No reverse gear

[peter freeman]

Hi I have been offered a 1999 ex but has no reverse gear. All other gears work fine. Would it be worth take a punt on this. Could it be a easy fix like new fluid or is it going to be a headache. How difficult is a gearbox change many thanks peter

 

[janolsson]

Peter if you do a search in the transmission section using no reverse gear and 5r55e (that's the code for our transmission) you will get an idea of the possible faults.

Off the top of my head it could be one of the solenoids, or just the bracket holding them or the loom to them or even as simple as the gaskets on the separator plate. It could also be crap in the valve body. Could be reverse band adjustment or broken and if you are really lucky it could just be loose valve body bolts (you need a sensitive small torque wrench to torque these up)

As for swapping the transmission. can be a ball ache unless you have a lift and transmission jack. I have done it on my driveway with a couple of jacks and some ratchet straps. To get to the bell housing bolts you will need a 14mm flexi head ratchet spanner, trust me it makes things easier. Exhaust has to come off also and the down pipe to manifold bolts can put up a fight so a good soaking with penetrant for a few days before is essential.

If you decide to just go into the oil pan area and check out the solenoids etc you will still need to remove the n/s down pie and CAT for access.

If all else fails and the car is the right price you could always whip the engine out and stash it in the shed for when yours rattles and then break the rest of the car and weigh in the carcass

 

[janolsson]

oh I forgot to say

If you find it is the solenoid bracket or the separator plate gasket blown, I have upper and lower gasket and a new bracket available for cheap. I bought them when I had flare issues but I found torqueing up the bolts, band adjustment and fresh fluid worked for me but I had ordered the stuff already!! I also have an updated separator plate but this should only be used with a modified valve body so Ford told me after I special ordered it.

 

[janolsson]

here is a good start to getting to the bottom of this
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210329&highlight=reverse+5r55e
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300870&highlight=reverse+5r55e

 

[peter freeman]

Thanks a lot I think I might give it a go. If I have problems can I contact you and go through it with you

 

[janolsson]

I'll be here, not sure how much use i'll be as I just read what I needed to know and dove in with me spanners. I still have no real idea how an auto box works apart from fluid and servos engage gears somehow.

 

[kevin p]

I agree with Jan on the gaskets. They blow out near the servo, so you have no pressure for reverse. I've rebuilt my gearbox and still don't understand how it works Jan !!!!! Lol.

 

[janolsson]

So that would be my first port of call.
Get the gaskets (from me if you like), get a new filter, get 5 litres of comma multi vehicle transmission fluid (mercon V rated). Then make sure you have a low torque torque wrench ( I bought a sealy one from ebay for £28. I can look up the seller as they were great if you want).
Then make sure you have all the torque settings and the order of tightening (a bit like doing a head gasket, the bolts need nipping up then tightening in a specific pattern, tho I can't remember where I found the info. It could have been the valve body rebuild diary.
Then spend the afternoon removing the cat and then the pan and then the valve body. (I found a couple of good videos on youtube showing the gasket replacement)
Top tip is to get a cereal box and glue a sheet of paper on one side then draw a pic of the underside of the VB and circles for each bolt placement, then as you take each bolt out pearce the box in the appropriate place and insert the bolt.

But remember what I said about the mani to down pipe bolts needing plenty of penetrant (not wd40, the proper stuff like 3in1 penetrant or the like). You will also need to go in behind the n/s wheel arch to the back of the engine to undo the connector for the lambda sensor.

This is all assuming you do some driving tests to make sure its not the transfer box or the reverse band as per the threads I linked

Regards
Jan