Just put on some 31/10.50 all terrains, now O/D flashes when i do highway speeds help

[Sloalty]

1996 Explorer v6 ohv with 262,000 miles

I got truck used with 225,000 miles so no idea on history.

Ok to start off before i put on the 31s i would get the O/D light to flash at me while using cruise control maybe 5 times a year (the times it would come on would be if i towed something or had a lot of people in the car and trunk was full). It would just go out of overdrive and rpms would be at 2800 instead of 2500 on the inerstate. I would turn off the truck and it would reset the light and shift badly for the rest fo the day and would be fine the following and i would get nothing for months at a time.

Pulled code P0741 Torque converter clutch system stuck off

So now i have put on 31's and have noticed it takes a lot more power and throttle to get the v6 to hold highway speeds so i assume the torque converter needs a lot more pressure to stay activated to apply the power. So now it jumps in and put of overdrive about 5 times before the ligth comes on and i loose overdrive for the highway and it shifts badly the rest of the day. Once i get over 45 it jumps in and out if i press the gas at all to keep the speed.

Now here are some things i want to know

What kind of tranmission come in the 1996 explorer ohv? a4ld or something else?

I am buying a new tranny filter and fluid so need to knwo what else is houdl do while i am under there.

I want to replace the TCC solenoid and the EPC solenoid but i dont knwo what the EPC solenoid is or what it does but i know i shoudl replace it.

I am going to adjust the bands and replace the Vehicle speed sensor and Throttle position sensor as well.



So finally i read a post by a guy who had same issues with the P0741 o/d light flashing. He had ford diagnose that the O/d light would pop up when the tanny met reisitence like highway speeds because on a lift with no resistence they never got the code to pop up. the used meters and such to come to that conclusion. they said the fuid pressure loss to torque.

the guy had previous replaced the TCC and it didnt help. So ford installed an updated body seperator plate 1L5Z7Z490GA with bonded gaskets and valve body update kit 3L5Z7M203JA

Where should i go to buy these 2 parts and does this sound like it could be my problem because of the addedpressure of turning bigger tires?

 

[Sloalty]

i forgot to add that after the past week of the ligth coming on from the 31's from a dead stop i get a hesitation before the truck starts moving. Now i turn off over drive manually and start from a dead stop there is no hesitation. I have been driving with overdrive off manually around town and try to not to go on interstate to get home. Truck is great when i have overdrive off but with it on it goes in and out so much whenever i get the truck gas over 40 mph.

 

[Sloalty]

please see if these parts will be right and what else i should do

EPC - XL2Z7G383AA
Sol Bracket - XL2Z7L491AA
Sep Plate - 1L5Z7Z490GA
Valve Kit - 3L5Z-7M203JA

That leaves the Superior Kit. That can be purchased at www.bulkpart.com for $36.

 

[Sloalty]

If I buy an updated valve body off eBay with all 6 new solenoids what else should I buy with it to install?

 

[Fordzilla80]

Hmmm, P0741, hesitation upon acceleration?

Does your idle surge up and down at stops?

I was having some similar issues with my Ranger, same code, same hesitation on acceleration, and especially the hunting overdrive over 45 mph on the highway. If I stayed on the gas, it would trip the O/D light. If I let off the gas, then it would stay out of O/D and would not trip the O/D Off light.

On my truck, I found that the bracket holding the TCC solenoid in was broken at the TCC tab, and the bolt that is supposed to hold the TCC in was completely missing, allowing the TCC solenoid to float in the bore and not always correctly engage and disengage the TC.

Now, I wouldn't suggest getting your hopes up on just the bracket, 200K is quite the mileage for a Bordeaux transmission. I would honestly suggest rebuilding the valve body with the updated gasket and separator plate, updated solenoid brackets, TCC solenoid, EPC solenoid, and the either the Superior or Transgo Shift kits.

What I suggest right now is to pull the transmission pan, pull the filter, and inspect the solenoids and their brackets to make sure the solenoids aren't loose in their bores. If not, open up the filter and inspect the filter element for gasket material. If you see little black pieces of rubber, then you can bet that you've blown one of the gaskets.

 

[Sloalty]

Thanks for that advise. Yea today I learned just like you said to stay off gas when going up a slight incline on interstate so it would stay in overdrive because I was not applying pressure to it. I could maintain 65 with no light by doing this but I know it is not right. Still odd the hesitation from a dead stop is only present when I have overdrive on. If I click it off there is no hesitation.

Can you please take a few minutes and tell me the parts again with out any abbreviations s I can search and cost estimate for each.

I was thinking of buying a performance valve body with all updates, shift kit, 6 solenoids, all upgraded. Will this fix any issue?

 

[Fordzilla80]

Sure, the TCC solenoid is the Torque Converter Control Solenoid. The EPC is the Electronic Pressure Control Solenoid. TC is the Torque Converter.

One thing you have to watch out for is the quality of the replacement parts. I've never dealt with the aftermarket fully rebuilt valve bodies, so I can't really provide any insight into whether or not they're worth it. But I can tell you that the EPC solenoid is the most expensive solenoid, it runs around $180 from Ford last I checked. Again, you can find cheaper variants, but the quality is hit or miss, it's impossible to know what kind of quality you're getting. Most people just spend the big bucks so they don't have to deal with it anymore because pulling the trans pan with the trans still in the truck is not fun at all.

If you search the sticky section at the beginning of the transmission section, you can find a few rebuild "diaries" where the guys have documented what they have had to pay to rebuild their valve bodies. The gaskets are cheap, it's the electronic aspect that brings the grand total up.

 

[Sloalty]

Yea. I'm thinking to just get new bracket just in case. Then tcc solenoid and separator plate and gasket. Then new filter and fluid. Sound like it should work?

I bought an eBay valve body for my lightning and it would spins 2nd and chirp 3rd. Bes thing I ever bought for it. Just wondering if 340 bucks is worth a complete valve body.

 

[Fordzilla80]

$340 sounds like what it would cost to rebuild one at a shop with new parts. Might not be a bad deal if you can confirm it.

I would definitely at least check the bracket, replace the aforementioned solenoids, and replace the plate, gasket, and filter/fluid.

 

[Sloalty]

Anyone know what part number the plate and bonded gasket are for the 4r55e? And the bracket? I see the solenoids. And ejatnive read I want the green epc right? Anything special I need to look for in the tcc?

 

[Sloalty]

Here is an update. After the truck throws the o/d light and I go to start the next day it won't idle at all. It will startband cut right off. It does this for a few miles and I have to keep my foot on the gas constantly. So I assume my tps sensor is bad????