Yeah, pretty sure she's dead.

[VDub2625]

Hey all. I bought my '97 Explorer Sport back in June for a good price. It came with an engine rebuild (60k miles so far), and a transmission in it's golden years (170k, no rebuild that I know of).

First off, should I have the 5 speed auto? I have the SOHC V6 with 4wd. Second, after I bought it, the O/D light started flashing. I asked here what that could be, but I didn't get a definite answer, and the slippage at 50-ish MPH was increasing badly so i just figured it was on it's way out, so i waited for it to die. Sure enough, after a clunk and a marbles-like sound, I was immobile. It ecentually "caught" and I could move around again, but it is sure enough dead. I jsut read this though:

Q1. My 4R/5R is starting to display an OD light that is flashing, and the shifts are sometimes late, or "soft".

A1. These transmissions use an electronic pressure control (regulator) solenoid (EPC) that works hard to maintain a contant pressure as commanded by the computer. It seems these have a useful life of 65,000 miles on the low side and about 150,000 miles on the high side. In addition, these transmissions were prone to blowing out main control (valve body) gaskets. FORD came out with a technical service bulletin (tsb) on these issues and there is a kit that modifies the VB and changes the separator plate and gaskets. I recommend whenever there is this issue to change out the EPC. It costs about $115. The FORD mods are about $30. This is a good time to upgrade the Valve body too. (See separate Q on this below).

I don't know much about automatics, but with what i do know about cars, it sounds like it died. Or did it? Can I replace the valve body as indicated above? Is this a good time to find a replacement trans or a rebuilt trans (cash depending)? Thanks!

Oh, one more question, though i know the answer: what about a 5 speed manual swap?

 

[Glacier991]

You *Might* have eeked a few more miles out of it, but at this point I would guess your tranny has died. Swaps CAN be accomplished, but it is more than a little tricky and not a simple task for your DIY'ers.

 

[VDub2625]

So I should probably replace it at this point. I figured (just needed someone to slap some sense into me ). Too bad I saw that FAQ AFTER it died What are my options? Do you guys suggest a run-of-the-mill junkyard trans? Will I have a hard time finding the 5 speed auto? How much are rebuilt ones going for and where could i find those? Thanks!

EDIT: I haven't looked much into it, but what do you say the difficulty level of swapping transmissions is? I am not afraid to attempt it myself if it is feasible.

 

[Glacier991]

Do you guys suggest a run-of-the-mill junkyard trans?

A junkyard tranny is a real crapshoot, especially for the work involved in R&R'ing the tranny. I am against them as a rule and especially in the case of the A4LD, 4R55 and 5R55.

I like to point out that it was probably there for a good reason. (I know that's a huge overstatement).

 

[VDub2625]

A junkyard tranny is a real crapshoot, especially for the work involved in R&R'ing the tranny. I am against them as a rule and especially in the case of the A4LD, 4R55 and 5R55.

I like to point out that it was probably there for a good reason. (I know that's a huge overstatement).

Ok, I'll bite the bullet and get it rebuilt (I've been quoted $18-2200). The truck has 170k on it, but only 60k on the rebuilt motor, and the body looks like it just came from the showroom, so it is definitely worth it.

 

[IZwack]

You can find rebuilt transmissions on E-bay from a good transmission shop for less than $1k (after the core refund). Of course you or a friend will have to do all the work yourself in removing the old transmission and putting in the new one - but it can be done, as Glacier stated.

Many on the forum have gone this approach and it often takes a few days to finish the transmission swap.

 

[VDub2625]

Ok, I got it done. $2200 but it needed it. How can I tell if I have the 5 speed? Does it look any different then the 4 speed? I have an inkling they just swapped trans's (even a rebuilt one) but I want to make sure I have all 5 speeds it came with

 

[ExploringNC]

I just completed the trans swap with a used (not rebuilt) I got off e-bay for $200. It was a little work but really not that bad. I didn't have the money to buy a rebuilt but just wanted to get a few extra miles until I do and it has been well worth spending the time and effort to do this myself. The trans I got came out of a '97 OHV and I put it into a '98 SOHC and the install went very smooth and all is working like it should. All '97's use the 5r55 trans, they did not install the 4 speed automatic into the '97, so if they say its for a '97 it will work.

 

[VDub2625]

I thought (at least according to this site) that the V8 and OHVs in 97 used the 4 speed? That the SOHC engines were the first with a 5 speed auto?

 

[BrooklynBay]

95-96 had the 4 speed 4R55E. 97-2001 had the 5R55E. 2002 started to use the 5R55W.

 

[Abom]

If you still have the old one, you can attempt to rebuild by yourself in your free time, maybe enlist the help of your friends ?

 

[VDub2625]

I don't, supposedly the shop rebuilt my old one and reinstalled it.

This 5r55E and 5r55W business, where can i find an explanation of these codes? Possibly some identifying marks on the transmission itself?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The 5R55W has the unitary case design. The bell housing is a one piece design with the rest of the case. The 5R55E has a detachable bell housing.

 

[VDub2625]

Thanks, what about the 4 speed?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The 4 speed 4R55E is similar to the 5R55E in appearance.

 

[VDub2625]

Damn, that's what I need to know, if I have the 4 or 5 speed! I wanna make sure the shop didn't screw me out of a 5th gear. No codes or anything written on it?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The computer makes the 5th gear. It's not a physical part like an extra clutch pack section, but a combination of 2 clutch packs combining to make an additional gear ratio.