replacing shift solenoid in A4LD?

[fixer]

what's involved? my Chilton's manual is NO help.

the CEL is on almost all the time, unless it's on the freeway for a long time and not needing to shift. occasionally, (usually when downshifting at low speeds, when warm and ddriving downhill) the O/D off light flashes and it goes into failsafe mode untill i shut the truck off and restart it (reboot the truck! )

one local tranny shop tried to tell me ther are SEVEN solenoids in the tranny hmmm, everything i've read says there are 2

found the solenoid for $20 and www.bulkpart.com just not sure where it goes at the moment... but i'm guessing i'm looking at dropping the tranny?

 

[SteveVB]

Get the manual along with the valve.

When you order the solenoid from bulk parts also get the ATSG trans manual. It is worth the 15 bucks or so that it costs. You will need it if you paln on opening up the trans- money well spent IMO.

Good Luck

 

[fixer]

whups! 4R55E, not A4LD

ok, whups, it's not the A4LD, but the 4R55E after checking the code on the door.
looking at the illustration here-
http://www.aceomatic.com/catalog/automatics/illustration.asp?t=32

so, now instead of two solenoids, it looks like i've i've got 3 shifting, 1 coast and 1 lockup solenoid. *ahem* how do i tell which one is malfunctioning before i tear it apart. and am i going to need anything else besides the solenoid(s), gasket, filter... and ~6qts of ATF?

i'm just happy that i won't have to drop the tranny, like i did when i replaced the slave cylinder for the clutch in the last Ranger. hadda do that twice because the first replacement was bad.

 

[Opera House]

If it is anything like the A4LD

You will need to drop the valve body to replace it. The keepers insert from the back that hold in the solenoid. Like Steve said, get the manual first and to be safe order the two valve body gaskets. The valve body can always use a good wash. I really wouldn't recommend taking out the spools. You 4R guys are like orphans.