Shifting hesitation from 2nd to 3rd

[warnerwh]

Hi, my 2005 Explorer has a slight hesitant shift from 2nd to 3rd when I accelerate a bit hard. When just driving the shifts are all smooth. Is this normal? The fluid was changed in December and shifting is smooth in all other gears even in slightly hard acceleration. Thank you

 

[Fix4Dirt]

hesitation? as in it holds shift? or a flare? shift flare is a common issue on the 5r55 trans series the servo pin bore on the intermediate servo can be worn

 

[warnerwh]

What it does is during the shift it acts like it's trying to do it smoothly rather than an immediate grab. What do you mean by flare? If just driving it around town the shifts are all fine, it's only if I try to accelerate harder than is common.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

What it does is during the shift it acts like it's trying to do it smoothly rather than an immediate grab. What do you mean by flare? If just driving it around town the shifts are all fine, it's only if I try to accelerate harder than is common.

so its a slow shift? flares are when shifting it wont engage for a split second, so RPMs rise during that time.

heres a vid


i do believe that the moderate acceleration causing this is since the 2nd gear is false, its OD+1st, and under flight throttle it skips it so then it should be 3-4 under light throttle if its liek the 5r55e. the 2-3 happens under moderate/heavy accel iirc. pretty sure it twas that was not backwards

 

[warnerwh]

Thank you for posting the video, I appreciate it. It's apparently not flare because it's not acting like what's going on in the video and rpm's are fine. I wasn't aware that 2nd gear doesn't exist. I'm thinking you are correct that odd shift is because it's shifting from 1st+OD to 3rd causing that odd adjustment it's making happening during the shift. It doesn't over rev or even feel like the tranny is not engaged during the shift from 2nd to 3rd. It kind of feels like when you go to pass someone and it downshifts.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Thank you for posting the video, I appreciate it. It's apparently not flare because it's not acting like what's going on in the video and rpm's are fine. I wasn't aware that 2nd gear doesn't exist. I'm thinking you are correct that odd shift is because it's shifting from 1st+OD to 3rd causing that odd adjustment it's making happening during the shift. It doesn't over rev or even feel like the tranny is not engaged during the shift from 2nd to 3rd. It kind of feels like when you go to pass someone and it downshifts.

so it feels more like a slow shift then? not 100% sure i understand.

 

[warnerwh]

It's not shifting as fast as the other gears when I accelerate hard. It feels completely healthy normally driving it like most people would drive it.

I never worried about it before I changed the fluid in December which I did twice a few days apart. It's got 150,x.. on it and I believe it's been well maintained because someone changed the tranny fluid before as well as the differential oil. In both cases the drain bolts were way over torqued. Guy I bought it from said he had it tuned and the tranny serviced when he bought it at 100.x.. to pull a small trailer to a place he bought in Mexico. I bought it with 113,x.. on it to help me move but I like it and decided to keep it. I sold my Camaro and planned to buy a newer Explorer but I've enjoyed this vehicle since I first bought it and would like to keep it for a while longer.

I'd like to think the odd shift is due to 2nd gear being 1st and OD and switching into third means there's some extra fluid movement needed. Thing is I know little about automatics having mainly driven muscle cars with sticks most of my life. If you have any other thoughts I'd appreciate it, thanks.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

It's not shifting as fast as the other gears when I accelerate hard. It feels completely healthy normally driving it like most people would drive it.

I never worried about it before I changed the fluid in December which I did twice a few days apart. It's got 150,x.. on it and I believe it's been well maintained because someone changed the tranny fluid before as well as the differential oil. In both cases the drain bolts were way over torqued. Guy I bought it from said he had it tuned and the tranny serviced when he bought it at 100.x.. to pull a small trailer to a place he bought in Mexico. I bought it with 113,x.. on it to help me move but I like it and decided to keep it. I sold my Camaro and planned to buy a newer Explorer but I've enjoyed this vehicle since I first bought it and would like to keep it for a while longer.

I'd like to think the odd shift is due to 2nd gear being 1st and OD and switching into third means there's some extra fluid movement needed. Thing is I know little about automatics having mainly driven muscle cars with sticks most of my life. If you have any other thoughts I'd appreciate it, thanks.

interesting. not too sure, this one is quite consistent between gears. i do slightly suspect the servo piston if its just a tad bit hesitant/slow, but thats about all i got.

 

[warnerwh]

Thanks a bunch for your help. I have a code reader on the way and if it's not throwing any codes hopefully I'm alright. It isn't hesitant shifting, it just takes a little longer under hard acceleration. If feels like it's doing something during that shift. Driving normally it always shifts perfectly. I'll report back if there's a problem. I may go to a tranny shop and have one of them drive it.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Thanks a bunch for your help. I have a code reader on the way and if it's not throwing any codes hopefully I'm alright. It isn't hesitant shifting, it just takes a little longer under hard acceleration. If feels like it's doing something during that shift. Driving normally it always shifts perfectly. I'll report back if there's a problem. I may go to a tranny shop and have one of them drive it.

cool man, sorry i couldnt help a whole lot. not 1000% sure i understood what you were saying, but alls well that ends well !

