The 5R55E and the infamous 2-3 shift flare issue

[CDW6212R]

Exactly--that's just what I'm planning to do.

It can be a winter project; slap the headphones on, spin some LPs, rebuild a valve body.

We should be doing that, for members on this board. I'd gladly do the VB for $350 if I knew there was a market for it. I have about $200 in mine, all new OEM EPC and solenoids etc. Actually I have the OEM EPC as a spare, I swapped in the the special one from the other thread long ago.

 

[bosanci28]

is there anyone here from
http://www.800700tran.com/ ?
it looks like something is up with their phone nmbers,,they dont work anymore,
i have worder something on 11/29
and spoke to someone on dec1 and he said that my order will be shipped on dec2-09 and still a week later and did not received nothing from them,,
from florida to california,hmmm
and no traking nr,, so i dont know exactly what is going on,,,
man..
thanks

 

[rangerjohn]

This was said at the top of the thread. Is there data that supports this? How come I am in the 10%. Shop says it needs a rebuild due to bad forward clutch at 94K.

I might sound like a broken record but it is my opinion that a VB overhaul along with installation of the service kit and a NEW EPC solenoid will correct about 90% of all problems with these transmissions.

 

[olddude55]

I ended up ordering a VB from Donny Lester at Central Valve Bodies, after talking to Mr. Lester on the phone Tuesday.
Outstanding service! Got a discount for mentioning the Ranger Explorer forum, too.
The VB is here already, and it's only Thursday. I had him install a new EPC solenoid, though the problem with my tranny most likely is warn valve bores.
Now all I need is a return to the summer-like temps we had a couple of weeks ago.

 

[bosanci28]

800700tran.com is moving or going out off bussines!

guys i dont know what to say about 800700tran.com
well i got someone to go there and they are packing up everything and dont know,,are they moving to a different location or...who knows,,or out of bussines

is been a week and 2 days and still no parts in mail for me,,sent all most 200$.

plus they did not want to give any phone numbers so i can talk to them,,

will figure this out,,i will give then a other week ,,if i dont received my parts will take other actions ,,

 

[CDW6212R]

I'm sorry to hear that, the prices on their website seemed almost too good when I looked.

 

[olddude55]

guys i dont know what to say about 800700tran.com
well i got someone to go there and they are packing up everything and dont know,,are they moving to a different location or...who knows,,or out of bussines

is been a week and 2 days and still no parts in mail for me,,sent all most 200$.

plus they did not want to give any phone numbers so i can talk to them,,

will figure this out,,i will give then a other week ,,if i dont received my parts will take other actions ,,

I hope you used a credit card.

 

[bosanci28]

I'm sorry to hear that, the prices on their website seemed almost too good when I looked.

yap you right,,
all prices was over 200$,,,everywhere else

 

[bosanci28]

I hope you used a credit card.

yap i used my bank card,,,well it was mastercard, (chase)

 

[olddude55]

yap i used my back card,,,well it was mastercard,

You should be fine. Try Central Valve Bodies; I called Donny Lester for a price quote on Tuesday, ordered over the phone, got the VB yesterday. All the Ford updates, Sonnax updates, new sep plate and gaskets (Donny's updates preclude the use of the bonded gaskets), and a new EPC solenoid for $260 before shipping.

 

[bosanci28]

You should be fine. Try Central Valve Bodies; I called Donny Lester for a price quote on Tuesday, ordered over the phone, got the VB yesterday. All the Ford updates, Sonnax updates, new sep plate and gaskets (Donny's updates preclude the use of the bonded gaskets), and a new EPC solenoid for $260 before shipping.

will try somewhere else if i dont get any answare from them by monday,,or tuesday,

 

[bosanci28]

update

oh,man,, today i got the phone call from the new onwer of whosale transmmision well the old owner did not want to run the company anymore so he spld it,,no today i got the phone call from the lady new owner with fedex tracking number,,for my pakage.. some good news,,after i alraidy got my money back from my bank,,after taking some action.
but if everything works out with the parts i think it will be fine.
pakage i should recive on dec22 ,,she also said that she hade swan flu si was in the hospital for all most a week,and the few people that worked for her,,they did a mess with all the orders,, but she asure me that ,,i will get my parts and ,,i will pay her after i recive my parts,,because all this mess.

will see....

 

[Jeff@mcrockers]

Trans & transfer case issues

I have a 2000 4wd ranger with a 3.0 and automatic.
The transmission has the 2-3 shift flare & the transfer case shifts slowly from 4wd back to 2wd.
Is there a list of suggested parts to replace for the transmission flare? I've read the threads and know that this entails VB rebuild.

