Well it seems I'm in need of an automatic transmission for my 2000 v6 3.0 ranger. I located a pretty good deal on a used one with 40K miles but it is a tranny from a 2006 3.0 v6.

My 2000 has a 4r44e and the 2006 has the 5r44e, so my question is:

A) Are they interchangeable and
B) if so, what all needs to be done to get it to work properly. (As a side note, the computer is also available from the 2006)

Ive read many posts, but most of them are slightly different from what I'm doing. Appreciate any help.

I posted awhile ago describing my transmissions problem in detail if anybody wants to take a swing at a fix instead of replacing my trans. Basically, it won't go into a forward gear without racing the engine ALOT...eventually it'll catch. It goes into reverse no problem. Once it does engage in a forward gear, it works fine, except some occasional delayed shifting. Any help/advice/location of discount booze to soothe the pain is appreciated.

 

Your Ranger 3.0L was the last year they used the 4R44e, though you could swap a 4R55e without any real problems. Truth be told though, with the quality results of a real rebuild, why mess around with swaps.

Not catching gear means the bands are not engaging, probably because they are excessively worn, but it could be a loss of pressure too. Racing the engine doesn't help. It just destroys the trans faster. Whats happening is the slipping is making heat, which means the fluid expands, and if it expands enough, it might catch. Your problem could have been as simple as low fluid, but if you keep racing it to engage, there might be very little left to repair.

Swapping to a 5R55e would not be practical. Possible yes, with the computer and harness swaps. If you wanted to swap to a 5R55e, though, you'd be better with an older one with an older computer, which BTW does not understand your engine, even if it came from the '06 it wouldn't, you would have to tune it.

You are better off getting what you have fixed. The best favor you can do for yourself is take it to a qualified recommended trans shop. Ideally some things to look for is a busy non-chain shop locally owned with the owner on site and ATRA membership. Have them properly diagnose it. Don't waste your time calling around on the phone except to determine who is ATRA members. Price quotes over the phone are useless, especially without a diagnosis. You can have an 4R44e upgraded into a 4R55e which is tougher, and you can have valve body mods, including shift kits and oversized boost valves installed and calibrated that can make a rebuild more durable than a swap, or the original trans for that matter.

 

I know that spending the $1200+ would be the easiest quickest option, but if I can save the money i'm going to try. I realize a 5r55e is not possible because it is for a completely different engine. I am asking if the swap from the 4r44e (designed for 3.0 v6 engine) will interchange with the 5r44e (Also designed for the 3.0 v6 engine). And that is why I am simply replacing the trans instead of trying to fix it, because by now I am sure the trans is damaged beyond a cheap repair.

 

You are wanting to go from a four speed light duty transmission to a five speed light duty one. You will have a different control system in 5 speed one. That means swapping in a new computer and wiring. Even with all of that, I'm not sure that it will work. For one thing the controls for a 2006 engine are most likely different compared to those for the 2000 engine.

 

Ok, Thanks for the reply. Starting to sound like even if it WOULD go in properly, it would be a lot of work to make it function properly as well. Hate transmissions, I really do. Guess the local trans shop is my only real option here. /wrists.

 

You could have a blown gasket in it since it does shift if you get the pressure high enough. To replace it you need to drop the transmission pan where the filter is. Remove the filter and ther should be like 8 or 9 bolts holding the valve plate and on top of that is the gasket which if its damaged the fluid could be not getting to the port properly. Hey if you do try to swap the tran for a 5R44E it would be nice to know if it works because i have 1999 3.0 with 4R44E and the reverse band went out. I have found its cheaper to get a 5R44E plus you would get better gas mileage with it.

 

Check to see if the bell housing on the 5r44e will match the bolt location and pattern on the 3.0 engine. A salvage yard should be able to tell you if they are the same or not.

 

The small 'e' at the end tells all. The transmission is electronically controlled. The shift control solenoids are run by the computer. You would have to determine what controls the 5r has and compare them to the 4r inputs. I don't know the specific controls, but if it is totally controlled by the computer, I don't think you'd ever get the command for 5th gear from the computer. If you were really adventurous, you could buy a whole wrecked vehicle with the 5r, and transplant the wiring harness, computer, and everything else necessary and it would work. Given that the driveshaft would bolt up the the differential, and you picked a vehicle with the same wheelbase. Lotta work.
Easier to buy a new(er) truck, or get the original fixed. Every time you race the engine to get the transmission to engage, you are cooking the clutch plates. If the valve body gaskets have blown out as Tyranitar noted, it may be a relatively simple fix to r&r the valve body and fix the problem.
tom