Transmission?

[Jaytee]

In the past 4-5 months, my 92 has been slipping out of gear. I would then just lift off the gas and it would slip back in. This would usally happen w/ in 5 min before my Explorer got warmed up. This problem would occur about twice a month. Well last week I heard something disturbing. It sliped out of gear, but the when I let off the gas... it "popped" back into gear. I actually felt the pop too. I thought for sure my trans was toast but no. I clinched my teeth and put my foot on the gas and away I went.

I'm fairly sure that its the transmission but I wanted to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion.

Should I go ahead and get my transmission replaced/fixed/checked or should I just wait until it leaves me on the side of the road? (I got road side assitance through my insurance company!)

Also, I have been noticing little puddles of oil under my truck after its been parked over night. I ofcouse check my oil before I leave but could this be the rear seal? Could these two problems be related?

Any advice would be appreciated!
Oh..its a automatic trans!

Thanks
Jaytee

 

[mdrut]

Do you check your fluid in the tranny? Also, check the vacuum line on the tranny, modulator valve.If there is ANY fluid in the line, this is your problem. I change the fluid and filter in my tranny yearly..It is strong as it ever was and has never giving me any problems.The fluid on the driveway could be oil or tranny fluid, sometimes its hard to tell them apart if the trans. fluid is old and dirty. If you have high milage, its time for a service.The transmission needs to be serviced on a regular basis for best performance and reliablity..

 

[Jaytee]

Ok...so if theres any fluid in the line then I need to replace the modulator valve. I'll check it later today and let you know.

Also..when I check the trany fluid, what am I looking for? Color or smell? I know its supposed to be red.
It was changed about 24,000 miles ago so i'm guessing its time for a fluid change...I'll try and do that anyway this weekend.

 

[CHH777]

The tranny fluid should be bright red (not burnt red/maroon). Smell it. If it smells burnt it's time to change it out. Also look for metal in the fluid.

If the modulator valve is not your problem I'd recommend letting a good tranny shop check it out before it goes out completely.

I recently learned the hard way. I lost reverse and should have immediately had it towed to a tranny shop. Instead I waited and the case got destroyed. Now I need a new tranny and have no core for a core charge.

 

[offroader_69_me]

check it !!

You really need to have it checked before it dies, much much cheaper, check and see if there is fluid coming out between the bell housing and the engine, if so you are probably in the same boat I am in, bushing in bell housing went out, causing rough spots on Troque converter, blowing out front pump seal. Get it checked ASAP, mine lost all fluid, and burnt up the pump, so now I got a new pump about $100 a new bell housing(non replaceable bushing) (well without having it line bored) $135 and new seals about $15.00 so good luck and I hope you get out easy!!!

 

[Jaytee]

Wow! I didn't know that so many things could go wrong w/ a transmission.
Well I'm gonna take everybodys advice and take it in to get it checked. The problem now is finding a honest and reliable place to take it.

offroader_69_me: I did notice transmission fluild near where it connects to the drive-shaft. It wasn't near the bell housing and the engine.

mdrut: Where is this vacuum line? I looked and couldn't really fiqure out which one it was. I didn't want to start pulling off random lines looking for fluid.

If anyone knows of a good tranny shop is around the upstate of South Carolina, let me know. Definetly not taking it to the dealership. I learned that that real quickly...but thats another story!!

JT

 

[T_Aggie03]

Something simular would happen with my tranny. Before the engine was warm it would slip until I let off the gas. I took it to the dealer and they decided it was a transmission "band" that had gone bad. When the "band" was cold it would cause the tranny to slip alot, but when the tranny heated up so did the "band" causing it to expand thus eliminating the slip. All together it cost me 176.00 which is not bad for a tranny fix.

 

[Jaytee]

T_Aggie03:
How often did yours slip? All the time or just everynow and then? Mine only happens only maybe twice a month.

 

[T_Aggie03]

Jaytee: Mine started out by slipping about once or twice a week then progressively got worse. So bad to where is would slip every morning when the engine was cold.

 

[Christopher Johnson]

All I can say is this:

I am currently redoing my engine and tranny system. The tranny is already done and looks wonderful. Class act all the way through--shift kit, latest updates, the whole nine yards. The tranny had 100k miles on it. It never exhibited any problems.

Then I saw the old parts...What a nightmare. Parts had dings, shaved areas, rubberized portions looked like metal and when I clanked one onto the edge of a table it chipped. I was on the edge of disaster waiting to happen. This for my 95 explorer automatic.

So what am I saying? If your having problems and you already have high miles--rebuild the sucker with a top rate transmission specialist. The money is worth it in the long run. I spent 1600 on mine. Your 92 should be cheaper I think. Perhaps 1350? All I know for me is that I intend to drive this vehicle for a very long time. I spent 35k on it in 1995 and I rather spend $6,500 on the engine and tranny to go another 150-200k miles than spend out another 35k big bucks. It was worth a loan *kids don't listen to this invest your money and wait till your 30+ with a good job*.

