1994 Ranger Transmission Problem
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
1994 Ranger Transmission Problem
Hi. When it is below about 45 degrees, my transmission will not shift out of 1st gear until it warms up. I don't mean when the vehicle warms up, I mean after I've driven a good few miles. I've let the truck warm for over 30 minutes and the tranny still does the same thing. The fluid and filter have been replaced by a professional as well as the modulator not even 6 months ago. I brought it to the tranny shop for that same reason and when I drove off the lot it did the same thing. Is it something else? Any suggestions - I want to get this thing fixed before winter comes again 
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,873
Likes: 0
From: St. Peter
Did they just replace the tranny fluid and filter, or did they by chance do a tranny flush also. I would suggest it. Our D***e minivan started to have tranny problems, so we had a shop run some heavy duty tranny cleaner through it, and change the filter/fluid. Now it runs great (well, for a dodge). It might help your situation
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 0
It sounds as if something in the valve body is gummed up, or is binding until the expansion of the metals frees up the valve again. Flushing the transmission might clear up the problem, if it doesn't, the valve body will probably need to be dropped and checked for a binding or stuck valve.
Bart
Bart
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: central ohio
i had a C5 (or C4 not really shure which) in a fairmont that would do the same thing. never did find out what caused it, car had just over 100,000 miles on it with a 200-6. i think it would be something sticking in the valve body.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: Rosebud
That is strange,Have auto zone read the engine codes,the light doesn't have to be on to get a pending code.you may have a bad Throttle possition sensor,a bad TPS will tell the computor the engine is at idle and not shift properly.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
From: Homer, Alaska
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
I know a lot about vehicles, especiall about fords, however I have never heard of a CEL. Or at least I've never heard of anything called that. If it is the check engin light than no, i'm not getting one. Otherwise, sorry, but what is a CEL???
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 0
If it can be manually shifted into 2nd gear, but immediately shifts back to 1st when put back in drive, then it probably is a sticking control valve in the valve body. When you shift manually, it bypasses some of the valves that control the automatic shifts.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Chico Ca
I have a 93 Ranger and it does about the same thing when I first start the truck and leave I stop at a sign and the transmission will not shift. It takes about a min to engage to 1 gear to go. When the transmission warms up it works fine.
What I think is wrong with mine is that I took off the OEM tran cooler and the rad cooler lines and put on a old style HD cooler in front of rad. The OEM cooler I think was a thermo temp one that limited flow when it was cold. The new HD cooler I think is getting the tran to cold and it won't shift right when it cold.
One of these days I'm going to get a HD B&M tran cooler that has the thermo temp that limits the flow when its cold. I tow a trailer I need HD.
Hope these helps?
What I think is wrong with mine is that I took off the OEM tran cooler and the rad cooler lines and put on a old style HD cooler in front of rad. The OEM cooler I think was a thermo temp one that limited flow when it was cold. The new HD cooler I think is getting the tran to cold and it won't shift right when it cold.
One of these days I'm going to get a HD B&M tran cooler that has the thermo temp that limits the flow when its cold. I tow a trailer I need HD.
Hope these helps?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: Rosebud
A bad TPS or VSS should show up when they read the codes.the TPS is $26 and the VSS is about the same,and both are easy fixes.Get the codes read first and see what you get.Auto zone will read them for free,so its affordable to check anyway. Post any code you get here,and we will try to help.