I recently have been going back and forth with my local Ford dealership for some automatic transmission problems with my 2001 Ranger Edge 4X4 (4.0L). I first noticed the thumping of the driveline when starting and stopping. After two attempts, they finally replaced the driveline assembly and drive shaft. This lead to the problem being pretty well solved. The hard thumping is gone, but still seems to engage hard when first starting out.

Following this, I noticed hard shifting, especially from 1-2, 3-4, and 4-5. Just last week they replaced the valve body and overhauled the tranny. As soon as I drove it out of the shop, the transmission vibrated from 1-2. Since then I have driven it around and have experienced this vibration from 1-2 at low throttle, and then again from 3-4 around 2500 RPMs, and again from 4-5 around 2100 RPMS. I just got back from the dealership this morning. They said this may be due to binding in the tranny so they added modifier to the fluid.

However, from reading this board and knowing my truck, I know this problem will continue. The truck has less than 20,000 miles on it, and it has been babied through my ownership of it.

What suggestions do you have to decreasing the thump and vibration problems?

 

I wonder if the adaptive shift technology could have something to do with this? I haven't been happy with the automatic tranny on my new truck either. Have you tried disconnecting the battery cables for a half-hour to reset the computer?

 

Haven't tied to disconnect the cables, but anything at this point I am willing to try. I will give it a try.

I too am increasingly unhappy with the performance of this truck, but like the looks.

 

The transmission you have is probably the 5R55E. It's a good tranny and has been around for 5 or 6 years. The problem is, in 2001 Ford starting using "adaptive shift technology" as part of the computer program for the transmission. So now this transmission can shift oddly at times, and if you unhook the battery and wait a half hour, the computer should reset, and according to my owner's manual the "adaptive shift technology" has to "re-learn" it's shift patterns. That might help you. If it doesn't, then you probably have a mechanical problem.

 

Well, to much of my dismay, disconnecting the battery to reset the computer did not work. In fact, it appears that the transmission is shifting even harder now. I have taken it back to the dealer and they ran the ususal computer diagnostics. Well, what do you think they found? You guessed it---NOTHING!!! However, I encouraged them to road test it and they agreed that something was not right. However, they cannot do anything that Ford will not approve to cover this problem under the warranty.

So. If anyone else has any suggestions as to what may be causing this vibration when shifting, I would greatly appreciate your information to share with the mechanics who have spent a great amount of their time with me.

I am also considering just dumping the truck under the Lemon Law, but now how difficult that will be.

 

Well, I'm not sure what else could be wrong. Possibly the wrong fluid was put into the transmission by someone. These trannys are picky about that. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. But just between you and I... I paid 25,000 dollars for this Ranger I'm driving, and if mine starts acting the way yours is, my dealer WILL fix it or I will drive it through their bay door and park it in the service department myself. Anyone who spends the kind of money they are getting for pickup trucks these days deserves to be treated with respect, and they deserve a truck that works PROPERLY. That's just how I feel about it. Good luck.

 

Did they use mercon 5 fluid? It sounds as if it has a torque converter shudder which the incorrect fluid will cause. AFAIK, Ford doesn't recommend any kind of "modifier" for these transmissions. Try another dealer, I think that's your best bet.

 

Sorry to hear about your problems. You just re-enforced my decision to only buy manuals. They shift when I make them do it.

 

The plot thickens. This weekend, I had the pleasure of helping a friend move furniture. I noticed that when the truck was weighed down, the shudder disappeared. Any ideas why this would disappear with weight in the bed?

 

Hmmmn, Maybe the extra load on the tranny is changing the dynamics of the shudder. Why I don't know.

 

Hmm...the plot indeed thickens. Sounds to me like the problem might not be in the transmission. It could be elsewhere in the driveline. Weighing the truck down changed the angles formed by the driveshaft going into the differential and out of the tranny. Could it be that this relieved the binding and made things run smoothly while the truck was loaded?

 

Did you change the gears in the rear?

 

No. 4.10 gears from the factory. After "yelling" at the mechanics and telling them something is wrong, they have agreed to look at it again. However, they have specific instructions, it doesn't leave until I am satisfied with the changes. The way I see it, I have invested substantial money into this vehicle--it is time Ford looses money with the cost of fixing the truck under the warranty. I have been nice too long with these people!!!