I wasn't even intending to rebuild my transmission. But, with my engine out and being redone at a performance speed shop I just out of the blue asked my transmission specialist to do his magic since he is co-located with my mechanic that I use pretty much as a project supervisor. I trust him to make sure a project is absolutely complete. He is that good.

How did I pick my mechanic? I saw a lable on the side of a car going down the drag strip during time trials. What a wonderful way to advertise on a hotrod that won that evening.

 

[phouse]

Vacuum Modulator

How did it go with the modulator.. I have to replace mine.. It seems hard to get to.. Has anyone have experience
with replacing it.. I can feel it but can't get to it.. I may have to remove the exhaust pipe...

 

[Waterboy]

Phouse, you have to remove the cross brace and unbolt the exhaust pipe from the header (the exhaust will swing out of the way) to get to the modulator. The modulator costs about $30. Most estimates were $100 labor for the repair.

 

[kojak]

Just went through the replacing of the modulater bit. It is a real SOB to get at. The cat has to be removed and it is still difficult.

I got the new modulator from Ford, installed it and it still didn't shift right from 2nd to 3rd. Ended up taking it into a local dealed. the checked it out and found that the Modulator wasn't right. The got an adjustable one and after a couple of hours it worked great.

My advise is to take it to a good Ford shop and let them do it. You will be money ahead and your hands will not be all cut up like mine are.

 

[phouse]

Transmission Modulator

I brought the modulator from NAPA. It did have a little hex screw in the center, probably for adjustments.. I have to at least try an install it. The dealership wants $70.00/hr for labor and the part was $30.00, they quoted 2.2 hrs
for the job.. I figured I would have to take the pipe down to get to it.. The one from the dealer looked slightly different, it did not have the adjustment screw.. if it did it must have been covered up by the rubber plug.. How is it adjusted...? It did not have a white paper for it, the book did not mention adjustment neither...

 

[kojak]

The factory one with the rubber plug did not work. I think they got one from NAPA and used it. How it is adjusted I do not know. I think it is turned in until it makes contact with the little pin that is installed inside the Modulator. Be carful not to loose the little pin. When you remove the modulator it should be sticking out of the modulato by abut 1/4 inch. When you install it insert it into the new modulator befor installing it. Use a little vaoline to hold it in place.

Befor you start you may want to go under the veh. and see if you will be able to remove the bolts holding your exhaust system. You may have to replace them all.

 

[phouse]

transmission Modulator

Kojak, You say go under the truck to pull down the exhaust pipe,, Are you suggesting that the modulator can be access from the top under the hood. I will be tackling it this weekend.. I should probably get new exhaust bolts before I take it apart, I was thinking about replacing the o2 sensor while I'm am down there, huh

 

[kojak]

No I was not suggesting that the exhaust system can be remove from the top. I also replaced my o2 sensor while I was at it. It is a real task to reach the plug, especually when pluging the new one in. You may also want ot get a new cat gasket befor you start. Good idea to replace it. I wish you a lot of luck you will find that it is a real pain in the butt.

 

[stcroix949]

I just replaced the modulator on my 94 Sport with 97k miles
Heres how I did it.
I heated up the 3 front and 2 rear nuts holding the cat. converter red hot with a torch then removed the nuts. They came right off. Slide it back out of the way. There was no need to remove the transmission support.
Then remove the 1 nut holding the heat shield in place, then the bolt that holds the clamp in place and pull the modulator out. Don't lose the pin because you need it for the new one.
I bought the new one from Ford. Make sure to get a new o-ring for it. You would think for $30 the o-ring would come with it but it didn't. Also replace the short section of vacuum hose.
Put the pin in the new modulator and put a little oil on the o-ring and slide it back in and secure with the clamp. Be sure to reinstall the aluminum covered heat shield. Slide the cat. converter back into place and put the nuts back on. Took about 2 hours to do. Been about a week now, seems to work just fine.

 

[phouse]

transmission modulator

Hello all.. I tackled the Modulator over the weekend.. Ford is so stupid for putting such a thing in a awkward place... I used the old mirror and 1/4 in. socket trick I think it was 10mm deep for the shield and 8mm std for the clamp.. The transmission still does not shift correctly. There is a delay in the shift point.. but it does go in gear, which is a good thing I hope.. I was thinking that the modulator needs to be adjusted.. I don't have any instructions for adjustments. I was thinking that I could turn it in or out about 1/4 turn to see if it made a difference.. Or just take it to a shop.. I am afraid that they may say that I need a new transmission, I would never know if it could be fixed or not....

P.S. The Cat bolts were hardly recognizable, I would have never been able to get them off. I revved up the air chisel, to use, but I figured I try using the 1/4 sockets instead, it took awhile but it worked... I left the shield off temporarily to make adjustments if needed

 

[phouse]

rebuilt Transmission

Well took it in for a check... $2500.00 Can you believe that.. They are supposed to install a new flywheel while they are at it.. This price is for a complete rebuild new pump and center support, along with a rebuilt torque converter.. I knew it.. That modulators, I believe caused the whole thing.. He said that the pump was shot..