Need help with 5r55e trans problem.

[Alsmarineparts]

Hey guys this is a great site,
I have a 1997 ford Explorer XLT 4.0 sohc. 4x4 5r55e ``Made BEFORE 8/11/97''
Here it is looks great was a project for me and my son. Was givin to me totaled and we rebuilt the rear fram rails. (Welded) Has 210,000 on trans and 45,000 on motor was running strong for 6 months just recently seems like the trans is taking too long to shift up to second gear and feels like it is slipping and jumping or searching for other gears. when pressing gas after coasting at 40 to 50 mph Speedo sometimes works and sometimes dont mostly dont. Sometime it stays in 3rd when I stop. Im thinking it is a solenoid but need to make sure of 1thing. what solenoid is most likely it. We really love this truck. I am a diesel mechanic so I am not afraid to get dirty. Can any body help. I changed 4 of the solenoids in trans and the one on t/c and rear diff. Still same. This is what happens. When driving for about 15 mins It starts to not shift on time rpm at 3100 then shifts and if I take off the gas then step again it races a little. If I shift it manualy it works fine. Should I have changed all the noids and does anyone know which one does what?
Thanx Ken

 

[joe doe]

since you are mechanically inclined why not just replace the transmission?
sometimes its easier to just replace something then to track down every issue with it .
with 210,000 on the trans i`d say it was time to replace it anyway .
my trans lost reverse at 140something thousand miles and i replaced it with used .
if the motor is sound and you love the truck ,just do the right thing and get a rebuilt and be done with it .

 

[drdoom]

Have you had the valve body down, to look at the separator plate gaskets? And have you changed the EPC solenoid? That is a computer controlled transmission, and it could a lot of different things such as: valve body worn, blown gasket, bad/loose wiring harness, solenoid, maybe internal seals, could be something else. But don't just keep swapping sensors, you need to do a more thorough diagnosis. If you do some searching around, there are a lot of good pages here. The 5R55E has some known failures, so sometimes that can narrow it down a bit, to help you find your own problem. Also, a pro-grade scanner may be able to pull a trouble code. Read the shop manual, there are some diagnostics in there. Let us know what you find out.

 

[my98nnj]

Speedo sometimes works and sometimes dont mostly dont.

This could be the cause of the transmission issue as well. It's computer controlled, and if the transmission controller doesn't know the speed the truck is traveling, it can operate the transmission correctly.

Check the vehicle speed sensor. Do you have a check engine light on?

 

[drdoom]

This could be the cause of the transmission issue as well. It's computer controlled, and if the transmission controller doesn't know the speed the truck is traveling, it can operate the transmission correctly.

Check the vehicle speed sensor. Do you have a check engine light on?

+1 Good call

 

[2000StreetRod]

thermostat controlled external loop

. . . I have a 1997 ford Explorer XLT 4.0 sohc. 4x4 5r55e . . . I changed 4 of the solenoids in trans and the one on t/c and rear diff. Still same. This is what happens. When driving for about 15 mins It starts to not shift on time rpm at 3100 then shifts and if I take off the gas then step again it races a little. If I shift it manualy it works fine. Should I have changed all the noids and does anyone know which one does what? Thanx Ken

The 5R55E has an internal thermostat that controls the ATF external cooling loop. The thermostat opens when the torque converter fluid reaches 150 deg F. If there are any internal ATF leaks the line pressure will drop when the external loop is open. As drdoom posted the separator plate gasket could be blown. Also, the original solenoid mounting bracket was weak and subject to failure. See 5R55E shift saga

 

[Alsmarineparts]

There is a check engine light the code was for a vss and I changed them all internal and external. reset codes and got the same codes again. Im going to drop the valve body tommarow and change the gaskets and the last 2 solenoids. Just found out that jiffy lube put dextronII in at last change. I have drained all and replaced with mercon V.

 

[Alsmarineparts]

speedo

What controls the speedo on this truck?

 

[Alsmarineparts]

Valve body

Does any body know the torque sequence on the valve body bolts? Thanx Ken

 

[2000StreetRod]

valve body torque sequence

Does any body know the torque sequence on the valve body bolts? Thanx Ken

Complements of Glacier991: torque sequence

 

[rickybobby]

What controls the speedo on this truck?

If you recall, gmanpaint and i explained that to you in chat, complete with pics and a link to glacier's thread on how to repair it.

 

[Glen4X4]

Didn't Gmanpaint and Rickybobby already explain to you about your speedo and why the trans wont shift right?

 

[Alsmarineparts]

valve body and od light

Ok today the od light is flashing so I dropped the pan and valve body, When I seperated the body there we 2 very small pieces of what looks like copper I mean smaller then 1/4 " I have changed the gaskets and selonoids tommarow I will get a torque wreng and put back together. Is there anything else I should do before that like band adjustments and is there a thread on how to adjust them in a 5r55e (97) I want to thank all you guys for the help.

 

[my98nnj]

There is a check engine light the code was for a vss and I changed them all internal and external. reset codes and got the same codes again. .

Guarantee this is your problem, not the transmission.