My 1996 Explorer with a 4R55E has no gears.

[RenoFord]

Hello, my name is Mike, I am new to explorerforum. I have been reading posts from this site for about a week now, trying to find if someone has shared a similar problem as mine.

I have a 1996 Ford Ranger with a 4r55e transmission, it completely cut out while getting on the freeway 2 weeks ago. No forward gear response, and no reverse response. I immediately checked the fluid and to my suprise it was full and red and did not smell burned, also NO check engine light or OD OFF light flashing. So I had it towed to a local reputiable transmission shop. They called me back a few days later saying it had to be rebuilt($2400.00). They did not drop the pan, only did a visial of fluid level, tried gears and to no avail checked for any codes.

There is no way I can afford something like that so I towed it home, and ordered an ATSG manual. I dropped the pan to do a more extensive check. The fluid, as it did on the dipstick, looked red, unburned, and very minimal amount of tiny metal specs, no metal chunks, I couldnt believe how clean the transmission looked. I checked all wiring connections, the exposed ones from under the pan and the outer to the TSS, the TR sensor, and what I think is the EPC sensor. Everything looked to be in place. So I changed the filter, put the pan back on and added some Slip-Stop(says it helps with sticky valves) along with some Mercon V ATF.

The transmission still will not engage into any gear, I bought a code reader, still no codes. My neighbor went to talk with some transmission mechanic friends of his, and they say that it sounds like the Servos went out, and that is the only thing that would cause all gears to go out like that.

I am planning on taking the transmission out next weekend and starting a total rebuild. I thought about doing further tests on the transmission, however, I do not own the several different testing tools.

Has anyone heard of a transmission cutting out like mine has without any fair warning? Does anyone have any ideas what might be wrong other than a rebuild? Please let me know, I am stuck, without any codes being alarmed it really limits my ability to do anything other than going ahead on the rebuild.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the transmissions section. Do you have a 0 - 300 PSI pressure gauge? If so, then check the main pressure in all of the gear ranges as well as the EPC pressure. You might have a blown valve body gasket. Did you see any gasket fragments in the pan or loose valve body bolts when you dropped the pan? Did the filter have both O rings intact?

 

[imp]

No drive in any position:
1. PCM, wiring harness, Pressure Control Solenoid B (PC B)
2. Fluid
3. Shift cable, TR sensor (damaged, misaligned)
4. Main valve body
5. Input shaft (damaged, broken)
6. Fluid pump ass'y.
7. OD planetary ass'y
8. Center Shaft ass'y
9. Forward clutch ass'y
10. Reverse planetary ass'y
11. Output shaft (damaged)
12. Torque Converter (damaged flexplate, adaptor plate, impeller hub, or turbine hub
13. Direct one-way clutch (worn, damaged)

This is excerpted from the Ford Shop Manual. Now, I understand they want protocol followed, but considering the way your trans. failed, I would begin with performing a PRESSURE CHECK. If no operating pressure (or low press.) is available, look at Pressure Control Solenoid first, then pump ass'y. If pressure checks good, could a flying piece of debris have struck the TR sensor (mounted on side of trans.) and changed it's setting? It's adjustable. The various possible busted parts listed are in my mind least likely responsible.

Let us know what you find! imp

 

[RenoFord]

Thanks for the move and the welcome! I do not have a 0-300psi gauge, but I am going to borrow one now, and will try the test with all gears. The ATSG shows me how to test the line pressure test, but I am uncertain as how to test the EPC. Also when I dropped the pan there were no gasket fragment. However, I could NOT find any O rings on the filter, in the drain bucket, or in the pan.

 

[RenoFord]

Sweet, thank you so much for the direction, I will try those checks and let you know where I end up.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The filter needs O rings since it's the lower sump which draws the fluid from the pan into the transmission. A lack of O rings could result in air being drawn into the system instead of fluid.

 

[RenoFord]

I did put the new o rings on that came with the new filter and gasket, after you said that I became a little concerned about what happened to the old ones. Could they have been sucked up into the system? I am going to go ahead with the line pressure test and Ill let you know what it shows. Thanks again for the help.

 

[robcarz]

Mike I was looking for something else when I saw your post. Had the same thing and it took me several months to figure it out.

Broken splines on the torque converter turbine shaft. Fooled me because it checked out OK according to the manual.

Very common occurance with Ford transmissions. Hope this saves you a lot of trouble.

 

[imp]

Mike I was looking for something else when I saw your post. Had the same thing and it took me several months to figure it out.

Broken splines on the torque converter turbine shaft. Fooled me because it checked out OK according to the manual.

Very common occurance with Ford transmissions. Hope this saves you a lot of trouble.

Amazing! And, answers a lot of questions. If turbine shaft does not turn, no pump turning, no oil pressure. But, I thought the 4R55- had a shaft speed sensor, which would be standing still, and PCM would have "seen" that'

Any more ideas? imp

 

[PopRichie77]

The pump is turned by the converter hub not the shaft.

 

[robcarz]

Yup that is why I had good pressure but no drive.Used a 200 lb pressure gauge from an air compressor.

 

[imp]

The pump is turned by the converter hub not the shaft.

By gosh, that's right! I just keep thinkin' about ways to use the info from all these new-fangled sensors, that sometimes I forget the old facts........

Thanks for pointing that out; I stand corrected, and humbled. imp

 

[sizzla]

i have the same problem, i thought it could be the t-case and or the tc. all these replys are excellent, thanks fellas.

 

[robcarz]

Sizzla if you get it fixed post an update I would like to hear about it.

 

[RenoFord]

Thank you for responding to my post. I have not yet had a chance to work further on my transmission, work has been incredibly busy and having us working weekends I just dont have the time to get to it. I thank you so much for the advice, I am going to work on the transmission this following weekend. I am going to do the pressure tests I did buy a 300psi gauge, couldnt find a 400. I am definately going to post my progress. And the shaft problem really sounds like it may be it. How difficult was it to replace? Were you able to remove the old and install the new without tearing apart the transmission?

 

[robcarz]

Mike that shaft is inside the torque converter and is not repairable by ordinary mortals. You just have to buy a new torque converter.

The good news is you don't have to rebuild the transmission. When I tore mine apart it was like new inside(212,000 mi). Nothing to fix in there. If the pressure is good your tranny is probably good.

 

[sizzla]

im fixing on mine today. im going to replace the tc and the t-case and hope like hell it works! if not, u guys will definitly hear from me, lol.

 

[robcarz]

Friend I would not throw money at it and fix stuff that ain't broke untill you are sure what the problem is.

 

[RenoFord]

no pressure

Ok, I did my pressure test today, 0psi at idle and in all gears. My wiring harness to the PCM and to the EPC sensor both look fine, so Im going to pick a new EPC sensor and install it on friday. If that doesnt work, I think I will start on saturday to drop the transmission and evaluate the torque converter turbine shaft.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the front pump gears.