2004 explorer,V6, 102k.
My wife drives this and is a bit harder in driving than I am. Her complaint is on acceleration her RPM's jump up higher than it should, feels like its being held back.
I drove it and it seems to shift fine. At highway speed if you punch it there is a definete hestiation.

so I want to eliminate the tranny as the culprit..or maybe it is.
My first thought is to take it in for a drain/fill and have the bands adjusted. I would like for my terms to be correct when dropping it off. How do I explain the "bands"? and not sound like an idiot.


I don't want to get taken for the tranny rebuild if I don't need it.

 

I finally had a chance to sit and do some searching on the forum and found and interesting thread that discussed the 04 explorer transmissions.

Some of the problems discussed do sound like some of the symptoms this one is having.

What additive should be used with the transmission oil change?

can someone give me a better description of exactly the "delay in engagment" or the communication between the throttle body and tranny?

thanks

 

I'm by no means fluent when it comes to talking transmissions, but I've spent some time researching shift concerns on the 5-speed autos too (from a couple of former Lincoln LSs and a couple of Mountaineers and an Aviator). I think if you go to the shop and ask them to tighten the bands they'll inform you that that is all electronically controlled. I have an SCT programmer that allows me to adjust the shift solenoid pressures and that helps with the shift firmness quite a bit.

As for the additive, if the shift solenoids are already having issues, adding additive now is not going to help. The additive was to prevent the lead bushings from swelling, but once the swelling starts, the additive will not "undo" it. The dealer was instructed to replace the solenoids if symptoms already existed, then make sure to refill the transmission with the correct transmission fluid that has the additive in it.

The additive is Ford part number 4L2Z-19B546-AB (2 bottles, only one needed per vehicle) and Motorcraft part number XL-11. The proper, reformulated transmission fluid to use (and does not require additional additive) is Mercon V meeting spec XT-5-QM.

You might check with you dealer, having VIN in hand, to see if campaign number 04B22 has been completed on your Explorer. The recall only affected 2004 and some 2005 model years built though September 22, 2004.

-Rod

 

Thank you for your reply. The adjustment to the bands make sense that its probably controlled electronically.
The more I've read and driven her suv, it seems to shift fine and smooth. The high RPM's vs MPH may be due to the delay from the TB actuator. Im a bit more focused in on that. I cleaned the TB and MAF
I'm gonna go ahead and send it to a ford dealer instead of a transmission shop for a drain/fill and filter replacement. I'll start there and see what it does.

I haven't come across anything that improves this problem with communication between TB and tranny. Is there anything out there? or a link to where I could find an answer? I'm sure its just gonna be something that she'll have to live with.
thanks