No forward or reverse. :(

[ttbit]

Well, I accidentally messed up the front seal surface on my transmission pump so I had to replace the darn pump. I bought one used. While I had everything drained, I decided to do a Baumann shift kit. Finally got everything back together. After 12 quarts of tranny fluid, still no go. At one point, I revved the engine a little in drive and it went into some forward gear pretty firmly. Hasn't done anything since and never did grab reverse.

Ok...so...so many things I could have messed up, I suppose. Any suggestions on things to check first?

I checked connections for the range sensor and transmission main connector. Checked fuses (did a quick visual).

Seems like when I first put it in drive to just run it through the gears, I heard a pretty loud click. Haven't heard it again since. Almost a snap or loud relay or something strange like that. Like you would hear your A/C compressor do when it engages.

It might be making some strange noises in park now too. Hard to tell. Humidity is at 130% out there and I couldn't get the exhaust to leave the garage, so I had to call it quits for the night.

I have a datalogger too, if there is something I can datalog to check for. No error codes out of the computer yet either.

This is a 1996 Explorer 5.0/4r70w that I put in my Sport Trac. It did run fine before I had to replace the front pump as it was leaking.

I dunno. :scratch:

 

[CDW6212R]

There are lots of possibilities of course. Is the trans wiring harness a match, the same as the trans, and nothing changed inside with wiring?

Have you checked the fluid level lots of times, it takes a while to fill it from dry? Is the range sensor new by chance? What did the accumulators look like, were they rubber coated or bare aluminum? Have you gone over the VB kit instructions a few times, to get ideas of what might be off?

 

[ttbit]

There are lots of possibilities of course. Is the trans wiring harness a match, the same as the trans, and nothing changed inside with wiring?

Have you checked the fluid level lots of times, it takes a while to fill it from dry? Is the range sensor new by chance? What did the accumulators look like, were they rubber coated or bare aluminum? Have you gone over the VB kit instructions a few times, to get ideas of what might be off?

This transmission did work before I did these things to it. I drove the ST for a week or so, but the leak was getting bad, so I tore it all back down. It IS possible that I damaged a wire in the harness or something too, so I guess I will check that. The accumulators were the aluminum older version, but no scoring or other issues (I have seen that before). I put 12 quarts in (6 then 2 then 2 then 1 then 1) and it is now reading at the cold mark in park.

So...I could have messed up my harness (easy to check), valve body, or it could be that front pump. It's not like I knew what I was doing replacing that pump, so I wonder if it is bad. I would have had someone else do it if I knew this was going to be a primary vehicle. Never saw the accident with the Mustang coming... I would have rebuilt the short block too. I know I can get another 4r70w for $400-$600. I just am not yet up to it to do this all again. I will attempt to leave the engine in this time, if it gets down to that.

Baumann suggested electrical or that I maybe have the shift linkage wrong. I triple checked my photos before I got the valve body bolted down and everything went together smoothly. I wish I would have taken a picture of everything upon re-assy, but my dog moved my camera and it was lost for a few days.

 

[CDW6212R]

Okay, then it worked before. Taking that I'd think that basic inspection can confirm that externally it's all right. That will leave the TC, pump, and the valve body right? The pump is not often bad to the point you'll get nothing, so I wouldn't aim at that for now. My thoughts would be on the VB the most, going over the steps to think of a way a circuit could be failing, leaking so badly to kill pressure.

I'd go back in, pull the pan and work my way through what you just did, planning to find something amiss in that. Start on the outside though, be sure it's inside before dropping fluid again.

 

[ttbit]

Sounds good. BTW, last night when I tried again, it does seem to engage drive somewhat. It is a slow engagement though. No reverse at all though. I am going to check my wires now and then drop the pan if everything looks fine there and work my way in.

Thanks.

 

[Willard]

It just sounds to me like mine when it's not quite full of fluid. Not saying that is your problem, but that's what it sounds like. Perhaps the valve body or something isn't quite sealing, thus not allowing the fluid to get where it should be? I believe the reverse servo requires a lot of fluid, so it is always the last one to get working right.

Good luck, at least you are working with a beefy transmission, instead of the fragile A4LD.

 

[ttbit]

Well...i got under there again to try one last time after cleaning my connections (I am tired of getting these fiberglass splinters btw) and it is making a low whine/howl noise in park and neutral now. Putting it into gear gets quieter. I will check the VB, but I'll bet it is that pump... Of course, I lean toward something I understand the least. Maybe it is air bubbles... I dunno... I don't know if I was supposed to prep the pump somehow...

