Transmission Problems??

[lucky_j78]

Hi, I just bought a 99 XLT with 90,000 miles. The only problem is it has problems shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. It's a 4WD automatic transmission. I'm really glad I found this site and signed up!! Does anybody have any recommendations or know what the problem might be? Filter? New transmission needed? I've had the Explorer for about 12 days now, and I don't want to put in a transmission already!! I know if I take it somewhere they will tell me that I need a new transmission whether I do or not as I must have SUCKER written on my forhead. Please write me and let me know if you think it could be a filter problem or what you think. Thank you VERY much, hopefully I don't have to go spend $1500 on it next week!!

 

[jgilbs]

I had a similar experience. Mine died about a month after I bought my truck. The transmission is not the strongest part of the explorer. Read that as it is the absolute WEAKEST part of the car. I have friends who's engines are on 270k+ miles, but theyve gone through 3 or 4 trannys. Mine just went 2 weeks ago with 133k on it. I've heard of lots of problems right around your mileage. But that is with the A4LD. If I remeber correctly, you have the 5R55E transmission, which is a pretty decent tranny as compared to earlier models, but it is still riddled with problems. I am telling you its your tranny going bad because of my own experience. I had trouble shifting from 2nd to 3rd(it would just rev at first, then let off the gas, then gas again and it works fine) then all of a sudden it just dies at a stopsign. this may not be your problem, but given you have an explorer and a "ford tough" transmission, it most likely is the trans going bad

EDIT - Unless you have a V8. Those come with much stronger transmissions needed for towing, so they tend to hold up a lot better

 

[Opera House]

Most of the problems

are associated with the valve body on the 5R55E. I replaced the filter on my 97 and found all the valve body bolts loose. They only torque to about 7-8 ft-lb. There is a weak area near the back of the transmission that doesn't have a bolt. This area is prone to blowing out the gasket. A bracket that holds the solenoids is known to develop a crack and cause problems as well as a solenoid that fails. These are all items you could work on. Replacing the gaskets requires buying guide pins ($30) or making some out of 5 & 6 mm bolts. I just bought a spare transmission for parts. A lot of phobias associated with transmisions. I don't find them that hard. I'd drop the pan, do a look see on that bracket, change the filter, and check the bolts. Gat familiar with it. There are people here to help.

 

[lucky_j78]

Cost for a replacement transmission?

About how much did it cost or would it cost to replace the transmission on my 99 XLT 4WD Automatic? Thanks for replying back!!

 

[Opera House]

Don't think you have that big a problem

Prices I've heard for valve body work at a Ford dealer is about $800. I priced an Advanced Auto 5R55E transmission at $1850 without installation if I remember right. I take it that you are not interested in working on this.

 

[canine6]

last year i had the valve body replaced in my 94 ltd. I had 2 options. 1 buy a new one for 900 bucks or try and find a rebuilt one. I have an extended warranty on the ltd. warranty company would cover all the cost on the rebuild but only 400 on the new one. make a long story short i bought a new one.

mine showed the same symtoms damn thing wouldnt shift from 1 to 2nd unless u let off the gas and was really bad in cold weather.

 

[Opera House]

A new valve body is a cure all

But a lot like getting a rebuilt engine because a valve cover leaks. In a Ford TSB numbered 99-16-10 it states:

"Slipping transmission shifts and/or delayed or no transmission engagements may occur on some vehicles. The Electronic Pressure Control (EPC) may cause stress to the attached bracket. This stress causes the bracket to break and the EPC solenoid to back out of its bore causing line pressure to drop too low or fluctuate, allowing clutches to slip."

The problem may be obvious. The problem is also that a shop wants you out the door and not coming back saying its not fixed yet. Certainly a lot of money can be saved with a little investigation by the owner.

 

[lucky_j78]

To Canine...

I would work on it, but I live in an apartment and I'm not exactly a mechanic. I work on computers/networks for a living. I plan on taking it into a shop and getting the transmission fluid flushed and the filter changed. I have heard that it could be as simple as that (being as it's only 3 years old). I do appreciate you helping, but I'm just trying to save a few hundred/couple thousand dollars and I would probably mess things up if I tried to fix it myself.