HELP! 5R55W Trans problems

[Mountaineer 5.0]

I used to have a '97 Mountaineer and have not posted here in ages, but I have a problem that I am hoping someone here can help with.

My dad has a 2002 Mountaineer Premier that is coming off lease. He has replaced it with a Cadillac SRX V-8, but my cousin was contemplating purchasing the Mountaineer because the buy out price is somewhat attractive.

The problem is that since new there has been an awful clunk coming from the trans or somewhere else in the driveline. It happens most often when you are accelerating and then let off the gas. We took it in to the dealer initially and they said it was fine, but the problem persisted. No one cared enough to fight with them about it since we would only have the truck for a short time. But since someone in the family is considering buying it, I want to make sure I can get this resolved before we agree to sell the car to them. I do not trust my dealer.

There are several TSBs I saw on alldata that relate to this:

03-14-7 5R55W 4th - 5th Upshift/Downshift Shudder
01-20-3 A/T - 5R55W Harsh Upshifts
01-11-1 A/T - 5R55W Soft/Harsh 2nd - 3rd & 3rd - 4th Gear Shifts

Is anyone aware of these problem and if there is a solution? On the Edmunds user rating page, I saw several owners complaining of similiar problems but some mentioned they could not get it fixed. Thanks in advance.

 

[IAmTodd]

Actually sounds like a back lash problem in the rear differential. We have that problem with our '98 Silverado. GM says its normal. Our '02 does the same. But I'd take it in and get the updates done to it. Just complain and say it has all of those symptoms.

 

[Glacier991]

have we investigated the U joints?

 

[blockisle9]

Hi I have 02 Explorer, Same problem! never got it fixed, dealer changed the tranny twice with no help. They ended up giving me an extended power train warenty.
Let me know what you here? I have 41k on mine now.

 

[cjbarron5]

tranny mount? loose? worn? worth looking at

 

[IAmTodd]

Another thing, they are having problems with the rear diffs. in them. Ford knows there is a problem but they don't know how to fix it. Ours has it. But we only have the humming. They'll replace it if there is problems though.