It almost sounds like a bad power steering pump in a Ford... I actually checked to make sure it wasn't the power steering pump! It's pretty loud when you get your head down toward the transmission.

Maybe that initial "click" I heard when I put it in gear meant something too. I dunno. I am getting 12 volts at the harness so it is probably not electronic. I thought maybe I pinched the harness getting it down there (did take some effort).

 

[ttbit]

Oh...I have 12 quarts of trans fluid in there...That should be enough, right???

 

[Willard]

If it is full on the dipstick while idling in park, then yes, it is enough. But keep in mind it will need to engage all the gears a few times before it gets full. It took me awhile to make sure it was full when I rebuilt mine.

 

[CDW6212R]

The AOD's all take a good 12 quarts, with the cooler and tiny sump it could need a little more. But if it reads close on the dipstick after a lot of idling and going through the gears, it won't be fluid.

Grab the old pump and quickly take it apart, there are only a few parts in it. The main hard parts don't really wear out, it would take huge wear in the main pump to leak too much internally. The sensitive parts of the pump are the main shaft holes(bushings), and the few small passages and springs, plugs etc. I don't think anything of the 4R70W pump needs work, the old AOD's had a couple of tricks for those pumps.

 

[ttbit]

OK then...On to the VB.

 

[ttbit]

Well heck. My transmission came with extra parts!

You don't really need a pressure regulator anyway, do you?

DOH!!!!!

I suppose if I find the retainer clip still in the VB, I didn't put the regulator in far enough. How stupid. That must have been the pop I heard.

Hopefully I didn't hurt anything. I need some sleep though so I will tackle this tomorrow. Anyway, it takes a day for that thing to drain anyway.

And you guys probably thought I had the linkage wrong... I like to screw up big...

 

[CDW6212R]

Well... that's good, at least you found it. The clips are not the most robust parts I've ever seen. They are very fragile and easy to lose. Hopefully the fluid is still clean and the trans could not do anything harmful without enough pressure. Good, you will sleep well now. Take it easy tomorrow, it will work next time. Night,

 

[ttbit]

Bummer. Got it all back together. Reverse is strong and normal feeling. No strange noises. Forward is slipping BADLY. Didn't try to go past my garage. Think I fried the forward clutches? I have no luck in drive 1st or 2nd. Barely moves forward. I believe the fluid is at the correct level now also.

Not doing well... Have rental car for one more day and then I need to do something.

Suggestions anyone?

 

[CDW6212R]

Did the fluid look clean, basically as transparent as it was new?

 

[ttbit]

Did the fluid look clean, basically as transparent as it was new?

Well...pretty much. There was some sludge on the magnet and a little gray friction material (I would guess that was what it was). You can see my picture of the pan. I used a paper towel and wiped the pan and clean the magnet. I had more gray crap in it the first time I went to change the filter before all of this happened too. Didn't have problems with the trans other than the leak though.

I needed this thing like yesterday. I hope I can find a quick way of removing the trans this go-around. Geeeeez!

I appreciate your quick response and trying to help. You know...It hasn't been my best month.

 

[ttbit]

Hey Don... I remember finding some thread in the past about someone putting a '99 - up trans in a older Explorer (maybe you have exp with this too?) Do you know if the electronics are compatible?? I'll see if I can find it again.

Thanks.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, I'm vague on that also. The wiring changed in the harness of the trans, through the case and into the VB. I know others have had to move wires around, say 2-3, to retain their older harness. The 99+ uses a different(supposedly better) VB harness and separate through the case connector. The 98 down has a one piece more flexible VB section that includes the case through part.

I have a 99 that I'm about to see the differences in first hand. If the wire colors for each function remain the same, figuring it out will be easy. I think that's the case. Most others just didn't understand what parts were different and why any wires needed to be moved. I'll probably use the 99 trans internal wiring, as it may be an improved less fragile design. So I'll move the wires to match those. I should get into that tomorrow, I finally got to the parts store to borrow a slide hammer.

 

[ttbit]

I have seen some 99-up transmissions for sale, and I know they are supposed to be beefier. Seems that none of them come with a harness though, so I am wondering if that gray connector is the same (for one). I have the Ford manuals on CD for a 96 and 01, so maybe some of the info needed is in there.

You pulling the pump or something??? It came out easier than I thought, btw. I just cut a couple of bolts to make studs for re-inserting as mentioned in the Ford manual.

 

[CDW6212R]

The connector is shaped the same, so the external trans harness does swap. That's really the trouble, Ford moved the wires of the harness, and the connector is unmarked, just male terminals. Yes, I figured I'd be different and try a tool to pull the pump. I've always worked them out manually, and a couple of times it was a hard struggle.