XLT 4.6 AWD Transmission slip? Time to fish or cut bait?

[dadude]

Have an '02-1/2 XLT 4x4 AWD w/ 4.6V8, 3.73 LS Diff, III/IV tow pkg, 3rd row, dual AC, nice stock setup....but with 120k miles, starting to show it's age.
Have done a few DYI's (AC door repairs, front hubs, upper ball joints), thanks to all the help on this forum.
Took into shop for alignment following front end work and to get a long overdue tranny svc (been about 40k miles since last change). They noticed a slight "revving" between gears and recommended not doing flush as there may be bigger problems with clean fluid. Also said still needs lower ball joint's and struts. Also has a slow AC leak (I'm in Az). Shop has good history of no BS, so took it back and now have the following list of issues and need to figure how much I want to keep this machine:

Transmission: Notice a SLIGHT bump in 2/3 shift, had also noticed occasional slight clunk when dropping into gear, not bad, but could be trouble down the road. From posts on this forum, I've gotten a good life from tranny @120k miles, is this the beginning of the end? Anything I can do to prolong vs a rebuild/replace? Not in position to throw $2-3k at a tranny.

Struts, LBJ's: looks do-able, for another few hundred bucks, any recommendations on struts/springs, front vs all 4?

AC: Jury is out, have dye in but can't find the leak yet. With dual (front rear) AC even if just a line or fitting could be a spendy PITA, any ideas?

So... Tranny $2-3k, front end $3-5C's, AC ???, 120k miles, what next ???
Love the truck, got a few dings but otherwise in pretty good shape. Do mostly city/highway with occasional foray into the wilderness or mountains/snow. Gets solid mileage (17+) especially for a strong V8. But when added up could easily put 1/2 the Blue Book into it just to get thru next summer.
From looking at the web, the AWD 4.6's are somewhat rare & sell (or ask) well above BB. What to do next? Limp along with a crippled tranny & everything else for another year (or week)? Roll up my sleeves, git'er'done where I can, choke down a tranny & play hide & go seek with AC leak (or worse)? or fold my cards n swap for something used with fewer miles that I don't know?
Any input on my problems/dilemma much appreciated.

 

[EasyRhino]

Have an '02-1/2 XLT 4x4 AWD w/ 4.6V8, 3.73 LS Diff, III/IV tow pkg, 3rd row, dual AC, nice stock setup....but with 120k miles, starting to show it's age.
Have done a few DYI's (AC door repairs, front hubs, upper ball joints), thanks to all the help on this forum.
Took into shop for alignment following front end work and to get a long overdue tranny svc (been about 40k miles since last change). They noticed a slight "revving" between gears and recommended not doing flush as there may be bigger problems with clean fluid. Also said still needs lower ball joint's and struts. Also has a slow AC leak (I'm in Az). Shop has good history of no BS, so took it back and now have the following list of issues and need to figure how much I want to keep this machine:

Transmission: Notice a SLIGHT bump in 2/3 shift, had also noticed occasional slight clunk when dropping into gear, not bad, but could be trouble down the road. From posts on this forum, I've gotten a good life from tranny @120k miles, is this the beginning of the end? Anything I can do to prolong vs a rebuild/replace? Not in position to throw $2-3k at a tranny.

Struts, LBJ's: looks do-able, for another few hundred bucks, any recommendations on struts/springs, front vs all 4?

AC: Jury is out, have dye in but can't find the leak yet. With dual (front rear) AC even if just a line or fitting could be a spendy PITA, any ideas?

So... Tranny $2-3k, front end $3-5C's, AC ???, 120k miles, what next ???
Love the truck, got a few dings but otherwise in pretty good shape. Do mostly city/highway with occasional foray into the wilderness or mountains/snow. Gets solid mileage (17+) especially for a strong V8. But when added up could easily put 1/2 the Blue Book into it just to get thru next summer.
From looking at the web, the AWD 4.6's are somewhat rare & sell (or ask) well above BB. What to do next? Limp along with a crippled tranny & everything else for another year (or week)? Roll up my sleeves, git'er'done where I can, choke down a tranny & play hide & go seek with AC leak (or worse)? or fold my cards n swap for something used with fewer miles that I don't know?
Any input on my problems/dilemma much appreciated.

I'm kind of wondering similar on mine. 2002 Limited, AWD V8 fully loaded, owned since new, now at 8 years and 104K miles. I really haven't minded teh wheel bearings or ball joints, since I've had no other problems worth mentioning; however, my tranny is showing very, very slight slippage in first and reverse going slowly up and down the driveway.

I'm not anxious to put another 3-4K into mine since it's only worth about that much. Fortunately I don't need it often, as it is now relegated to the 'spare' vehicle use. If I needed it daily I would probably sell it and replace it with something different. As it is, I'll probably just keep it here until it completely falls apart. Sorry, no AC issues with mine yet, so no insight on that.

 

[alexk]

maybe you can add an extended warranty? It would surely be cheaper and if you can get one for a year should the tranny go in that time it will be covered. The cost of the warranty plus whatever deductable you choose will definatly be cheaper then a new tranny.

 

[trimpe]

Hello all,
First time poster, long time reader. I have a similar issue with my 2002 Eddie Bauer V8 with 160,000 miles. Since it is a 2002, I'm not sure what model tranny it may have. I head they switched tranny models mid-year. How would I tell which model I have?

Where I most regularly notice this problem (and where I first noticed it) was driving up a long steep hill on a highway I drive daily. There is a stoplight at the bottom of the hill, if I accelerate slowly I don't have an issue, but if I accelerate with any speed, the explorer seems to "soft shift?" from 1st to 2nd gear (or possibly 2nd to 3rd). What I mean is that if I keep the acceleration constant, the rpms climb higher then normal before it shifts to the next gear. There is no lurching or slamming into gear, the transition is smooth, it just doesn't shift into 2nd at the normal rpm "shift point".

I get this issue on other inclines, again usually when under acceleration, but most often it is this big hill where it happens regularly.

Usually (but not always) when this happens, the O/D light flashes. If I turn the Explorer off and on again, there is no flashing and it runs fine. From what I've read in other spots, this might be a "pressure" issue. Low oil? clogged valves? other? I can see how this would be a viable issue since it seems that it might need the higher rpms to get the oil pressure needed to make the shift. Any thoughts?

I can work on brakes, suspension, other minor repair issues. I have helped friends with tranny & engine work, but I have not torn into one before. I'm pretty sure I could swap a tranny or replace any needed parts as long as I don't have to tear into the gears. My biggest problem is not knowing where to start i.e. what part to replace first.

Any thoughts are welcome and appreciated!
Thanks,
Todd

 

[EasyRhino]

The flashing OD light means you have a tranny code locking in - you need to get the codes pulled.

You have the infamous 5R55W tranny.

 

[jrford]

i had mine rebuilt for $1600 by a 'savvy' trans and gear shop.
Plus the parts that broke relating to loss of 3rd gear, he installed a master re-build kit that included redoing the servo bores. with high mileage and slow gears but they all work, i would think a master rebuild kit should make it better than new imho.