towed home, went out a couple days later to push it into the garage, slipped it into drive instead of nuetral and the thing took off like normal. moved everytime I tried it since then, drove it around 6-8 miles with no problem, dropped pan and drained fluid, couldn't find anything wrong, fluid was as clean as it was when I put it in, probably could drive it, but as I carry about $4000 worth of tools all the time, and haven't got a clue what happened, I don't trust it enough to drive it anymore.

Pulled the motor, as it was rebuilt a short while ago, plan to open up the trans and t-case just to see if anything is wrong with it

My theory, after my experience, and reading yours, is to keep the explorers away from your mother's house!

ken.

 

[John D.]

So, nothing happens if you switch to 4 Hi? Does the dash light come on? If it does, and you switch to 4 Low (in neutral with your foot on the brake), do you hear the clunk of it engaging?

Did the rattling sound / OD flashing start as you were decellerating to the stop, or was it happening prior to that?

The light comes on in 4 Hi. I didn't get the chance to put it into 4Low properly... didn't think it would matter much as nothing else was working.

The OD off had been flashing intermittently for about a week, but it was still in OD I could tell by the RPM's at speed. The rattling started happening the very same day everything stopped working, but it was intermittent as well.

I did forget to add that after the problem happened I shut off the car for a few seconds and then restarted it and it went into gear and pulled away just fine with no slipping or anything for about 100ft then it just free revved again.

 

[gijoecam]

Hmmm interesting.... I assume that the driveshaft isn't turning? I was thinking maybe catastrophic failure of the rear end initially, but that wouldn't magically heal itself as it cooled off.....

It's got to be something either in the tranny or the transfer case. Given that it worked intermittently, I'd look closer at the transmission as the transfer case is really pretty bulletproof. There isn't a whole lot to go wrong spontaneously there....

Let us know what you find.

-Joe

 

[Glacier991]

No movement usually connotes no line pressure. Either fluid too low (you said yours is fine) a busted pump ir something wierd, or a valve body problem (like a popped out solenoid or failed VB gasket or the like. I'd have someone put a pressure gauge on it and see if you have line pressure up to snuff. If not, investigate the valve body first.

 

[John D.]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm having it towed home this evening.

I made some calls and have had suggestions from others as well.

I initially was thinking a pump failed, as Glacier991 said, or the torque converter went. I have also had suggestions that maybe the flywheel came loose, which would explain the rattling noise.

I keep leaning towards a pump failure due to me turning off the car and restarting it a few seconds later maybe caused the pump to work for just a second, give some pressure and then fail again........ I guess we'll find out soon. :sigh:

 

[TPLYNCH]

Let us know how it turns out.....

 

[Brandons]

Rattling.... no reverse or forward.... i had that problem... you might be looking for a whole new tranny, either way something is screwed.

Mine blew the 6 pinion planetary, i had rattling noises when putting it in gear, it would go into drive and go for a bit, then eventually it stopped. (Really if its hopping out of gear, dont try it again.)

My fluid looked fine after the problem and it was pretty much imoble, however i bet if you change the fluid, you could find a nice cup or two of shrapnel in it. This is all worse case scenario of course.... But i highly reccomend you change the fluid before you do anything else (fluid and filter dont forget), your best bet!

 

[John D.]

Just so I have more knowledge on the subject when talking to a mechanic can someone fill me in on specifics of the tranny? I'm not even sure what tranny it is. From what I can gather I'm guessing a 5R55, is that right?

I really appreciate everyones input.

Also, in regards to the rattling, it was extremely faint/quiet and I could only hear it when idleing next to something that would cause the sound to bounce enough for me to hear it. I couldn't hear anything driving or idling with the windows up.

 

[Brandons]

hopefully it is nothing too serious, or expensive.

 

[John D.]

Little bit of an update.

Went to hook up the X last night to tow it home and when we got there I jumped in it started it up and slid it into gear, it engaged with no problems and I drove it down the street and back! WTF! It went through all the forward gears fine as I was driving it back and forth, reverse worked as well. Then it completely started slipping again so I shut it back off. We lined up the car dolly to load it up and I got back in it started it up and slid it into gear, just to see, and it drove right up on the dolly! WTF again!

We got it towed to the stealership, of course I started it up and drove it off the dolly and around the parking lot a bit before it started slipping again, and I went and was talking to the guy behind the counter and he said it almost sounded like a valve was sticking in the valve body when it would warm up. He of course said it could be much worse than that as well.

I think my truck is possessed.

 

[Tony H]

Different Trani I think But the same exact thing happened ON MOTHERS DAY on my way home. Drove 100+ miles. went to pass someone on the interstate, just as the trani kicked down from OD to Drive . It revved up. Now nothing in any gear. Trani guy says it sounds like the OD Sprang gear. My A4LD is known for this failure.
It's at the shop now. It was rebuilt 44K ago.

see page 3ish "Trani 4LD question with a story '91"

 

[merc2dogs]

see, explorers don't like mothers!

My tranny had nothing in the pan other than atf, still haven't torn it down completely, saving that for the next rain day, then I'll post pics of what I find, hopefully it'll help the next person who has that problem.

Also, John D., let us know what your tranny guy says will ya?

thanks
ken.

 

[Tony H]

Just got off the phone with my trani guy. The OD Planetary "exploded".

Glacier991 states that on his "A4LD diary" he was right.
I tried to explain how to weld the tabs. I should run over and take the new OD Planetary home and weld it myself for longer life

 

[John D.]

Tony H, were you able to get it to drive after the truck sat for a while? It does sound like similar problems but what's got me stumped is the damn thing will work fine for a while after it sits for a bit.

 

[Glacier991]

A trannie that works fine at times more or less rules out mechanical problems and hones in on main control (valve body) or other hydraulic problems. Electrical is a distant 2nd.

 

[Brandons]

I blew the reverse planetary in mine, then it took out the rest of the core err big drum thing thats important .