Tranny Hesitation?

[NCSUDockhand]

I did a search and think I may be on to the problem, but I didn't see any threads with symptoms exactly like mine, so here goes:

My transmission seems to be "hesitating" between the lower gears occasionally. It doesn't feel to be slipping, but actually the opposite (feels like more of a lug on the engine). It usually only does it when I am accellerating slowly. If I take off quickly there are no problems at all. I had the fluid and filter changed last week thinking that was the problem, but it obviously was not. Sometimes when shifting from O/D to reverse, it could take as long at 5 seconds to drop into reverse. Is there any chance this problem could be originating somewhere else (ie electrical faults, bad sensors, etc.), or should I start concentrating more heavily on the transmission itself?

It's the 4r55e transmission with 76K miles. I live in an apartment and don't have access to my father's tools so dropping the pan myself is out of the question. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[dmasini]

I have a 97 with the same problem. Once in gear she would shift smooth but going between reverse or park into OD it would hesitate for like 10 sec. I got the tranny flushed and put some fluid in their for older trannies and it stopped for awhile. But then it came back. So I took it into a tranny place and they showed me a cup full of the fluid they got out of the pan and I swear with the amount of metal in the fluid was unbelievable!

I ended up needing a complete over-haul on it. I would get it checked out if I were you just because I let it go on for over a year like a dumb as*!

There is a TSB out on this problem:
02-13-8 A/T - Slipping Shifts/Delayed Engagements/DTC's Set

Sooner you get it checked the less money your gonna end up spending...

 

[NCSUDockhand]

OK, so for all of you "in the know," what exactly is involved in TSB 02-13-8? Ford customer service referred me to a dealer service department. The dealer told me that TSB's are to assist service technicians only and that they can't give information on them to the public. They want to charge me $150 for a transmission diagnosis where they basically scan for electronic codes. If anyone could fill me in on the details of this TSB (problem, fix, cost, ect.) I would appreciate it.

 

[NCSUDockhand]

bttt

 

[Metallic2001]

I went to aamco and for $40 they rode tested my car and check the sensors on my transmission

 

[viiidude]

Don't know what that TSB is. However, with a subscription to Alldata, for will get access to the TSBs for your vehicle. Not sure what the cost is these days.

 

[dmasini]

They are right. The TSB is only for the mechs to look at when diagnosing a problem. They are made because their have been a lot of other Explorers of the same yaer having the same problem. But not enough for Ford to find it cost effective to do a recall.

They aren't "supposed" to give you a full TSB because Ford sells them to outside mechanics. Some dealerships are nice enough though to at least let you read one over.

I would look around at transmission shops, some will do the diagnosis for free if you get the work done by them. I don't think you have to worry about your tranny falling apart on you so I would shop around a bit.

Just got mine back from the tranny shop this afternoon. All it cost me was $2302.50!

 

[dmasini]

And yeah, you can goto alldata.com and see all the recalls and TSB's that came out for your year X. And like viidude said, if you subscribe you can then read what they all mean.

 

[NCSUDockhand]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll be taking it to the transmission shop for diagnosis. If it would only cost $2300 for a re-build, maybe I'll just get that done anyway . I got the list of TSB's from alldata, but it is $25/year to subscribe......and I'm a poor college student!

 

[Metallic2001]

i am a poor college student too and i just had my tranny rebuilt for 1700 at aamco and you get a 1yr unlimited mile warrany...hopefully that will see my x out

 

[dmasini]

Yeah, I'm sure you can find a better deal than $2300.00 if you shop around a bit. Up here in Northern VA everything is more expensive....

 

[NCSUDockhand]

Well, I took it to the trans shop that my family has been going to for generations when I came home today. They scanned the codes and found the problem to be the EPC solenoid (I'm not sure what that is), which was causing the soft shifts (as he called them). They replaced the solenoid and changed the filter and fluid for $250. It seems to be shifting OK now so I hope that's the last of my problems for a while. Just thought I'd update on what the problem was.