 

[warnerwh]

I decided I will go to a tranny shop in the morning. I'm sure they know this transmission. I'll offer them a 20 to drive it for 5 minutes unless they tell me the behavior is normal.

 

[LMHmedchem]

Would a slightly loose band cause this? That might make it take a bit longer for a gear to kick in. Maybe also a solenoid that is getting iffy. If you do open it up I would definitely check the bands. That is something you would do on a normal internal inspection anyway.

LMHmedchem

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Would a slightly loose band cause this? That might make it take a bit longer for a gear to kick in. Maybe also a solenoid that is getting iffy. If you do open it up I would definitely check the bands. That is something you would do on a normal internal inspection anyway.

LMHmedchem

hmmmm maybe but since 2nd is a combo of 1 and od, wouldnt it be noticed in other gears too? but good to check yeah fs fs

 

[warnerwh]

I'll let you guys know what the tranny shop says.

 

[warnerwh]

Went to the transmission shop and explained the issue to them. After what I explained I was told it could just be showing it's age and either the bands may need adjusting or clutch pack may need some work. Also that the servos gets worn in there. He mentioned something about the servo between 2nd and 3rd might cause what I notice on slightly hard acceleration. The issue is only on slightly hard acceleration. If I accelerate hard like 3/4 throttle 2nd to 3rd feels exactly like 3rd to 4th. When I let off 5th is subtle. Also there's no issue just driving around normally. I'll just monitor it to see if it's really an issue or all in my head.
I only purchased the Explorer to help me move from Portland to Salem and to use to buy things like wood etc. but I liked it as soon as I bought it. I sold my 2SS RS Camaro two years ago and just kept the Explorer. The Camaro sat in the garage and I just didn't feel like driving like I used to. Sucks getting old.
I've been driving muscle cars with sticks since the mid 80's so little time with automatics and how they act. I think I may have been over reacting. After I blew a plug in December I freaked out and I figured I better make sure everything is good if I'm going to keep this vehicle so I changed all fluids. I have new coils and plugs sitting in the garage. After changing the transmission fluid I've been very observant of how the transmission acts being as it has 150k on it and due to all the bad talk regarding the transmission on here and elsewhere. Someone had at least changed the fluid before because the drain bolt felt like someone used red loctite on it as did the drain bolt for the rear differential where I needed to use the floor jack with my 1/2" breaker bar to loosen it so some maintenance has been done before I got it. Thought I'd give you guys the courtesy of saying what has occured.

 

[Jason94sport]

since 2nd is a combo of 1 and od

Really? I never heard of that before. That may explain why this trans feels so weird to me. I've be spoiled with good 7 & 8 speeds or a manual.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Really? I never heard of that before. That may explain why this trans feels so weird to me. I've be spoiled with good 7 & 8 speeds or a manual.

theory on achieving (second gear) with 5r55e swap

quoting this first explanation from greasemanicure "With the 4r transmission When the transmission control wants 1st gear it operates only shift solenoid 1. In the 5R, this will select 1st gear. So far so good. When the transmission control wants 2nd gear, it operates shift solenoids 1 and 2. In...

www.explorerforum.com

Went to the transmission shop and explained the issue to them. After what I explained I was told it could just be showing it's age and either the bands may need adjusting or clutch pack may need some work. Also that the servos gets worn in there. He mentioned something about the servo between 2nd and 3rd might cause what I notice on slightly hard acceleration. The issue is only on slightly hard acceleration. If I accelerate hard like 3/4 throttle 2nd to 3rd feels exactly like 3rd to 4th. When I let off 5th is subtle. Also there's no issue just driving around normally. I'll just monitor it to see if it's really an issue or all in my head.
I only purchased the Explorer to help me move from Portland to Salem and to use to buy things like wood etc. but I liked it as soon as I bought it. I sold my 2SS RS Camaro two years ago and just kept the Explorer. The Camaro sat in the garage and I just didn't feel like driving like I used to. Sucks getting old.
I've been driving muscle cars with sticks since the mid 80's so little time with automatics and how they act. I think I may have been over reacting. After I blew a plug in December I freaked out and I figured I better make sure everything is good if I'm going to keep this vehicle so I changed all fluids. I have new coils and plugs sitting in the garage. After changing the transmission fluid I've been very observant of how the transmission acts being as it has 150k on it and due to all the bad talk regarding the transmission on here and elsewhere. Someone had at least changed the fluid before because the drain bolt felt like someone used red loctite on it as did the drain bolt for the rear differential where I needed to use the floor jack with my 1/2" breaker bar to loosen it so some maintenance has been done before I got it. Thought I'd give you guys the courtesy of saying what has occured.

thanks for the update!