XLS W/ Dead Tranny

[RX7 Driver4Life]

I have been reading alot of the diaries about VB rebuilds and what not i just dont know what action plan to take. I am very mechanically inclined but never dealt with auto transmissions. I am a rotor head as the screen name suggests but my explorer is my work horse.

My Problem
It started off with the 2-3 shift flare and a weak reverse like the car would struggle to reverse sometimes. I checked fluid it was missing maybe 1 quart so i refilled it. nothing changed but the car would drive fine other wise. one day i left home and i was driving to work half way there the tranny went blank. i still had a manual 1st and 2nd but no shifts after that then when i got to work i usually back into my parking spot i had no reverse. do you guys think my tranny needs a full rebuild or what?

ohh car is a 1999 4Dr Explorer XLS 2WD 4.0L OHV

 

[RX7 Driver4Life]

any help?

 

[RX7 Driver4Life]

need to fix my car guys all i need to know is what course to take should i rebuild the valve body or the whole damn transmission ! ! !

 

[RX7 Driver4Life]

please any help would be appreciated

 

[jonafer]

Does it have the update kit? If not put that in it or get a kit from transgo. Sounds like it has blown a valve body gasket.

 

[BrooklynBay]

How many miles do you have on it? It sounds like it's losing or lacks hydraulic pressure. Test it with a 0-300 PSI pressure gauge.

 

[RX7 Driver4Life]

where do i hook up the tester? and what am i looking for?
The car has 115K and was driving fine before this happened. as far as i know pan has never been dropped so i am assuming stock VB

 

[BrooklynBay]

There is a 1/8" pressure port on the side near the linkage. Check # 10 in my list of useful threads for more information.