Tranny slips in/out of OD

[Big Green]

Okay I need some help my 92 xlt keeps slipping in and out of overdrive. I'll be doing 40mph and the tach will read 3,000rpm, but after a long while it will finally go into OD. But after it does, if I need to accelerate the slightest amount the RPM's will shoot back up to 3,000-4,000. Could someone help, I've have read all the other posts and they are just people with no overdrive. I have the OD gear it just doesnt want to stay in that gear. THank for the help.

 

[Stephen S]

The OD on transmissions is a little picky. Mine usually goes into overdrive at about 50 mph. But if I am accelerating (even slightly), and I don't let up, it will surpass 50 and keep going a while before it finally drops into OD. But if I let up a little anytime after 50, it will shift. Another scenario...If I gently accellerate to 50 and let up on the gas, it will shift into OD. But if I am driving steadily at just over 50 and I give it a little gas, or I hit a little hill, it jumps back out quickly. I attribute it to driving at the speed so close to where it shifts, it's easy to get it to shift out. But when I'm driving 70 or higher, it's harder to make it shift out of OD. It takes hills and speed increases easier and stays in OD. Try driving a little faster...not so close to the speed it shifts into OD and see if it still shifts out too quickly.

 

[Alec]

I agree. 40-50 mph is very close to the OD shift point. Maybe if you're always in that range, you should just leave it out of OD.

 

[Robb]

Have you had the truck long? Meaning, the truck used to not to this and this is definately a problem that has just started?

Robb

 

[GJarrett]

As mentioned, the O/D shift is in that range. When stock mine was around 45-47 mph.

Explorer trannys are weak, and the O/D searching for engagement is one major instigator of eventual failure.

You should NOT be hoping to get your vehicle into overdrive at 40 mph. You may or may not save a couple of mpg but you'll be wearing out that O/D while it is searching to engage. A replacement tranny and a couple grand in expense is not worth saving a few mpg at certain speeds. Keep your O/D off until you are on the highway.

I am about to spend at least $1,700 in tranny expense because of this very issue. It will take 90-100k miles for it to happen, but it will.

From now on, in the city, my O/D is gonna be off.

 

[Robb]

It will take 90-100k miles for it to happen, but it will.

Man........... and my day was going so well. I got 98,200 and you lay this one me.

Robb

 

[RedBeard]

Originally posted by GJarrett
Explorer trannys are weak, and the O/D searching for engagement is one major instigator of eventual failure.

If the OD is such a major factor in failure, why would they design it so that it OD is on everytime you start the vehicle? I think driving style (or lack thereof) is the biggest factor in tranny failure, along of course with Ford's engineering.

-RB

 

[Jason_25]

Originally posted by RedBeard



If the OD is such a major factor in failure, why would they design it so that it OD is on everytime you start the vehicle? I think driving style (or lack thereof) is the biggest factor in tranny failure, along of course with Ford's engineering.

-RB

Gerald is a SLOW driver! Although he does wheel hard......

Sorry to hear that Gerald. Sucks bigtime. I'm at 96,000 right now and can't afford a rebuild

 

[Alec]

Mine crapped at 63k, partially due to stress OD shifts put on the parts. Oh, and power and driving style didn't have much to do with it. The failure was mostly caused by weak parts/design/and loose tolerances.

 

[addkev]

Alec, I know when you did your tranny you said your mechanic was going to change some different things to make it tougher and more reliable. Did you ever do a write up or explain what he changed and what it did for Splat's performance? If not, I know I am interested and probably others, too.

 

[Big Green]

Me and my dad have had the X since 93' and it has been just within the past year or so that the OD has been "slipping" . FYI; I dont know hardly anything about transmissions so you might have to break things down fom time to time. See another thing is, I work at a Ford dealership and I drive alot of older X's but even in the parking lot I can tell a huge difference. For instance when accelerating from a stop not hard, but parking lot speed, the RPM's on these other X's stay below 2,000rpm, and in mine (same acceleration) the rpm's are at about 2,700-3,000. So is that the same problem with the OD shift points? Thanks

 

[Alec]

addkev,
I put some details in that tranny thread, but basically it has a transgo shiftkit and a higher stall/stronger torque converter. The clutch packs were also machined to make them stronger and durable.

 

[Jason_25]

Quick question for the tranny experts: at any time (or at any speed), will it ever hurt the tranny by not putting it into O/D?

 

[aldive]

It should not.

 

[Big E]

Back to the orgional problem of hunting for o/d. You might want to make sure that your tv cable is adjusted properly and not binding or frayed. The tv cable is the throttle valve cable also known as the kick down cable. This cable will play havok on the shifts points. One more thing to check out is you shift modulator valve on the pass side of trans. This vavle controls shift points. Pull off the vaccume hose and look for trans fluid to run out. If you see it run out it is junk and needs to be replaced. These are a few things you can do before you spend money and assume it is time for a rebuild.


Eric