Transmission Problems. Help Appreciated.

[ke398]

Hi Everyone,
I just found this forum and unfortunately I am asking a question for my first post. But any help would be greatly appreciated.

My wife has a 96' Explorer, 4.0, Automatic, 4x4 control trac, and I think it has the 4r55e, I think.

We were driving last night and the transmission started to slip. We made it to our destination about 5 minutes after the slipping started. When we were driving, as long as we kept our speed up the truck had no problem pulling a hill.

When we stopped we could no longer go forward or in reverse. The only way the truck would move is if the rpms were over 3000-3500, And it would barely move then. 1st-OD and reverse all had the same problem, I turned off the o/d switch and no help there either.

I did check the fluid and it was fine, probably needs changed but was not burned. The transmission seemed to shift through the gears fine but no movement at all, unless the rpms were over 3000.

Any ideas guys, I could really use some ideas here, I am on a tight budget here, and if I can fix it myself it would be great. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[SickEB1035]

hows your rear diff look it could be something in that, did the tranny fluid look like it had metal in it?

 

[ke398]

I did not check the rear diff it didn't even cross my mind. The fluid looked ok, no metal shavings, but probably needs changed.

 

[IZwack]

Its not the rear differential (or any differential for that matter), and its definitely not the transfer case (as engaging the transfer case from its neutral position would grenade the transfer case). Soooo, this is definitely a transmission problem.

 

[ke398]

Yeah I didn't really think it was the diff. But you never know. It is definitely strange, I have never heard of all of the gears going out at once. I could see if low and or reverse went out but nothing works under 3000-3500 rpm.

 

[ke398]

Any other ideas? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Glacier991]

It helps to think about automatic transmissions in elemental terms. The desired gear output is achieved by immobilizing a part of parts of an entertwined gear set, forcing the power to go a different wy through the transmission. Those "holding" parts are either clutches or bands, and require hydraulic pressure to activate them and help them hold the part they hold immobile.

So, first issue... do you have adequate pressure to do this job?

Pressure is created by the pump. Pumps can fail but that is a low order of probability in your description.

Next up is leaks. Could there have been caused a leak to drop the pressure? In your transmission the brain unit (valve body) has a gasket known to blow out. High probability.

Also, there is an electronic pressure control solenoid that is a known problem child.

You might want to consider a rebuild valve body and a when it is replaced replace the gaskets too... I'm guessing that has a good chance of solving your problem.

There are other possibles but if it is easily fixed, that ought to do it. If it doesmn't then it is rebuild time.