I am the original owner of a 1992 Ford Explorer 4 door XL 4WD. My original tranny went out around 70,000 miles. I took it to a reputable Transmission shop and they replaced it for $1800. Fast forward to 113,000 miles and I am having the 3'rd transmission being built. I had always had the tranny fluid changed around 20K miles and was very upset when the original swarmed. Now I am sick that the 2'nd tranny barley lasted 40K miles. The second transmission would start leaking fluid around the "O" ring where the linkage is. The transmission shop replaced the O ring for free. This would occur about every 6 to 8 months. I had a transmission service around 90K miles and since then I have had to replace 2 more O rings. The shop said that my linkage needed to be replaced but that my fluid was so burnt they were afraid to pull the pan because in their experience with these explorer transmissions they could come apart and to leave well enough alone. I agreed but sadley about 3K miles later this transmission failed. Apparently the internal pump failed and my tranny over heated and that was that. I am new to this forum and did a search and was over whelmed with all of the problems that the 91 - 95 Explorer transmissions have experienced. The shop says that they recommend me adding an oil cooler to my transmission for an additional $135 P&L. The rebuild is going to cost another $1800 P&L. This vehicle has only 113K miles on it and I have kept it up and other than the tranny it is in great shape and every thing works. I do not tow anything with my explorer. This car has been retired as a weekend warrior for hunting, fishing, dogs to the vet and to the garden center. I now only put about 5k miles a year on it. It is not a daily driver. The transmission shop says that the parts that they use, mechanical and electrical are the latest upgrades available for this transmission. I don't think it will depreciate that much more and I hate to buy a new or used SUV to replace it when this one does what I want as a back up vehicle.When I get this truck back from the shop should I keep it and keep my fingers crossed that the 3'rd tranny will last or drive it for 25K miles (about 5 years from now) and sell it.

 

I have known several people go with having a shop rebuilt these transmissions and quite frankly, it never works out. My brother has one rebuilt 5 times before the transmission shop gave up, gave his money back, and paid for a tow to the local ford dealer.

The ford remanufactured transmission did not fair much better. Just 2,000 miles past the warranty, the ford trans went bad. Ford would hear nothing from him about the transmission although the warranty had just ran out.

He ended up going with a Jasper. It was big bucks (about $2500), but after a few years and tons of miles, the truck runs like new. Also, the shop found a possible culprit to all the previous problems: the wiring harness was bad. Another $90 at the Ford dealer took care of the problem.

The cooler is something you can not go wrong with since heat is the transmission's biggest enemy. Good luck in getting yours fixed right.

 

I got my Explorer back with the added oil cooler that is hooked up directly to the transmission to the tune of $2150. I was kind of over a barrel in my situation. The truck is in excellant condition other than the tranny and I could not sell it without one. Now I only will put about 5K a year on it so it should be good for a couple of more years. Depreciation should be very little at this stage of the game and the truck is worth $2150 to me.I could not go out and buy one this clean and know the history as I am the original owner. I do plan to keep my eyes open if I do see something that I can replace it with in the distant future.I only got 40K miles out of the second tranny which translates to about 8 years of driving if #3 will last that long.I appreciate your thoughts and I just wish that Ford would compensate us 91-94 owners in some way for building such a weak transmission. This is probably my first and last Ford.

 

I'm on my first ford. 91 Explorer XL 4x4, auto trans. I have over 195 000 miles on the org. engine and transmission. No problems at all, just minor services. Brakes & exhaust. Hope everything still goes well for me. Sorry about your tranny luck (bad).

 

Heresy, I admit. Check out the posts on this subject, and the add for---I hesitate--Advance Adaptors kit to adapt the Chev 700R4 to the Explorer. Lower 1st gear, stronger box, so they say. If you have a three strikes program going on your Ford tranny, maybe this is your answer.


I just had the 5 gear auto replaced in the last hours of my extened warranty. I do not like the way it feels, but I was told the repair is guaranteed for 3/36,000. I sure hope so.

Good luck.