transmission shift problem

[chowchowjp]

We have a 97 X LTD Auto just recently it started going into 2nd and 3rd gear with a hard thump. It does not slip, its fine in all other gears. The warning light is on for the transmission but only at low speed. i have already just had the transmission flushed and new filter but the problem still persists. Anyone have any ideas please help the Quote here in Australia has been $2000 just to get it pulled out to look at.

 

[Opera House]

I believe they use the OD

to make a new "2nd gear" when they turned the 4R55 into a 5R55. So the first thing I would check for is any problem when you are in OD. Primarily is it there. When I first bought my 92, it was four months before someone told me I was taching too high and didn't have OD. These didn't have the flashing OD light. So you might have lost the OD and not be aware if it.

 

[chowchowjp]

opera house, the OD is still there, although it only works once the light has stopped flashing. This is generally when out on the highway not in town driving. Not sure if its true but been told by local ford dealer here that the OD light flashing is an overheat mode on the transmission.

 

[chowchowjp]

May have found problem

Thanks for all the information we have read on this WONDERFUL site.
After driving our X today filled with all the info we have read from here, our speedo decided to stop working !!! You can imagine the not so lovely words and thoughts we were having BUT ..........To our amazment the OD light stopped flashing, and transmission is shifting like new. We are guessing it all comes down to a faulty speed read sensor. Although the OD light has come back on occassionally for a short period of time, the transmission is still shifting perfect.
We are looking into it further tomorrow and hopefully everything is linked to the speed read sensor. If anyone else has found the 2 linked please let us know in the meantime we will keep u all informed Perhaps this could save someone else as we are hoping it has us a rebuild.
So I say this :mattmoon: to our local dealer who told us that we were up for big $ rebuild
Thanks again Serious Explorations

 

[Opera House]

I believe on this transmission

they eliminated the kickdown cable and the fluid speed govenor. These are handled by the computer now from the output of the VSS speed sensor located on the transmission. There is no longer a mechanical speedometer cable. Was the speedometer erratic before? Does the odometer still work? If the VSS totally fails the transmission goes into a default mode.

 

[chowchowjp]

opera house

The odometer is no longer working, and it was not really erratic before it stopped, just jumped up and down got to 60kms then stopped working did that a few times and has now totally stopped. But the transmission is still working perfectly.
So default mode is back to standard settings on the transmission? and are you saying that you agree it could all be caused from the speed sensor? appreciate your input.

 

[asp84]

Replace your Vehicle Speed sensor. The EEC-V is reliant upon this to program shifts. Without the sensor workign youcould very well be experieing erradic shifts and clunks.

Shouldn't be too expensive too replace.
Good Luck,
Al

 

[chowchowjp]

asp84

We cleaned what we think is called the speed sensor, which is the part with the speedogear on it that goes in the back left hand side of the gearbox. Also cleaned this other thing that goes directly in the back of the transfercase just under the tail shaft ( Any idea what this part is called...????) it had some metal fragments on it. Once both were cleaned and put back in, the speedometer works again. The od light is off. and the transmission is shifting fine. FIngers crossed our X is back to normal for good.