Tranny Hesitating When Engaging

[wrankin]

Hi gang,

Sorry if this is an FAQ - I did a search, but couldn't find this specific issue.

I just purchased an '04 EB 4wd w/ 4.0L V6 and the tow package. I have noticed that when starting out from a standstill there seems to be a hesitation in the transmission engagement followed by a lurch forward. It seems more evident when I am turning and also when I am starting out light on the throttle.

I read some other accounts of the similar behavior, but these seemed to involve hesitation at speed, rather than at a standstill.

Has anyone else experienced this type of behavior? The truck still has 6k left on its warranty, so I'd like to get this diagnosed and fixed if there is a problem.

Thanks,

-bill

 

[BrooklynBay]

Have you checked the transmission to see if you have enough ATF?

 

[wrankin]

Have you checked the transmission to see if you have enough ATF?

Good question - I was under the impression that the tranny was sealed and that you couldn't check the ATF level. Time to go back and actually read the owners manual ;-)

-bill

 

[daveleeander]

With the engine running and the emergency brake on, take the little plug out of the middle of the pan drain plug. It will take a #30 torx bit to get the little plug out. You should have a steady drip or stream coming out of the hole while the engine is running if you have enough fluid in it.
I bought mine with 20k miles on it and it was low by 2-1/2 quarts. I don't know whether someone had been in it or not, but when I put enough in it to get it to run out, my hestitation starting out after a quick stop, or when going around a curve stopped.
You will need a suction gun and a 1/8" pipe nipple to screw up into the hole you took the plug out of. Keep pumping it up into the pan until it runs out steady.

By the way, you won't find anything in the owners manual about it except an ad for the stealership and how they are the only ones to be able to fool with the tranny. That is not true. They are not sealed.

Dave

 

[A1C_Snowman]

My tranny is sealed. How do I check my fluid?

 

[daveleeander]

Unless they did something strange, check the post I just put up aboe yours. Look and see if there is a drain plug in the bottom of the pan. If there is, there is a plug in the center of that.

Dave

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check this thread for some diagrams: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118654

 

[xgmowner]

I've had my 2004 model

in twice to replace solenoids (sp) in the transmission. It banged into reverse the first time I had it in and then the second time it was shifting really hard. I would definitely have them replace them before warranty is up.

 

[Dredd]

HI guys, new here!

I bought my '04 X new in Dec '03, and the truck has done it since I pulled it off the lot! I have had it in for warranty work 6 TIMES to get this fixed. Twice they replaced the pressure solanoid, every other time they made "adjustments", and one other time they did the fluid change we got a recall or TSB (can't remember which it was) for.

I have alos had it in because one of my converters fell apart.

I am not impressed with the transsmisions on these trucks. If I wouldn't have gotten the big 100K warranty I'd be out of pocket quite a bit by now! At 99,999K this baby's GONE!

Don't get me wrong, I love the truck! We'd probably just go get an '07 if we got rid of this one, I am just tired of it spending so much time at the dealer. Several times we've been told it was our imaginations, too.

BTW rankin, my truck does EXACTLY what you are describing yours doing! Get it to the dealer before the warranty is out. If it happens after your warranty expires, they still have to fix it again in some cases, depending on miles, but ONLY if they've fixed the problem before!