Help Please, whining noise and kick down into neutral

[BruceGunn]

Hello from the UK, I'm new and this is my first thread.

Have recently bought a year 2000 Explorer North Face edition (I believe it's similar to an XLT) which is specail UK only model. It's 4.0 ltr sohc auto with overdrive.

It was one owner, full service history, 58,000 miles, all in very good condition. Now with 60k miles I am having some tranny problems.

There is a slight whining noise under moderate loads that increase in frequency as speed increases. It's totally quiet on light loads. When travlleing at say 50/60 mph and fully pressing the gas the kick down will sometimes change into neutral with the engine bouncing off the rev limiter at 6,250 rpms !

I checked the tranny oil level and it seems ok but the fluid appears clear, not red as I expected.

My questions are-
Is it time to throw away the tranny ?
Is it worth changing the tranny oil and filter ?
Is Dexron III ok ? Or please suggest some alternatives as I can't find Mervcon V here in the UK.

Any advice will be very appreciated.
Thanks
Bruce

 

[Ian5700]

You can only use Mercon V, Ford specification 202-B.

Comma have recently started making a fluid that meets the Mercon V specs, labelled AQ202. Do not use Comma's AQF (meets Ford type F) or AQM (Dextron II) or AQ3 (meets Mercon/Dextron III) as these are not compatiable. Comma now make a fourth make AQ202 which meets Mercon V specs.

However saying all of that the Comma brand stuff (must meet 202-B, the spec in the handbook) that you will find at your local autofactors only offers a marginal saving, so i would suggest that you just go to a Ford dealer and buy the mercon v from there, about 10.00 a litre.

 

[BruceGunn]

Many thanks Ian.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've never seen clear transmission fluid. I don't know what they put in there, but it doesn't sound like transmission fluid.

 

[BruceGunn]

Many thanks MrB

I was hoping you might see my query.
Do you have any recommendations ref other oils to try, Ford UK just don't seem to stock Mercon V and I have seen lots of stuff on the net (from Jag owners etc) where UK users are searching for the same tranny oil alternatives.

Also in your opinion, is this tranny particulary unreliable ?

Cheers Bruce

 

[Ian5700]

Ford UK stocks Mercon V. But don't ring up the parts department and ask for Mercon V, as they won't know what you are talking about.

Instead just ask for automatic transmission fluid for an explorer, give them your reg. or vin number and they should produce a bottle with M-5 on it, in little letters on the bottom meets ford spec ---------- m202-b.

 

[BrooklynBay]

What brands do they sell there? Could you get Mobile 1 or Amsoil? If so, you could get full synthetic for the same price (or possibly less than) the dealer is charging for Mercon V. I wouldn't say that these transmissions are unreliable. The hard parts are good, but the valve bodies are the problem since they use electronics (modulated EPC, TCC solenoids grinding the bores down). Electronic parts are not necessarily bad, it's just that they use a very sensitive EPC which gets clogged with dirt very easily. It's a single stage design unlike the one used in the 4R70W which has 2 stages. There is a new 2 stage design which is currently being tested, and will eventually be available in the near future. It will be more reliable than the current one. The vibration from the EPC causes the valve body's bolts to get loose, and blow out the gasket.

 

[BruceGunn]

Many thanks Ian

I have been asking for Mercon V ! I shall change tack.

Cheers
Bruce

 

[BruceGunn]

Many thanks For the info BrooklynBay

I can get Mobil, Castrol, BP, ###hs, but as Ian has just told me how to get Mercon V out of Ford UK so I might as well use that, unless there is a real advantage to synthetics oils. This car will only be doing 4 to 5k miles a year but will be towing a 2 tonne boat and doing several ramp recoveries.

Thanks for the info ref vibes and the EPC I will have a look at mine.

Cheers
Bruce

 

[BrooklynBay]

Mercon V is semi-synthetic transmission fluid.