Do I have a 5spd Auto?

[98BlackXSport]

I just bought my X this summer. The guy I bought it off of told me that it came with the 5 spd auto tranny. So, when I got in for the test drive I looked at the gear numbers on the instrument cluster and only saw 1, 2, and O with the D in the middle. So I thought he was mistaken because to me that is only 4 gears. Anyways, I got in and test drove it and at the time it only felt like it had the 4 gears which was fine to me. Anyways, today I was driving and for some reason I thought I felt an extra shift. The next time I stopped I counted the shifts, and sure enough I felt 4 shifts 1-2,2-3,3-4,4-5? I tried this a few more times and now I do think I have the 5 spd. How do I find out for sure? Also, some specs I have looked at have not included the 5spd with the OHV but I have seen other specs that have said it was an option. Any help will be great, thnx.

 

[jimbo74]

1,2,and OD .... and with a button to turn od on and off at the end of the shifter? if yes, it is probably a 4 speed

 

[JoshC]

If you have the OHV motor then you've more then likely got the 4spd auto. The extra shift you felt was the torque converter shifting or sliding into over drive. That's what it is there for, makes it feel like a 5 spd.

Jim--actually the 5spd autos have the same dash letters as the 4spd, reason i know is my dad just got a new sport trac with the 5spd and his only has the 1, 2, OD button.

Happy trails!!

 

[Alec]

NOPE!!!!

I'm almost positive you have the 5 speed auto. If you have the SOHC motor you 100% have a 5 speed. If you have the OHV motor you 80%-90% have the 5 speed. Almost all 98+ auto trannies regardless of which 4.0 are the 5R55E.

You still only have selectable 1,2,3,OD. This is actually 1,3,4,OD. The extra gear is only OD being engaged after first to make the 1-2 transition smoother. Thus, your 1,3,4,5 gears are the same as the 4 speed's 1,2,3,4.

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

According to my Haynes manual, the 5R55E was introduced in the 97 model year, regardless if it was an OHV or SOHC.

There is also a TR code on your door sticker, but I don't have the trans codes data handy right now.....

 

[Robert]

All automatic equipped, V6 Explorers since '97 have came with the 5R55E 5-speed automatic. It is a modified version of the 4R55E which was discontinued after the '96 model year. On your vehicle certification label inside the drivers door, look for the letter in the box labeled "TR". A "D" stands for 5-speed automatic, "U" stands for 4-speed automatic.

 

[JoshC]

Neither my 97 or my dads old 98 were 5 speeds. Must have been an option.

Happy trails!!

 

[Howard]

My 98 4.0 SOHC has a five speed auto and has only got 1 2 and D on the shifter. But the handbook says that in 2 you are realy in 3rd gear and in D normal driving with od unless you press the od button to turn od off. Hope this helps.

 

[Robert]

That's odd then. Ford's first TSB for the 5R55E where it states:

"A/T - 5R55E Features and Components Description
Article No.
96-17-24

08/12/96

TRANSMISSION - 5R55E - DESCRIPTION OF FEATURES AND MAJOR COMPONENTS

LIGHT TRUCK:
1997 AEROSTAR, EXPLORER, RANGER

ISSUE:
Beginning with September, 1996 production, the 1997 Aerostar, Explorer, and Ranger will have a new electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission, the 5R55E."

My '97 Owner's manual only lists the 4R70W for the 5.0L and 5R55E for both 4.0L. They don't mention the 4R55E anywhere in my manual. Pages 122-123 explain how to drive with either automatic offered. On page 223 for capacities and specifications the only transmissions listed are the 5 speed manual, 4R70W and 5R55E (again no 4R55E).

All of these same findings are repeated in my '98 Onwers Guide except for they are on pages 108-112 for driving and 198 for capacities and specifications.

I don't see how you and your Dad wound up with a 4-speed auto on your 4.0L OHVs on a '97 and '98 since according to all of my Ford literature, it wasn't possible. My '97 brochure makes no mention of the 5-speed auto being optional (other than over the manual transmission). There was no selection to choose a 5-speed auto over a 4-speed auto. Take a look at the vehicle certification label inside your driver's door. Look in the box labeled "TR". If it has a "D" yours should have came with a 5-speed automatic, if it has a "U" then it came with a 4-speed.

 

[Robert]

OK, I just looked at my '97 Ford Service CD and the only two transmissions I can see are the 4R70W and 5R55E (again no 4R55E).

Either your two Explorers actually came with a 5-speed automatic, Ford seriously screwed up with your family and mistakenly gave you each a 4-speed automatic or all of the literature that I have access to is incorrect. The only 4-speed available after '96 according to Ford was the 4R70W which only came with the 5.0L.

 

[98BlackXSport]

Ok, I apparently have the 5 spd because the label in the door jam has a "D". So, if I want to select a certain gear, how do I do it? Where is the xtra gear? I can put it in 1, 2 OD with the OD button off and OD with OD on. So where does the 5th come into effect? Does OD have 2 gears?

 

[Alec]

"1" on the lever is 1
"2" is 3
D uses all of them
the 1:1 gear is 4th
OD is 5th.

So if you put it in D and turn off OD the max gear you'll get is 4th.

Like I said before, the extra gear from the 4 speed is the new second. The new second gear is OD engaging with first. The trannies are almost identical in terms of hardware.

 

[Robert]

Alec is correct, and to further what he said the 5R55E has the same gears and ratios as the 4-speed auto (4R55E) with the addition of the overdrive gear being applied to 1st gear which creates the new gear between the 4-speeds original 1st and 2nd. So in other words both have the same 1st gear ratio, the 5-speed has a new 2nd gear, the 4-speeds 2nd is the same ratio as the 5-speeds 3rd, the 4-speeds 3rd has the same ratio as the 5-speeds 4th and the 4-speeds 4th (OD) has the same ratio as the 5-speeds 5th (OD). Basically it operates the same as the 4-speed auto except it has an extra gear ratio slotted between the original 1st and 2nd. Once the 5-speed shifts into 3rd, the ratios are the same again.

As Alec said, 1 will lock the transmision into 1st gear for engine braking or keeping your torque up when climbing hills. 2 will lock your transmission into 3rd gear. This is good for reduced torqu to the wheels when in slippery conditions. It is also good for keeping the RPMs up when towing through mountains (both up and down). It provides increased RPMs (when driving at higher speeds (40-50 MPH) for going up hills and provides engine braking when going down hills (at slow highway speeds). D Will use all four gears and allows the torque converter to lock up in 3rd and 4th. The transmission will not be allowed to shift into 5th. OD will use all 5 gears for normal driving. The torque converter will only lock up in 4th and 5th. It will not lock up in 3rd.

Ford published a very interesting TSB back in September, '96 on the 5R55E with a complete description of how it operates and the parts it contains.

NOTE: The above descriptions are for the 4R55E and 5R55E. The 4R70W that comes with the 5.0L behaves slightly different. I haven't read up on it with as much enthusiasm since I don't own one.

 

[98BlackXSport]

OK, thnx a lot to all of you. I have learned a lot from this thread. I love this forum!