Question about my trans ?

[Pipelayer]

A Ford dealer told I'm having trans problems. He said it's probably the Trans solenoid or Converter. Could someone tell me if these are costly to repair or is it best just to get the transmission replaced? I wand to keep the truck the motor is excellent.

It's a Ford Explorer 2000 sport coupe SUV, 4.0L OHV Engine, auto transmission, 4 wheel drive, 142,000 miles

I live in Northwest Indiana just outside of Chicago, Illinios.

The symptom is that my vehicle seems to itermittingly (not all the time) vibrate during acceleration and deceleration, but drives smooth as a top when it hits 40mph and over. I'm hoping they are sure of their prognosis, I had to take it to them 3 times and each time they said something different. They said they checked the U-Joints and the drive-shaft and they were okay.

Thanks

 

[Glacier991]

Your transmission could probably benefit from the tsb referenced in the 5R55E VB Rebuild Diary. If you cannot do it yourself you can pay someone about $500 or so do that and replace your EPC Solenoid. The 2000's benefit from this treatment mid life.

 

[BrooklynBay]

When was the last time you replaced the fluid, and filter? The filter could be clogged. You should use Mercon V fluid, since the cheaper Mercon III will cause the same symptoms that you are having. Lubegard makes a friction modifier to convert Mercon III to Mercon V if somebody put the wrong fluid in.

 

[Pipelayer]

When was the last time you replaced the fluid, and filter? The filter could be clogged. You should use Mercon V fluid, since the cheaper Mercon III will cause the same symptoms that you are having. Lubegard makes a friction modifier to convert Mercon III to Mercon V if somebody put the wrong fluid in.

You know, first I'm going to try your suggestion then I might try Glacier991's if it doesn't remedy the problem since yours is the cheaper possible solution. Indeed, the symptoms react like something clogged, occuring sometimes but not at other times, intermittingly.

Thanks to the both of you guys, you may have save me tons of money!

 

[BrooklynBay]

The Mercon V is semi synthetic, and doesn't require any extra friction modifiers. The Mercon III is just basic fluid which is not recommended for your transmission without adding a friction modifier. I don't know the exact price of the Lubegard, but I'm sure that it can't be more than a few dollars.

 

[Pipelayer]

Thanks for such a rapid reply!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Here's another thread that you might find interesting: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146841

 

[Pipelayer]

Here's another thread that you might find interesting: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146841

Actually, my manual states that I should be using Mercon 5 so that shouldn't be a problem. Don't know what's in there didn't buy the car new and have done nothing to the trans since I bought it.

 

[Turdle]

just throwin my 2cents in here

Nobody mentioned
You need like 12-13 quarts to drain it ALL out and refill,
Drain the torque converter also?

correct?

 

[Pipelayer]

just throwin my 2cents in here

Nobody mentioned
You need like 12-13 quarts to drain it ALL out and refill,
Drain the torque converter also?

correct?

Good question, I have read on some vehicles you can not drain the torque converter. I believe it was a 1996 Explorer, 2WD. Does anyone know if this is the case with the 2000 Explorer, 4WD?



I Just looked it up again so I'm editing this in, the vehicle in question is a: 1996 Ford Explorer 2WD-

This came from 2carpros.com:

Answer: Assuming you have checked the torque converter for a drain plug and found none, then there is nothing you can do to drain the fluid from the torque converter. Changing the fluid and the filter in the rest of the transmission will replace enough of the degraded fluid with new fluid so that it makes it unnecessary to drain the fluid in the torque converter.

 

[BrooklynBay]

One thing that you could try is to drop the pan, wait a few minutes until most of the fluid appears to have stopped dripping, then start it for a few seconds. This will spin the torque converter, and should release the fluid that is inside of it. I don't think you will get every drop out, but it should get a little more fluid out.