HELP! Transmission Problems NOW WHAT??

[Bryan82]

HELP! Ranger Transmission Problems??

To Start off with I have a 01 Ranger 4X4 auto 130,000 miles had tranny flushed filter changes around every 30 to 40k miles, never any problems with
the transmission. Problems started a couple weeks ago it would not go when put into drive or reverse unless revved high then it would move real slowly, although it would move fine when in manual 1st and 2nd. I figured I had a valve body gasket problem dropped the valve body discovered there was a blown gasket replaced and reinstalled using the valve body rebuild diary all seemed to go well. Valve body appeared clean no metal in the pan. Now I have no gears if I mess with the gear shifter enough shifting from gear to gear I will get reverse sometimes in 1st sometimes 2nd or even D will shift it into reverse never had this problem before replacing the valvebody gasket. I opened it a second time but as far as I can tell everything is installed correctly and torqued to spec. I made sure not to lose or move anything in the valve body when changing the gasket. Almost to the point of towing it to the Ford dealership so they can tell me that I need a rebuild.

This is my first time posting so not sure how everything works but any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[35Remmy]

Bryan...how can you tell that you had a blown VB gasket?

I've NEVER heard of a tranny shifting into Reverse by shifting into 1st or 2nd or drive.

 

[Glacier991]

Is the manual valve correctly hooked up to the shift lever? (pretty hard to really screw it up though in the 5r55).

 

[Glacier991]

Remmy, blown VB gaskets are a problem on 5R55E's and pretty apparent once you remove the VB and or Sep plate.

 

[Bryan82]

I figured the valve body gasket was the problem because when i removed the plate there was a piece broken off just sitting there..

Glacier991
As for the shift lever I didn't disassemble that so it should be fine I dont know if an inoperative range sensor would cause some thing like this or not. But to me it seems that the electronics are not working at all. Didn't have this problem before I took it apart. Made sure to hook up all the solenoid wires tightly and double checked when i opened it the second time.

Also reverse will only engage after playing with the shifter moving it from gear to gear quite a few times, and reverse will all of a sudden kick in but it is random as to which setting on the shifter will kick reverse in.

 

[Glacier991]

When you replaced the VB the shift lever needed to properly engage the manual valve.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Do you see your reverse lights turn on when it goes into reverse (even though it doesn't feel like it's in reverse)? Did you ever try to adjust the DTRS? Do you have a flashing overdrive or check engine light?

 

[Bryan82]

Glacier
Thanks for your help I am almost 99% sure that the manual valve is the problem since I did not pay attention to that aspect of the valve body repair. I do feel like such an idiot as this should have been obvious, but this is the first time that attempted to do anything to a transmission and I would not have had the courage to do so if it were not for the great info on this site. Again thanks for the help and for this very informative site.

 

[Bryan82]

BrooklynBay
The reverse lights do turn on, no overdrive or check engine light and didnt try the adjustment. I hope that the manual valve that Glacier told me about will fix the problem. Hopefully replacing the valve body gasket will fix my original problem have not yet been able to test that out as it has not worked since I dropped my valve body. I am glad that I posted on this site I was so close to having it towed to the ford dealership....

 

[Bryan82]

Well here is an update dropped the pan again and sure enough it was the manual valve. Put everything back together. It works, but now it has the same symptoms that prompted me to change the valve body gasket in the first place.

 

[Bryan82]

Here are the current symptoms. When put in Drive or reverse the tranny engages but the car will only move if revved high say around 4K then it will only go real slowly like you have your foot on the brake. Manual 1st and 2nd work fine. Also if you put it in manual 1st and 2nd to get up to speed and then shift it in drive it will go fine.

These symptoms started first about a month ago then all of a sudden one day went to get in and it ran perfectly fine for about 2 weeks then while driving down the road it shifted from 2nd to 3rd the trans slipped and the above symptoms started again. It has been like this ever since. I dont know if it is something electrical or what. Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Glacier991]

I think your easiest route is going to be replacing the VB... folks have had good luck with Central Valve Bodies. The fact it "ran perfectly fine for two weeks" tends to strongly suggest this isn't a mechanical issue.

 

[Bryan82]

Ok thanks Glacier, do you think that it is something electrical in the valve body or just the valve body its self? You dont think that a Range Sensor or speed sensor could cause something like this do you? I did have it placed on the computer but the only thing that the tranny gave was a bunch of incorrect gear ratio's and a low voltage speed sensor. But as I understand it if the speed sensor is out the speedometer wouldnt work, but that is fine.

I'm kind of grasping for straws hoping that maby it could be something electrical that is simple.

I did some searching on this site but could not find anything similar to my current problem.

If anyone has any suggestions please chime in....
Thanks

 

[35Remmy]

I CERTAINLY recommend doing the rebuilt VB from CENTRAL VALVE BODIES first...much cheaper than a tranny rebuild. Give them a call and talk to DONNY. Super nice guy...I just corrected all of my flaring issues (2-3 and into OD)...cost was like $250.00 including shipping. Don just wants you're core, and includes a UPS shipping sticker to send the old VB back. Includes many Sonnax 5R55E upgrades. Centralvalvebodies.com

Oh, mention he was recommended by the explorer forum website...he gives a 20$ discount.

 

[35Remmy]

Bryan...here is the email response that Donny from Central Valve Bodies sent to me:

"Sonnax updates:

Large ratio boost valve and sleeve, elevated pressure regulator spring, 7pcs o-ringed end plug kit, and TCC regulator sleeve.

Other updates are installed as needed. Please use the separator plate that comes with the valve body, it has been modified for better lock-up and shift operation.

Explorer forum cost = $229.99" plus $17 UPS ground shipping...includes a return, postage paid sticker for your old VB to send back...he requires your core.

He also told me that the FORD TSB basically corrects nothing and not to use it with his VB...OR the Superior OR Transgo shift kits as his VB accomplishes everything they accomplish.

SUPER nice guy who sounds like he knows his stuff. I think this is a GREAT price and former members who have purchased his VB's have had good luck with them.

ALL solenoids are fully tested and almost ALL EPC solenoids are NEW. Mine was definitely, incontrovertibly, 100% NEW...this part alone is $110 bucks from Ford. You can't go wrong giving this a try.

 

[Bryan82]

Ok Thanks Remmy

 

[Bryan82]

I Give Up

Well have an appointment with the Ford Dealership come Tuesday afternoon. Until then i will be sitting here with my fingers and everything else crossed hoping that the tranny rebuild they tell me I need (whether I do or not) wont cost all that much. If I can ever find out what is actually wrong with it I will post it up, to help out anyone who may have similar problems.

Also thank you Remmy and Glacier for the help, i appreciate it....

I will definitely be a long time user of this site, and Contributor, if at all possible.