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Looking at buying, question about trans problems.
- Thread starter Stus1171
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Welcome to this forum! What transmission problem are you referring to?
The problems I've been reading about on here and other places. I think it was with the 5R55 (not sure) transmission.
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02 has the 5R55W transmission with the unitary case, and no dipstick. The valve body solenoid pack is a modular design, so all of the solenoids get replaced at the same time.
So I don't need to worry about the 5R55W transmission when buying a 02-05 Explorer/Mountaineer.
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It's not "bullet proof". Any transmission could be troublesome. It's always best to have a vehicle checked out before you buy it.
blichy
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I believe that all MY02-05 have this transmission (both V8 and V6). I had had the solenoid pack replaced on mine at about 75k miles, as with several others on the board. My understanding is that if the transmission is clunking/hunting badly and it is the solenoid pack, this can cause issues with the gearing if it is not taken care of.
jayton
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Stus1171:
You also want to make sure certain that it is specifically "Mercon V" transmission fluid that you use. The "Dexron III/Mercon" bottles will not work!
You do not have to use a full synthetic to get smooth shifting. If it starts shifting rough, there is a chance that it may be gunk collecting on the valve body and throughout. That is the only time that I know of that a full synthetic alone can produce a magical effect.
Whether yours is shifting rough or not, Stuss1171, run a can of seafoam transmission cleaner through it 50 miles before you change the fluid anyway. The key is that YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE FLUID. But even if you buy the very cheapest generic brand at the local auto parts store, as long as it says Mercon V, you will be allright.
Just change the transmission fluid every 50k miles and it and it will be fine. Also, it does not matter which make or model of car you choose, they ALL have their fair share of bad solenoids. Electric parts sometimes go bad or they sometimes last 30 years. You are going to hit it about 50/50 chances on whether or not you will have problems with an 02 Explorer/Mountaineer, or anything else for that matter. You can pick any brand car or transmission in the world, and find a forum for it online where you can read where people are having problems with the transmissions.
To change the fluid, you have to get a little tool from pep boys for $1.59 that you hook a pump up to to get fluid back in.
All trim levels, both V6's and V8's for 2002 & later use the same 5R55W 5 speed automatic transmission.
You might be the type of person interested in this link:
http://www.ratiotek.com/tmp/5r55w-complete.pdf
I just bought my first Explorer a week and a half ago. It's an 02 XLT with the 4.6L with 105k miles, and I love it! My first impession of the transmission is that the first two gears are close together, which makes for a lot fun when getting on it. If you go WOT from a stop, the rpms climb up to about 5k, and it briefly shifts into second. Since the ratio is only a small difference from first, it is in second gear for a very short period of time before you are off to third. If you stomp on it when you are already rolling at about, lets say like 10 mph or so, it starts you out in the second gear rather than downshifting all the way back down to first gear. Even when taking off in the lower ratio second gear, it still pulls pretty hard for a 4000 lbs. SUV. It feels like two different vehicles when you get on it from either a rolling start or when stopped.
If anyone on this forum is going to have problems with their 5R55W transmission, it will most likely be me. I don't go easy on them at all!
Good luck with whatever you decide.
I have a little tip for you, if you are going to be looking to buy one from a private party rather than a dealer. Ask the owner if you can meet them wherever the Explorer is at, so you can have a chance to test drive it while it is still stone cold. Sometimes you can discover problems just by checking it out before it is all warmed up.
Good luck,
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