 

[dogfriend]

A/T - Slipping Shifts/Delayed Engagements/DTC's Set
Article No.
02-13-8

07/08/02
TRANSMISSION - 4R44E - 4R55E - 5R44E - 5R55E -
LOW LINE PRESSURE READING AT WIDE OPEN
THROTTLE (WOT) - SLIPPING SHIFTS AND/OR
DELAYED ENGAGEMENTS - POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC
TROUBLE CODES P0732, P0733, P1762 SET -
VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 12/1/2001

FORD:
1995-2001 EXPLORER
1995-2002 RANGER
1996-1997 AEROSTAR
1999-2002 EXPLORER SPORT
2001-2002 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

MERCURY:
1997-2001 MOUNTAINEER

Article 02-8-2 is being republished in its entirety to update the DTC codes, build dates and to update the Service Procedure.

ISSUE

Some vehicles built prior to 12/1/2001 may exhibit the following shift and engagement conditions:

^
Low line pressure readings while in DRIVE at WOT

^
No 2nd gear

^
No 3rd gear

^
No engine braking in Manual 1st

^
Slipping shifts and/or delayed engagements

^
DTCs P0732, P0733 or P1762 may be present


This may be caused by improper pressures controlled by the Transmission Main Control assembly.

ACTION

If the conditions described are verified, the Main Control may need to be updated to the latest level or completely replaced. Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

NOTE THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY OTHER CONDITIONS OR COMPONENTS THAT MAY CAUSE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AND IS ONLY WRITTEN TO COVER THESE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.


NOTE AN IN-LINE SERVICE FILTER IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE ADDED OR REPLACED FOR THIS TSB.

Verify that one or more of the following conditions exist:

^
Low line pressure while in Drive at WOT

^
Slipping/delayed shifts

^
Slipping/delayed engagements

^
No 2nd and/or No 3rd gear

^
No engine braking in Manual 1st

^
OD Band failed OFF

^
DTC P0732, P0733 or P1762 set

1.Verify that one of the conditions listed above exist with the vehicle.

2.If the condition exists, drain the transmission fluid from the pan.

3.Remove the fluid pan and fluid pan gasket, discard the gasket. Refer to Workshop Manual, In-Vehicle Service, Fluid Pan And Gasket Procedure.




4.Inspect the fluid in pan for major contamination.

a.If major contamination IS present, refer to Procedure A, to replace the Main Control Assembly.

b.If major contamination is NOT present, refer to Procedure B, to Update the Main Control Assembly.

5.After completing procedure A or B, verify the condition has been corrected.

6.Clear all DTCs

Procedure A:

1.If major contamination is present, follow normal Workshop Manual procedures to repair internal transmission damage. If the transmission is repaired remember that the the Main Control (7A100), Fluid Pan Gasket (7A191) and Fluid Filter (7A098) must be replaced. Refer to the application chart for the correct Main Control assembly to use.

Procedure B:

CAUTION A NEW SEPARATOR PLATE 7A008 OR 7Z490 MUST BE USED WHEN INSTALLING THE SPECIAL SERVICE KIT 7M203 OR ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION DAMAGE MAY OCCUR.

1.To UPDATE the main control to the new level, follow the steps listed in the Service Kit 1L5Z-7M203-JA (ALL KIT CONTENTS MUST BE USED). A new separator plate (7A008 or 7Z490), upper/lower separator plate gaskets (7C155 and 7D100 used only with a 7A008 plate), fluid pan gasket (7A191), and a fluid filter (7A098) must be used. ALL NEW PARTS MUST BE USED. Refer to Parts Application Chart for parts selection.

2.Install the Special Service Tools 307-333 and 307-334 (1 each) onto the main control (Figure 1).

3.Install a new service Separator Plate (refer to chart), make sure that the new plate has hole # 50 deleted, install the three (3) screw and tighten to 7 N.m (62 Lb-in).

4.Install a new separator plate to case gasket (7C155) if installing the 7A008 style separator plate. DO NOT INSTALL a 7C155 GASKET IF USING A 7Z490 Separator Plate.

5.Remove the special service tools.

6.Continue to follow the assembly steps as found in the assembly of sub-assembled, main control valve body.

7.Reinstall the main control by continuing to follow the Installation steps listed in the Workshop Manual, In-Vehicle Service, Fluid Pan And Gasket Procedure.

 

[dogfriend]

Chart for Procedure A

 

[dogfriend]

Chart for Procedure B

 

[dogfriend]

Figure 1 for Procedure B

 

[dogfriend]

Labor Chart for TSB