Not sure if this is the transmission or not. My explorer runs great in weather that is around 45 degrees or above, shifts fine, doesn't sputter.

But once it gets to be below 45, it won't shift into drive or reverse until it is good and warm. Then it sputters alot when stopped at a light and I have to keep my foot on the gas to keep it from dying. It only acts up in the cold. Once it's warm, it drives fine, just sputter's at the lights.

What's the deal? Took it to transmission place and of course they said it needed fixed. I'm not sure though. Anyone else have any similar issues?

Thanks, Kelly

 

Welcome to FTE.

The shops are right.

Did they read codes? This is an OBDII vehicle with an electronically controlled transmission. Error codes can usually be recovered IF the shop has the correct reader.

This sounds like a torque converter lockup issue.

Once warmed up, does it shift ok, with firm shifts at the right rpm?

Can you feel a torque converter lockup in 4th and 5th gears, or see it on the tach?

Besides a shop, how are you considering fixing it?

 

Transmission shop drove it, not sure about reading any codes. It's been a year since I took it in. After driving it, they said it needed repaired. Yet it wasn't acting up at the time I took it in (it was over 50 degrees and driving fine). Not to confident in shop, don't know if they were truthful or taking advantage because I'm a female.

Once warmed up it shifts fine and shifts fine at the right rpm?

Can't say I feel torque converter lock up nor does tach show anything.

I'd like to keep it as a 2nd vehicle. It's a one owner vehicle, so I trust how I've driven it. I'll probably try to find a respectable shop or mechanic.

 

OK, since it has been running OK for a year, I would not lose much sleep over it. You should, if you have not done so in the last few years or 30,000 miles, have someone drain the fluid and change the filter. Done regularly, this helps these transmissions avoid the more common problems they have. This is not a flush, just a partial drain.

Known issues with this trans include "flaring" between gears. This is where the engine speeds up between gears, usually at the 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd shift. This slippage, along with the slippage built into the trans, causes debris from the clutchs to contaminate the fluid. The contamination contributes to failures of the servos, which suffer wear in their bores. The servos control shifting, so the cycle of slip, slip some more is created.

Torque converter lockup is often seen as another gear. You should be able to see the tach move up, then drop down at each shift. Once you are in 5th gear, a fairly slight drop signals torque converter lockup. A little bit of throttle unlocks it, then it will lock up again.

If you decide to do the fluid change, do not mention the old problems. If they ask, ask them if they are going to read the codes and if their reader will read all Ford transmission codes.

The code reader will turn up other issues that cause cold weather operation problems also.

Good luck with it.