Also, what are the typical problems with the transfer case shifting slowly?
It appears that Ford has bolted an old power window motor to the transfer case. Does the grease get thick and cause it to turn slowly or is the issue in the transfer case itself?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! The aluminum casting of the valve body slowly wears as time progresses. The sleeves develop leaks, and these leaks cause flare issues. You could use Sonnax end plugs, and a boost valve with O rings to help keep the pressure in the normal range. Dried servos lose apply pressure, and slowly back off of the bands instead of holding them firmly. Large servos require more time to fill if the pressure is too low, and could cause the band to flare if the VB pressure is low or if they are dried out & leaking. The low/reverse servo uses two O rings that could be upgraded to the TransTec Viton D rings. Use a new EPC solenoid, gaskets, Sonnax upgrades, and servos. Always use an In/Lb torque wrench on the VB bolts.

 

[olddude55]

Well, who woulda thunk it? Bought the VB from Donny Lester in November, here it is March. Took this long to get two good weather days in a row (I have to work on the truck outside).
But it's done, and it was a success! The new VB went up Friday afternoon and it shifts like it was meant to. In fact, the more I drive the better it shifts.
Hardest parts of the job? Getting in and out from under the truck--could have used another set of jack stands--and the constant drip, drip, drip of ATF which never stops.
Couldn't have done it without this forum and others. Thanks to all.
Isn't the Internet great?

 

[olddude55]

Oops! Spoke too soon.
Having an intermittent problem, start truck from cold, drops into gear, pull out of driveway, no drive. Acts like it's in neutral.
Rev, drops into gear, moves half a block, acts like it's in neutral again.
It'll do this for three or four minutes, then it's fine. Shifts like it was meant to.
It doesn't do it every time. This happened Saturday, the day after the VB install, then again Thursday.
In between, I drove the truck about a half-dozen times with no issues at all.

 

[olddude55]

Oops! Spoke too soon.
Having an intermittent problem, start truck from cold, drops into gear, pull out of driveway, no drive. Acts like it's in neutral.
Rev, drops into gear, moves half a block, acts like it's in neutral again.
It'll do this for three or four minutes, then it's fine. Shifts like it was meant to.
It doesn't do it every time. This happened Saturday, the day after the VB install, then again Thursday.
In between, I drove the truck about a half-dozen times with no issues at all.

Ah, stupid; not enough Mercon V in there. Guess I was paranoid about overfilling and didn't add enough.
But it's all good now and the tranny is the way it should be.

 

[cooter75]

Question... 98 ford explorer 5r55e transmission 131 k miles on it . worked great until i decided to change the fluid. filter was tight and torqued to vb. worked fine till warmed up has a bad 2-3 flare and no low or reverse when hot... until you restart vehicle still has a 2-3 flare on shift Ive added the ford tsb separator plate and epc blow-off mod to valve-body and replaced all 6 solenoids... installed new filter made sure it was well seated into the valve-body and torqued, tried again everything worked great till hot then all the same things again any suggestions I'm at wits end here Ive spent at least 4 hours on this site for possible answers no luck please help thx

 

[dadude]

5R55E or W and if W do I have the 2 3 flare? What to do?

I have a 2002 (&1/2 new body, 3rd gen) XLT 4.6L AWD w/ 120k miles. Took it in for a tranny service (had been abt 40k) and shop said hold off they noticed a "surge" on 2-3 shift & fluid swap may make the problem worse potentially. Took it home and do notice what looks to be a slight 2-3 "flare" (2-400rpm, not severe) as described in this thread. Not very noticable, but there. Found this to be most comprehensive thread and sounds like I may have the infamous 2-3 flare. My questions are, do I have a 5R55W not an E? If so, does this problem translate to the 5R55W and are the solutions posted here valid, namely R&R VB & EPC solenoid, maybe band adjustments? Is there another thread to chase if this isn't the right place?
It isn't severe yet but I'm already waaay overdue for fluids and the writing appears to be on the wall. I'm somewhat mechanical and have used Explorer forum to help me over the hump on some projects, great info & all posters are to be commended and thanked! I've never torn into a tranny though looks like you folks have a pretty good idea of what to do and where to find the parts. Love this truck but sure not ready to throw $2k+ into a new tranny, but if this problem can be fixed for a couple of hundred and an ATF shower, I may be game to try. Any help/advice sincerely appreciated! Thanks!

 

[CDW6212R]

You do need to find out which trans you have, but each needs a little attention. There are different VB kits for each, and the EPC solenoid would be wise to change on any with higher mileage. Bands always can use an adjustment, if the mileage warrants it. If you have the 5R55W, I can tell you that the other solenoids are one assembly. If you need to replace one, they all have to swap together, pricey. Regards,