How many shifts from a 5R55S?

[Hawkeye61]

I hope I can explain this and in the end I hope someone can tell me if it is normal or not.

I have a late model 2002 2WD explorer with a 4.0 engine and 5R55S tranny.

In the specs for my Transmission it shows the ratios as:
1st 3.22:1
2nd 2.29:1
3rd 1.54:1
4th 1:1
5th (Overdrive) 0.71:1

When cold from a stop (On flat road) I can feel the transmission shift from 1st and go through 4 more shifts. I'm guessing those are the shifts of going to 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th gears. (but maybe not) Once it makes the final shift, at 50 mph the engine is right at 2000 RPMs with the overdrive on. If I push the overdrive button and turn the overdrive off, the RPMs jump up to about 2275.

Once I've driven about 3 miles and the tranny warms up I feel another shift and from then on from a stop I will feel 5 shifts instead of 4. I start off in 1st and then feel 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and Overdrive? I thought 5th gear was overdrive.

And here is something else, once that extra shift happens the RPMs at 50 mph drop to about 1400 with the OD on and 1975 with the OD off. It's like everything changes.

 

[drdoom]

Torque converter clutch locking, normal.

 

[Hawkeye61]

Torque converter clutch locking, normal.

So the torque converter locks up after the tranny gets warm but the OD band kicks in even when it's cold? That makes sense. I was told that the OD didn't kick in until the tranny fluid warmed up.

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[imp]

So the torque converter locks up after the tranny gets warm but the OD band kicks in even when it's cold? That makes sense. I was told that the OD didn't kick in until the tranny fluid warmed up.

Thanks for clarifying.

Ford designed this 5R55S system such that the TC clutch (TCC) only engages after 5th. gear is achieved. Think, 1st. to 2nd. gear is the FIRST SHFT felt, and SEEN on the tach, better yet. 2-3 is SECOND shift, 3-4 is THIRD shift, 4-5 is FOURTH shift. The 5th. "SHIFT" is the TCC engaging.

TCC is temperature-controlled, O/D is not. Be aware every time you release the gas pedal at cruise, TCC DISENGAGES, then RE-ENGAGES upon light pedal application. Therefore, the TCC Solenoid is the hardest-worked of all of them, and fails often, especially with drivers who are constantly on and off of the gas pedal. imp