rjdio
New Member
- Joined
- September 22, 2008
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Ventura, IA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1996 Explorer Limited 4x4
Good afternoon, everyone.
My brother-in-law has a 1996 Explorer Limited 4x4 (auto/4hi/4lo switch on dash) with the 4.0L V6, auto trans - 180k and change on the clock. I'm pretty familiar with Ford cars but haven't worked on the trucks at all. I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction here.
Transmission has a delay going in to drive or reverse - a good 5-10 seconds usually - if you give it a little throttle it hastens the shift. Also, depending on how it's feeling (appears to be more when cold) it slips horribly over about 3k RPM. Shifts are pretty hard on occasion, but not every time. Once you get it up to speed it drives normally, no shaking or vibrations.
I checked the fluid when hot and on level ground with engine running - it's a nasty color and appears very over-full - like probably an inch or so above the full hole when hot. Doesn't smell great, but I've smelled worse. Almost looked foamy on the top, but who knows as the dipstick came out of the hole if it didn't get a little messy.
All this being said, I'm familiar with the 4-speed 4R70W and how it's pretty particular about fluids (have had a Mark VIII and plenty of panther-platform MGM, Crown, etc). Father-in-law said he had a shop change the fluid on the Explorer, but I can't hardly believe they did it, or if they did, don't think they used Mercon V - he got out of there for less than $100, and with the threads I'm reading about needing to remove the front driveshaft to get the pan off... well, let's just say I think that shop did very little, if anything at all.
So I'm wondering if it'd be worthwhile for me to have him pick up a batch of Mercon V and do a fluid and filter change on this thing. I haven't even got it up on ramps to inspect which transmission it is.
Thoughts? Am I headed in the right direction?
My brother-in-law has a 1996 Explorer Limited 4x4 (auto/4hi/4lo switch on dash) with the 4.0L V6, auto trans - 180k and change on the clock. I'm pretty familiar with Ford cars but haven't worked on the trucks at all. I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction here.
Transmission has a delay going in to drive or reverse - a good 5-10 seconds usually - if you give it a little throttle it hastens the shift. Also, depending on how it's feeling (appears to be more when cold) it slips horribly over about 3k RPM. Shifts are pretty hard on occasion, but not every time. Once you get it up to speed it drives normally, no shaking or vibrations.
I checked the fluid when hot and on level ground with engine running - it's a nasty color and appears very over-full - like probably an inch or so above the full hole when hot. Doesn't smell great, but I've smelled worse. Almost looked foamy on the top, but who knows as the dipstick came out of the hole if it didn't get a little messy.
All this being said, I'm familiar with the 4-speed 4R70W and how it's pretty particular about fluids (have had a Mark VIII and plenty of panther-platform MGM, Crown, etc). Father-in-law said he had a shop change the fluid on the Explorer, but I can't hardly believe they did it, or if they did, don't think they used Mercon V - he got out of there for less than $100, and with the threads I'm reading about needing to remove the front driveshaft to get the pan off... well, let's just say I think that shop did very little, if anything at all.
So I'm wondering if it'd be worthwhile for me to have him pick up a batch of Mercon V and do a fluid and filter change on this thing. I haven't even got it up on ramps to inspect which transmission it is.
Thoughts? Am I headed in the right direction?
