junkyard tranny

[Noved1987]

my tranny is pretty much gone and i cant afford a rebuild right now. how do i go about finding a decent one in my local u-pull-it. they are only asking $75 for one. i know i can pull the drain plug and look for metal but are there any other checks i can do?

Or if you are somewhere around SW Washington, maybe even seattle, and have a good one give me a price. if you can help me install it and a new clutch and slave at the same time that would be awsome. i have changed my clutch before but both times had trouble getting the tranny back in.

 

[marragtop]

If you can't road test the trans, go by mileage. Avoid anything with over 120k on it. Keep in mind that the Gen 1's odometers didn't go over 100k, so if it says 40k, it's probably 140k.

 

[nitro71]

Look for the latest year lowest mileage manual tranny you can find in a 4wd explorer. From what I understand any M50D will bolt in. IE: 2007 5spd explorer. You'd have to verify that but if it has a M50D it should bolt in. I sorta think you need a 4wd drive one for the tail shaft though. I'm foggy on that. One thing to think about is finding one that's been wrecked. You know the engine and tranny worked right up to it hitting something. Pull the plug, check for large chunks of metal. Look in the clutch rubber inspection hole. Maybe you can see a shiny new after market clutch : ) Check for excessive play in the shift handle. Since yours doesn't work and they are $75. Find the best one and get it in yours ASAP so you can get back to driving!

 

[BrooklynBay]

It hard to verify mileage without turning on the electrical system. Junkyard parts are a gamble.

 

[nitro71]

Can't go wrong for $75 besides some bruised knuckles and getting covered in grease!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Do they have a return policy if it doesn't work if you return it within a reasonable amount of time?

 

[Noved1987]

dont remenber the return policy but there is one i just want to avoid pulling it, pulling mine, intsalling it, pulling it... I was thinking about a wrecked one.

mine still drives but i have bearing noise in every gear but 4th. i have been using 4th from 20-60mph and dont go over 60.

it only has to last another week till my work sends me to new mexico for 3 months then i can take a little time off to work on it.

my odometer goes into the 100,000s

Does anyone know if the 2nd gen 5-speed will fit? also is there a stronger tranny that will fit without mods? this is my second tranny in 100K miles, though i think the place i took it to did crap work.

 

[99ex22]

if it's LKQ U-Pull-It your looking at getting the tranny through, all the drivetrain parts you pull have a 30 day warranty...Thought I would let you know.

 

[Robrt32]

I have no advice , sorry .... just a comment.....I know where there is a 48 model manual trans still rocking and rolling.. Its been in prolly 20 different trucks over the years. Ive never seen manuals go out in the older models unless you were just ABUSING AND ABUSING IT!.... Have they started making them crappy now?

 

[james t]

Dont know about your area, but around here most 1st gens are in the yard not because of a wreck but because getting the tranny rebuilt costs as much as the truck is worth. Good luck getting one that works- id say if the X is destroyed the tranny might still be okay but if it apears to be in decent shape its prolly there because the tranny went out.

 

[nitro71]

He has a manual tranny! They just sit in the junk yard here because they don't die!

 

[james t]

Thats what i get for being in a hurry and not reading the whole post.

I see nothing wrong with running a junkyard 5 speed... take your old one and rebuild it once you have some money. Then when/if the junkyard one ever goes out you have a "new" one to stick in there.

 

[Noved1987]

my X isnt worth the cost to rebuild a tranny.

So basically i want to find a tranny that:
has low miles
no metal on drain plug
feels good when moving the shifter
doesnt leak

and i should be good?

 

[eXcali]

Well the problem you may run into is most Junkyards will pull the engine and tranny right away if it works. Especially so for the 1st gen explorers because they can turn them over so quickly. So I'd be very cautious of one they let you pull yourself.

 

[nitro71]

Pull all the plugs on the trannies. Choose the one with the least metal. Least shifter sloppiness and see if it has some shiny(new) parts in the front inspection hole. You aren't going to get a perfect tranny. Find the latest year 4wd drive explorer you can and get your transmission.

 

[Noved1987]

at my u-pull-it they dont touch the vehicle except tahing the tires off and setting it in the yard with a forklift. i have found CDs and other things in some of the vehilles before. kinda proves to me they dont even look in all of them.

my questions have been answered. thanks again guys. but still if you have a spare good one im interested in buying.