Tranny Problems??

[MossyOak07]

I was driving this morning and my O/D light started flashing and my explorer wouldn't shift into overdrive. I parked and let it sit for a few hours, and it drove home fine, no light. Later in the day, I was driving and all the sudden I couldn't get much over 30 mph and then the RPM's would rev really high. I limped up and parked. When I went to head back home, I can move the shifter through PRND21, but the explorer won't go anywhere. It just rev's like in Neutral. One time it actually did catch and I could drive and Reverse, but 2 minutes later, same thing wouldn't go anywhere again.

I checked the fluid, level color and smell all seem fine. Can anyone point me in any direction from here to try something out on Sunday? Otherwise it's call the Mechanic Monday.

 

[drdoom]

Scan the computer and retrieve the transmission trouble codes. Also I can't tell from your post which transmission you have, and how many miles are on it. Only thing I can think of to check without knowing more would be the shift cable under the truck and the wiring connectors on the trans itself.

 

[MossyOak07]

It has 142K.

I'm not sure which transmission is in it. The info I can give is it is a 98 SOHC, eddie bauer edition. 4wd.

 

[drdoom]

OK thanks...that is the 5R55E trans. Is there screeching or howling sound under the truck?

 

[MossyOak07]

No. It didnt make any weird noises. When I shift into drive it doesnt get the small forward lurch you normally get though. Its almost like its not going into any of the gears. I thought linkage at first but if the linkage was brokenI can't imagine I'd get it to catch once in a while.

I tried pulling codes, I didn't get any. Just the evaporative emissions gross leak that I get every couple months.

 

[drdoom]

Yes you will need a special scanner to access transmission codes. I forgot to ask is it a 4WD? And I assume PARK is holding as it should?

 

[jeffsawd2000]

I've got the screeching/howling sound under my truck

OK thanks...that is the 5R55E trans. Is there screeching or howling sound under the truck?

I replaced the engine in my 2000 XLT 5.0 recently. Long story short, the truck sat in the driveway for 4 months before I put the new engine in. Alot of the tranny fluid drained out when I pulled the dipstick tube from the hole. Once I got the motor running I tried putting it in gear and nothing. Remembering the leak I added about 2.5 quarts of fluid and still nothing. I thought the screeching/howling sound under the truck was coming from the motor somewhere but after reading your question above, I went and listened again and would bet it was the tranny but am not 100% positive, only 99.995%. Another weird thing - when trying any of the gears, the motor revs actually increased rather then drop when the tranny engaged. The truck has about 187K on it; not sure about the tranny. It was working great when the motor died. Any ideas? Thanks. (i'm not trying to steal the thread but had to ask the questions).

 

[MossyOak07]

Yes you will need a special scanner to access transmission codes. I forgot to ask is it a 4WD? And I assume PARK is holding as it should?

Yes it is 4wd and yes park is holding as it should.

 

[MossyOak07]

Nobody has any ideas?

 

[drdoom]

What kind of scanner are you using? If the OD OFF flashed, the code is stored in you truck's computer.

 

[MNgopher]

Most relatively inexpensive code readers don't read the transmission codes (neither of mine do, but they can reset them...) You need to get it in to get the codes read by someone with a higher end piece of equipment.

My '97 is headed in the same direction, though I made it 182,000 miles. Not worth working on the transmission on that one when the body has seen better days. Darn salt...