some trans problems and questions

[bigshotsho93]

ok so i have a 97 explorer xlt 4.0L ohv and the badges say AWD and iv got the auto/4X4 high/4X4 low switch on the dash. so is this an awd trans or is it the 4X4 trans. the specs page says there was no awd in 4.0 ohv 97. im confused. oh and its overdrive with the button on the end of the shift selector. iv got 209xxx miles on it. still runs like a top except the trans.
ok here is my problem- when it shifts at about 30mph im assuming 2nd-3rd it "slips" or kinda goes into neutral then if i let off the gas and accelerate again it will shift. and when it dosnt do this problem it shifts pretty hard. if i drive it to the gas station in the morning and it has no problems, go in get my coffee and come back out and start it up, take off it does the slipping thing worse than at any other time.
so i took it to the best trans shop in town and they drove it and told me its time for a rebuild. a $1500 rebuild. so im looking at getting a rebuilt one or new and putting it in myself, but i have no idea which one it is. or which ones i can use. im kinda at a crossroads with selling this truck or keeping it and putting cash into it. with the 200k on the clock its kinda a hard decision.
any advice will be appericated.
thanks
mike

 

[bigshotsho93]

nobody? come on someone has to at least be able to tell me what trans iv got?

 

[mechanix]

nobody? come on someone has to at least be able to tell me what trans iv got?

5R55E is the trans you have. Slipping usually means you are loosing pressure to hold the various clutches together. If at all possible I would try to get a transmission pressure gauge and hook it up and see what kind of pressures you have when it shifts. This is the basic step you can preform to see what is wrong inside. Also I think there where a few issues with these transmissions blowing out the valve body gaskets or just the valve body gaskets failing all together. If you look in the sticky's at the top of this section there is a wealth of information about this transmission.

$1500 doesn't sound like a bad price for a rebuild. Are they removing it or are you? As far as if the truck is worth it with 200k on the ticker might be time for a new ride. No telling how long before everything else takes a poop.

Eric

 

[bigshotsho93]

thank you very much for clearing that up for me. im wrestling with the idea of just getting rid of the explorer but since i only paid 600 bucks for it in january i really have a hard time putting 1500 into it. but on the other hand i only paid 600 bucks for it and its worth at least 1500 now. its really nice and no one believes me that its a 200+k truck. the guy i bought it from thought it had a blown engine cause it overheated and i said id put an engine into it. but it had a stuck thermostat and wala iv got an explorer for 600 plus a 5 dollar part.
im looking at a newer explorer now maybe an 02 with a 3rd row seat. well anyways thanks for the advice and now i know what trans to look for.

 

[BrooklynBay]

You could rebuild the valve body or buy a rebuilt valve body. Check the sticky threads on the shift flare issue. You'll see that it's pretty common. Transmission shops usually try to push for an entire rebuid, especially when they hear that you have over 200K miles.

 

[bigshotsho93]

i didnt even think about buying a rebuilt valve body. i would rather not rebuild it my self. i think im fully capable of it, but its just i dont like to do things twice and if its my first time with an auto trans i dont want it to be my daily driver that i learn on.
thanks
mike

where would be the best place to get a rebuilt valve body?

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.800700tran.com/level.itml/icOid/152

 

[bigshotsho93]

thanks