How many miles on your 3RD GEN! orig. tranny????

[Wesslic]

On my 2002 explorer about 1.5 years ago with about 145,000 miles on it the transmission needed to be rebuilt. A few months back the O/D light started flashing and was hard shifting found out that it was the the Solenoid block on the transmission(parked it), replaced that last month at 150,000 miles, bought one of those upgraded and rebuilt blocks. The guy checked out the transmission and said it all looked good inside still. I am surprised that I got that many miles on my transmission hopefully will get another 150k out of it.

 

[edwx]

I had 169k on my '03 XLS, and it was running better than the day it was new, 'til I totalled it. Mostly highway miles, w/no towing.

 

[43]

108k on my 03.
700k on my friends 93.

 

[Oldwolf]

My 02 has a class 3 hitch and I have used it with a large trailer hauling my kids stuff to and from college. 500 and 700 mile round trips a few times a year for 6 or 7 years. Had the fluid changed at 80K. Had to replace the transmission at 130k miles.

 

[jetjockey352]

I'm the second owner of my '02. Got it from my in-laws in '09. It's *never* had any tranny work done. It now has 135k mi. MIL swears up and down it has a towing package, but I know it does not have a factory one. Maybe dealer installed, w/ better-than-factory aux. trans cooler? That is the only thing I can think of that has saved it. That, and divine intervention. Up until this past summer it has not been used for towing. And this summer was only a small 6x9 trailer on weekends.

 

[justchecking]

175,550 so far on original trans. Had to have the solenoids replaced at about 160,000. I tow a 2,400 Lb pop up, 2,200 Lb bow rider, 3,500 Lb GVWR utility trailer. I replaced the class II hitch with class III for convenience several years ago.

The only real problem I have had with it is that it occasionally runs out of gas when my wife drives it. Always when the needle is on E suprisingly. We put some gas in and it fires right up.

 

[hkg53]

The only real problem I have had with it is that it occasionally runs out of gas when my wife drives it. Always when the needle is on E suprisingly. We put some gas in and it fires right up.

I can't believe it, my niece had the exact same problem. It is quite the aberrational anomaly! I sure hope there will be a less intrusive and bothersome fix soon.

 

[webwzrd]

158k with no repairs. Works like new!

 

[Judeaux]

Just bought a '02 Eddie Bauer at auction. Transmission died about a week later at 114000 miles. Getting a remanufactured one for $3100 installed now.

 

[hkg53]

Wow, $3100 is expensive.

 

[SaratogaExplorer]

crossed 150k on my '03 XLT, running as well as ever... knocking on wood as i type...

 

[Jager]

115k and it slips from P to R

And from 3rd to 4th

Due to previous owner. I've had it for 25k miles and have been maintaining it. Hasn't gotten worse but solenoid pack needs replacement. $800 that I don't want to spend.

 

[02XLS]

I've noticed some of the guys with '02's or newer are doing transmission filter canges. My question is how are you replacing the fluid if there isn't a dipstick to refill through? And thanks for all the replies. I sold mine about 2 yrs ago because the tranny slipped on me three times doing the 1 - 2 shift. I will be buying another but only a '05 since they seem to work out the issues by '04.

Thanks for the replies. This is a great site!
02XLS...soon to be 05XLT

 

[Burnout]

I'm part of the 60k explosion club. Bought the Explorer about a year ago with ~55k miles on it. Driving it home from the dealer, started to hear a whirring. As I approached my house (up a long hill) the RPMs kept getting higher and higher and it couldn't change gears easily. As I brought it to a stop it died (seemed like it was in neutral in every gear except park). Managed to get it off the road by use of gravity (rolling backwards on the hill off to the side).

Mechanic told dealer who told me that it was the torque converter, but they rebuilt the transmission so I'm assuming some other things happened too.

To be honest, I think the ones who haven't had their transmission go were lucky. I'd say it's almost a guarantee that it'll go around that time. But in 10k miles after the rebuild, there haven't been any problems whatsoever.

 

[hnybee09]

2003 Explorer tranny

The tranny in my 2003 Explorer (4.0L V6) blew at 101,000miles.

 

[rasbell]

My 02 Sport Has 104,000 and Hasn't had any major problems. At about 60k I started to notice a little Hesitation when I step on it when it's shifts between 30 and 40 mph mostly first thing in the morning. It doesn't happen all the time and has never got any worse. I've never done any maintenance on the trans before. I'm going to get the trans flushed pretty soon.

 

[rasbell]

My 02 Sport Has 104,000 and Hasn't had any major problems. At about 60k I started to notice a little Hesitation when I step on it when it's shifts between 30 and 40 mph mostly first thing in the morning. It doesn't happen all the time and has never got any worse. I've never done any maintenance on the trans before. I'm going to get the trans flushed pretty soon.

I was reading that if you've never flushed or changed your trans fluid before and have over 100k then flushing is not a good idea. I'll Just change the fluid and maybe filter.

 

[jk7294]

First time on the forum, so hello to all. I have a 2002 Limited 4.6. I bought it used with 144K on it and it has been awesome. All the options you can think of on it. Then Monday on the way to work ....Boom!, for no reason, it did not want to shift into 3rd gear. i let off the gas and it slammed into 3rd and the flashing od light and service engine light came on. I went to the dealer at lunch and he said a new tranny with labor is $3500-3700. Ouch, I bought the truck 11 months ago for 6k!!. It has 155k on it now and looks as if it has been treated well. The tow hitch has obviously never seen any use, and it is nice and clean. I guess it is cheaper than buying another vehicle. The tranny from Ford is new manufacture with a 3 year/ unlimited mile warranty and they will have it done in one day. What do you guys think? I also found a service bulletin from ford that applies (by date of mfg) to my truck TSB 04-24-17. I wonder why that never became a recall?

 

[D Hook]

Mine is the same way, as far as mileage and condition, and I just purchased last Octomer. Except it's on it's third transmission, all replaced BEFORE I bought it, thankfully. Only 20,000 on the third (and hopefully final) one.

But I like the truck so if it blew tomorrow, I'd probably replace it. You're right, still cheaper than buying a new vehicle. If you like the Limited, it might be a good idea to replace it and drive it another 60k.

 

[rasbell]

I've noticed some of the guys with '02's or newer are doing transmission filter canges. My question is how are you replacing the fluid if there isn't a dipstick to refill through? And thanks for all the replies. I sold mine about 2 yrs ago because the tranny slipped on me three times doing the 1 - 2 shift. I will be buying another but only a '05 since they seem to work out the issues by '04.

Thanks for the replies. This is a great site!
02XLS...soon to be 05XLT

My 02 sport has a dip stick. I'm going to do a fluid and filter change next weekend.