rough shifting...need tip

[96expo]

Few months ago I bought a 1996 Ford Explorer XLT with a 4.0 V6 engine and a/t transmisson with 96,000 miles on it.The guy that I bought it from said he had the transmission rebuilt at 50,000 miles. When I'm in Drive with o/d on...the shifts between 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd are really rough. Once in awhile, it would shift perfect but other wise im thrown to my seat everytime it shifts. A buddy of mine told me that I should do a tranny flush because either the filter could be clogged up or the fluid could be dirty. The fluid seemed to be clean when I flushed the tranny and filter but I went ahead and did it. That didn't help at all. I was playing around with the steering colum shifter and decided to put it in 2nd. Every time it shifted, I was getting smooth & perfect shifts. When I pop it back to drive with o/d on it would be shifting once again really hard. Once in awhile the shifts are so bad that I hear a loud clunk sound. I have no idea what I am going into of whether its the PCM or torque convert (clutch)? I would really appreciate if someone could give me some advice of what to look for or do to hopefully fix this problem. I'm somewhat handy when working on cars but hoping that I don't need to take it to a tranny shop. I had the codes checked and nothing came out.

 

[Glacier991]

I'd first try retorquing the VB and see if that helps. If not I'd pull the VB and rebuild it and at the same do the FORD mods with a replacement sep plate. Visit the 5R55E VB rebuild Diary in the top (stickies) section of this forum for more info.

 

[96expo]

Plm Senesor

I replaced the plcm sensor and that seemed to do the job. It has perfect shifts now.

 

[Glacier991]

Plcm sensor ?

 

[96expo]

pcm sensor or netural safety switch.

 

[Glacier991]

I am thinking you must be referring to the transmission range sensor located where the shifter enters the trans, the black thing...

 

[jeffga]

i have a96 exploder that does the same thing, it slams into gear forward and reverse, i was hoping it would be a cheap fix, or at least less than buying a tranny. Where is the plcm , pcm or even the transmission range sensor located?