tmeraw
Member
- Joined
- August 21, 2007
- Messages
- 17
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Victor,NY
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '03 XLT
Here is a little bit long(sorry) of a tail about my recent adventures to the local AAMCO and a question for the guru's about my current problem(hint: slow D and R when cold).
The facts: 2003 Explorer XLT 4wd, 4.0l SOHC with 5R55W Transmission
75000 miles.
It occurred to me a few weeks ago that with 74k on my truck it was about time to do some overdue maintenance including changing the Transmission Filter . I decided not to do the full flush replace based on the fact it had not had any fluid changes to that point and I did not want to wake a sleeping giant with a jolt of all new fluid.
Dropped into the local AAMCO and they said they had a special this month on a free Extended Diagnostic Service so I decided to have them do that and then the filter change if all looked well. Keep in mind all was well from my perspective to this point.
They test drove first....said it appeared to be working beautifully.
They scanned it ...no codes returned. Checked the ATF fluid level and said it was good.
Decided to go ahead with the filter replace service. Dropped the pan ...showed me it to me...commented oil was a bit dirty but in good shape for 74k...no metal of even specs in the bottom of the pan or on magnet.
They replaced filter and the lost fluid. (I asked the tech what he was using...Dextron with additives he told me...I said I was under the understanding it had to be all Mercon V. Said it was same thing with the additives).
Dropped the hoist and began backing out of bay and I heard him say...OH OH! Had no reverse of drive. They pushed it back onto the lift. Said it must need another quart. Added what appeared to be a ton to me. Test drove said it was fine. I paid and headed for home feeling good that I gave the old girl a nice refresh of some new ATF.
Got a couple of miles and rolled to a stop only to have it drop into Neutral and only after some feathering of the accelerator did it eventually go into gear. Found nearest driveway to turn around in ...same thing in Reverse.
Took it back they said it could be an air bubble(they had seen that before....no doubt the way they filled it..by simply sticking a hose up into the drain/check hole and hand pumping it in...no NPT barb or special tool for these guys). Let a bit more fluid out....test drove all was well they said.
I drove it home with no issues this time....good I thought. A few hours later went to local store and when I stopped.....same thing on trying to go again....reved up and finally engaged. Monday was on my way back to them and stopped into local Ford for a chat with the tranny guy and he told me they should have only put Mercon V into it(printed me off a TSB) and said they would be glad to do some diagnostics but I either had to have AAMCO completely flush and add only Mercon V or they would need to do it before their scan etc. Went back to AAMCO armed with the TSB and after some difficult convincing they agreed to do it.
After they did it ..it was still acting the same way and they said the only thing left was a complete tear down/rebuild. So I drove away in disgust to ponder my options. Took it for a run on the highway...all seemed fine. Puttered around side streets...stopping/starting/reverse...all seemed fine.
Since then I noticed that it only acts up cold and is fine one it heats up. Further investigation on this board tells me it may be needing a new Solenoid block to fix the problem. I also read that it is doing no damage and is ok to drive like it is(I have put about 1000 mi on it since then btw). Are these two statements true and what should I do...besides heat it up and drop into a car dealer for a talk on trades
.
The facts: 2003 Explorer XLT 4wd, 4.0l SOHC with 5R55W Transmission
75000 miles.
It occurred to me a few weeks ago that with 74k on my truck it was about time to do some overdue maintenance including changing the Transmission Filter . I decided not to do the full flush replace based on the fact it had not had any fluid changes to that point and I did not want to wake a sleeping giant with a jolt of all new fluid.
Dropped into the local AAMCO and they said they had a special this month on a free Extended Diagnostic Service so I decided to have them do that and then the filter change if all looked well. Keep in mind all was well from my perspective to this point.
They test drove first....said it appeared to be working beautifully.
They scanned it ...no codes returned. Checked the ATF fluid level and said it was good.
Decided to go ahead with the filter replace service. Dropped the pan ...showed me it to me...commented oil was a bit dirty but in good shape for 74k...no metal of even specs in the bottom of the pan or on magnet.
They replaced filter and the lost fluid. (I asked the tech what he was using...Dextron with additives he told me...I said I was under the understanding it had to be all Mercon V. Said it was same thing with the additives).
Dropped the hoist and began backing out of bay and I heard him say...OH OH! Had no reverse of drive. They pushed it back onto the lift. Said it must need another quart. Added what appeared to be a ton to me. Test drove said it was fine. I paid and headed for home feeling good that I gave the old girl a nice refresh of some new ATF.
Got a couple of miles and rolled to a stop only to have it drop into Neutral and only after some feathering of the accelerator did it eventually go into gear. Found nearest driveway to turn around in ...same thing in Reverse.
Took it back they said it could be an air bubble(they had seen that before....no doubt the way they filled it..by simply sticking a hose up into the drain/check hole and hand pumping it in...no NPT barb or special tool for these guys). Let a bit more fluid out....test drove all was well they said.
I drove it home with no issues this time....good I thought. A few hours later went to local store and when I stopped.....same thing on trying to go again....reved up and finally engaged. Monday was on my way back to them and stopped into local Ford for a chat with the tranny guy and he told me they should have only put Mercon V into it(printed me off a TSB) and said they would be glad to do some diagnostics but I either had to have AAMCO completely flush and add only Mercon V or they would need to do it before their scan etc. Went back to AAMCO armed with the TSB and after some difficult convincing they agreed to do it.
After they did it ..it was still acting the same way and they said the only thing left was a complete tear down/rebuild. So I drove away in disgust to ponder my options. Took it for a run on the highway...all seemed fine. Puttered around side streets...stopping/starting/reverse...all seemed fine.
Since then I noticed that it only acts up cold and is fine one it heats up. Further investigation on this board tells me it may be needing a new Solenoid block to fix the problem. I also read that it is doing no damage and is ok to drive like it is(I have put about 1000 mi on it since then btw). Are these two statements true and what should I do...besides heat it up and drop into a car dealer for a talk on trades
.
...and i thought only that stuff happened to me when i let someone else work on mine...:scratch:
