pound
New Member
- Joined
- December 26, 2010
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Brick, NJ
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 Explorer XLS
Hi all. Sort of new here and thought I'd share my story. I recently purchased a 2000 XLS 4x4 from a family member with the 2-3 shift flare. Since then I've been lurking here for the past month or two reading all of the posts on the 5r55e 2-3 flare issue and how to resolve it. I have assembled engines from bare blocks and am no stranger to the wrench, but having never worked on an auto trans or even owned a vehicle equipped with an auto I decided that I would rather pay someone else to fix it rather than deal with it myself. Clearly, this was a mistake.
I dropped the truck off at the local Ford dealer explaining that it had a 2-3 flare problem. They confirmed this and then recommended a new trans for $3300. At first I was pissed, not because of the price for a new trans, but rather that they didn't even offer to do the Ford TSB on the transmission. I declined their offer for a new trans and picked the car up that night paying $100 for their "diagnostic" fee.
I debated selling the truck for a while just to cut my losses, but of course finding someone who would pay anything close to what I wanted was easier said than done. I decided that I should attempt the valve body fix because I had little to lose at that point. I ended up ordering a new EPC solenoid, new valve body gaskets, band adjustment bolts and nuts, pan gasket, filter, filter o rings, reverse servo cover gasket, and the trans go shift kit. I sourced 8 quarts of Mercon V and a universal drain plug from the local Autozone. Total for all this was about $200.
Then I went through the very messy processes (which I was trying to avoid) of draining the trans and getting the valve body out. Installing the Trans go kit was fairly easy, but I did end up dropping one of the tiny springs and it fell inside my front bumper! The ensuing string of profanity was an earful to be sure, but after I got the bumper off and looked inside I saw the spring sitting within reach and was able to continue with my work.
Its all back together now and I have been driving it daily for the past week. Much to my surprise it seems as though I have put it back together correctly on the first try and the truck shifts great. No fluid leaks either. I would recommend other mechanically inclined folks who have the space and tools to just bite the bullet and do it.
Just wanted to say thanks to all who have posted the valuable information needed to do the work and give others some motivation to get dirty.
I dropped the truck off at the local Ford dealer explaining that it had a 2-3 flare problem. They confirmed this and then recommended a new trans for $3300. At first I was pissed, not because of the price for a new trans, but rather that they didn't even offer to do the Ford TSB on the transmission. I declined their offer for a new trans and picked the car up that night paying $100 for their "diagnostic" fee.
I debated selling the truck for a while just to cut my losses, but of course finding someone who would pay anything close to what I wanted was easier said than done. I decided that I should attempt the valve body fix because I had little to lose at that point. I ended up ordering a new EPC solenoid, new valve body gaskets, band adjustment bolts and nuts, pan gasket, filter, filter o rings, reverse servo cover gasket, and the trans go shift kit. I sourced 8 quarts of Mercon V and a universal drain plug from the local Autozone. Total for all this was about $200.
Then I went through the very messy processes (which I was trying to avoid) of draining the trans and getting the valve body out. Installing the Trans go kit was fairly easy, but I did end up dropping one of the tiny springs and it fell inside my front bumper! The ensuing string of profanity was an earful to be sure, but after I got the bumper off and looked inside I saw the spring sitting within reach and was able to continue with my work.
Its all back together now and I have been driving it daily for the past week. Much to my surprise it seems as though I have put it back together correctly on the first try and the truck shifts great. No fluid leaks either. I would recommend other mechanically inclined folks who have the space and tools to just bite the bullet and do it.
Just wanted to say thanks to all who have posted the valuable information needed to do the work and give others some motivation to get dirty.
