Tranny trouble 97 explorer shifts hard 1st and 2nd

[Gsxkid]

Well i have had my explorer for awhile now its a 97 with about 130000 miles on it. And when i went to go snowboarding and got on the highway on my way home the O/D light came on and started flashing. I noticed while this light was on my tranny shifts amazingly hard its like you can feel it banging into gear. But it only shifts hard when the light is on and the light only comes on when i drive on the highway. Some one said it could be a faulty TPS throttel postion sensor. Would that cause the hard shift, it has plenty of fluid maybe even too much at that. I always thought getting new fluid or a tranny flush at that mileage was bad for the tranny. Anyone know whats up with this thing. Thanks for any help at all.

 

[Glacier991]

Welcome to "Failure Management Effect Mode" (FMEM), sometimes called limp mode. Get the codes read, and we can help you from there.

FMEM is when the computer senses something wrong (usually like a disparity in speed sensors on the tranny) and it does several thigns.... one of which is to command the Electronic Pressure Control solenoid to max out pressure - which is designed to ensure clutch and band lockup to get you home... and the shifts are beyond FIRM. They can be called bone rattling.

The computer will store a memory code for what it sensed, and we need to know that.

 

[Silverblade]

too weird, i was just about to post about the exact same problem

I have a 97 as well, same problems. I got the tranny flushed about a month ago, then 2 weeks ago it started acting up, took it into ford and they couldnt read it(battery had died, erased the code) so I got it flushed again to get rid of all the gook it loosened up the first time 'round and it was good for another week and then same thing. Just got back from Ford a few minutes ago, if its the same problem as mine then it is the torque converter. It isnt locking and unlocking and the correct RPMs as it should and when it senses that the revs are at the wrong level for those speeds the light comes on.

So anyways instead of making a new topic hopefully someone can come in and enlighten us both. Ford told me for them to pull the tranny and diagnose the torque converter, IF that is all that is wrong with it I was looking at a couple grand(canadian) so I'm headin out tomorrow to pick up a new tranny at the junkers ($995.00 Canadian-50,000k on it-Is that a fair price or should I look around a little more??????) and probably just swap it myself this weekend.

As it seems now, you should be able to drive it for a short while longer before it drops out the bottom of the truck but if you are going to service it instead of replace it I would get it in there sooner rather than later, hope this helps.

Anyone else have any input??

 

[Glacier991]

The 5R55 family relies heavily on the Electronic Pressure control solenoid and the Torque convertor clutch solenoids for shift feel. They are "modulated" which means in effect they are constantly changing outputs - in effect - vibrating. They wear out. When they do you get all kinds of odd symptoms.... usually the EPC failure process will first show up as a shift flare, but the TCC failing could give you the symptoms YOU have. Before you throw money and time at more, try rebuilding your valve body and replacing those solenoids. If that doesn't fix it, you will have a state of the art VB ready for your replacement transmission.

 

[Silverblade]

How much would I be looking at for rebuilding the valve body? I dont think im going to attempt that one myself..

Im on hold with Ford right now so I can post what code I read

 

[Silverblade]

Ok ford sucks I have to call back in a few, but by the time I start paying someone to fix my tranny wouldnt it end up cheaper to drop the grand and just replace the whole thing?

 

[Silverblade]

Alright i threw a p0741 code is that helps any

 

[Silverblade]

Ok wait, lets think about this...

If its my torque converter I can just replace that and leave the tranny alone, correct?

 

[Glacier991]

That is a torque convertor clutch slippage. It can be generated by other electrical issues (inputs to the computer, for example) or it can be internal to the tranny.

Give me real specific detailed description of the troubles you have with it?

 

[Glacier991]

And were it to be the TC, you could certainly JUST replace that.... but I'd want to be reasonably certain... what if you pulled the tranny, replaced the TC and put it all back together ONLY to discover that wasn't it! How many miles on your tranny ?

 

[Silverblade]

173xxx kilometers, im not sure what that is in miles but i must admit...i drive the crap out of the truck, 4 wheel(auto) peelouts in the rain and drifts and racing and generally driving it hard enough that i cant complain now that i need a new tranny.
I dont want to replace the whole tranny if its just the TC but at the same time like you said if i replace the TC i might not help the problem.

Even when the light came on the first time(month ago) it shifted pretty normal, and really only had hard shifts for 30 seconds the 2nd time it came on, and now that it is back off(takes a while for it to come on, like an hour of driving) it drives fine but i also dont want to keep driving it and get stranded somewhere at 2am

Sorry to hijack this thread

 

[Glacier991]

You could be having TCC and/or EPC solenoid issues. The EPC is about $112 to replace. I have not priced the TCC, would imagine it is at least that much. I'd recommend you read the 5R55E Valve Body Rebuild Diary in the sticky threads above. Might be a good time to do those upgrades as well. It is WELL within the realm of a DIY repair and *could* solve your problem, and if not, you'll be ahead on the game on your rebuild - because most shop rebuilds short the valve body in the attention department.