Hi I live in Portland Oregon and have a problem happening with my 2006 sport trac. Last night my fiancé and I were driving back from the coast on New Year's Eve going over a 3500ft mountain pass, It was 20* and snowing and while I was driving I lost all power as if the tranny slipped into neutral. I coasted onto the side of the road in the middle of a deserted mt pass with no one around for 25 miles; and I noticed my car steaming a little, the cars thermostat wasn't overheating though. I put it in park and turned the car off. As I popped the hood I could tell the steam was coming from the radiator right below the coolant reservoir area. After about 10 minutes of looking around, the steam had completely subsided and I was cold as ****. I had my fiancé turn the car on and watch the temp gauge as I watched the radiator and it didn't steam at all anymore, the heat was blowing nice and hot and the thermostat stayed at the proper level. I jumped in and tried to shift the car into reverse, and noticed as soon as I took it out of parking it was in a neutral state. The car would rev but wouldn't go anywhere but coast backwards down the hill. Not having any cell service, I ended up waiting 2 hours with the engine on to keep us warm until a car passed by and gave us a ride into the closest small town. It never overheated again but a few times I could tell I had a little bit of a rough idle. I have had a cel on for about 4 months with a p0191 fuel rail pressure sensor range/performance But I'm not sure if that would have anything to do with it not shifting? Or if the steaming coolant has anything to do with it not shifting.

 

I'm have a feeling it might be a transmission problem with shift solenoid but I didn't get any codes for if

 

your right, the rough run has nothing to do with the transmission.. When was the trans oil changed out last ? Was the level up to proper ?

 

did you check the trans oil to sea if still full

 

Is there any chance the steam was coming from road-spray on hot transmission lines running to the radiator? What I mean is, is there a chance the transmission overheated to the point of toasting itself?

As Steve and 2005 said, check fluid levels first. Smell the fluid. If the transmission overheated it's going to have a "scorched" smell. You'll know it if it's there.

 

These 2006 Explorers don't have tranny dipsticks. Absolutely a crime to do this, FORD!

 

Put the shifter in manual 1st and see it will move. If it does the overdrive one way clutch is not holding and the trans will need to be overhauled. Putting the shifter in 1st applies the coast clutch witch will allow it to move. IMO its better to buy a reman than to try to overhaul a 5r55. The parts are stupid expensive and it usually needs a lot of them.