I have recently been experiencing a transmission problem that is becoming more frequent.. I am still just under my extended power train warranty so I want to bring it in.. I am just wondering if someone can technically identify the problem from my description so that I can intelligently describe it to the dealer.. Also maybe someone else is having the same problem??

What happens is when I brake hard the transmission seems to "disengage". When I start to accelerate after braking hard it just revs up and then finally engages and gives a big thump and feels like someone bumped me.. It can become dangerous when you try to stop abruptly for a yellow/red light.. I have had it happen twice already where I am hanging out a bit into the intersection and then I put it in reverse to back out and same thing.. Rev it up and it goes nowhere.. Finally if you rev it high enough it thumps and goes.. Pretty dangerous when you are trying to get out of the way! Anyways.. just wondering if you guys can explain to me what is happening with this tranny?

Thanks in advance!

-R.

 

I had a similar problem with mine quite some time ago. It was caused by low tranny fluid (some of the early 02's apparently were shipped with not enough fluid in the transmission).

Mine would go into a false neutral after hitting the brakes hard (like coming to a sudden halt at a stop light). Once the accelerator was reappliied it would rev up for a moment before kicking abruptly into gear. Once the fluid level was topped up the tranny worked fine.

 

Hmm.. Interesting.. I just had my transmission fluid changed not to long ago and it has been doing it before and after.. sounds like the same symptoms that you had though..

-R.

 

My Ranger has the same transmission as your Explorer (5R55E), and I have had lots of transmission trouble. Each time, the have linked the problems (usually shifting problems) to the valve body, apparently these are a common source of trouble. Twice they "fixed" it, but the problems would recur. The THIRD time I brought it in, they replaced the valve body, and I have had no trouble since then. I'd tell them to start there.

 

the new explorer (2002 and newer) had the 5R55W tranny. Same problem might apply though

 

I have an 04 Explorer with the same trans. and ours would hesitate and then slam into reverse. It only had 2800 miles on it at the time and after 3 trips to the dealer, they changed the soliniod valve body and it fixed it. The dealer had said that they were having problems with lots of them, but never admitted that our truck had a problem.
Through our instance and persistance, they finally fixed it. The truck is now in the shop again a 9000 miles for a whine in the rear differential. They said that they were having lots of problems with those, but said that ours isn't bad enough to fix. They said to let it "wear in" longer, even thought we told them that the sound is getting louder as it gets more miles on it. I'm sorry to say that I had to make a scene in the dealership before they would take care of me.... it's still in the shop

 

Thanks domester.. It sounds like the same problem.. But listen to this.. I phoned my dealer to make an appointment and the Service guy on the phone says .. Sorry we are booked for 1 1/2 months on transmissions.. So let me undersstand this.. I have a truck under warranty and now I have to go look for a dealer who is willing to service it under warranty? I called the one near my work and he is willing to take me anytime.. I wouldn't even bother to call Ford on this because they don't seem to care about their customers anyways, as I have learned from previous incidents.. This is driving me nuts.. This has to be over 20 times that I have had to take this thing in.. When will it end? I would love to get rid of it but having bought it brand new I will have to pay someone to take it off my hands.. I don't know what is worse? Keeping it or paying to get rid of it?

-R.

 

Explorer valve body solenoids are the weak point on 2002+ models.

When the wrong fluid is used, a copper bushing inside the solenoid swells up and causes it to stick, causing it to slam into gear and "pop out" of gear. I've done dozens.

When you have the solenoid replaced, make SURE they use MERCON V FORD/MOTORCRAFT FLUID. I also STRONGLY suggest using a dealership fluid additive with the mercon V that will prevent the bushing from swelling (although ford claims their bottled mercon V will now not cause that to happen, I don't believe them).

There was a recall on 2003-2005 explorers because the wrong formulation of mercon V was installed at the factory. The recall was to put in this additive to prevent the solenoids from getting trashed.

A lot of independent shops use a "multi-purpose" fluid that is supposed to work as well as Mercon V... WARNING - IT DOES NOT.

about 90% of these solenoids I've done started having problems about 500-1000 miles after a transmission flush (from somewhere other than the dealership i work for). The other 10% were from recalled vehicles that never had the recall performed.

It's also very possible the fluid level is low... it's a little difficult to check properly, due to the lack of a dipstick. A lot of people hook up the flush machine and assume it's full when they are done, either not caring or not knowing how to check the level, but a lot of flushes i've done left the transmission 1 to 1 1/2 qt low on fluid, after which i have to top off.

I hope this helps. Good luck

 

Well I took it to this "other" dealer not the one I normally go to.. The Service advisor called me and said he can recreate the problem but the computer doesn't show any error codes so there is nothing he can do.. He says it must be normal operation. I promptly called the dealer I normally go to and begged them to make time to look at it and grabbed my truck from this other moron.. I could see it was going to be an uphill battle and I didn't want to waste any more time on him.. Hopefully the dealer I normally go to will be more knowledgeable..

Now in regards to the fluid.. I have not look at it closely.. But assuming it was low how would I know how much to add?? I never even looked for one but why is there no dipstick? Another engineering marvel.. If topping up the fluid would help I would love to try but what should I do.. Just pour in 1/2 quart increments and see if the problem goes away?

-R.

 

Warm the vehicle up, run shifter through all positions, put in park and leave running.

On the transmission pan there is a 7/8" drainplug, with a #30 torx screw in the middle of it.. remove the torx screw (but NOT the big plug).. you should get a regular stream of fluid.. kind of like when a differential is full... (you might get a few drops even if it is low)... if a bunch of fluid comes out just put the plug back in, you're fine...

just be CAREFUL THE FLUID WILL BE HOT

if it's low you'll have to "inject" fluid up into that hole... maybe you'll need vacuum hose and some kind of fluid pump thingy. It's time consuming but a slowly but surely type of thing. Keep adding fluid until a steady stream comes out.

Reinstall the torx screw.. it has "pipe" threads so be sure you don't overtorque it.

 

Well, it turns out I was low on tranny fluid.. Which leads me to the question of what was done the last time I had it changed.. Supposedly there is about 4 liters in the drain plug area, but about 15 liters in the whole transmission.. (Don't know the exact number.. In a proper flush and fill should the whole larger amount of fluid be drained and filled.. I am trying to get an idea of what I am talking about before I go back to the guy who did the fluid change. There was obviously not enough put in.. What is the procedure for properly flushing and filling these transmissions? The other question is have I taken some life off the transmission driving it low on fluid..

-R.

 

Just one note on doing an Explorer tranny check: you need a 3/16" hex bit to remove the check/fill plug, not a Torx 30 bit. I used the T30 bit first and found it starting to chew up the screw. Switched to the 3/16" hex and got the plug off with no further problems. I used a torque wrench to put it back on with 89 inch-pounds of torque. The Haynes manual has a very helpful description of how to do this check.

Also, if you check the tranny fluid level and find that it's low, you will need a special fitting that screws up in place of the check/fill plug to add fluid. That part number is OTC6604. It says it's for 2003 and later transmissions (mine is an 02 Explorer) but elsewhere I have found statements that it replaces the Ford fitting for 02 and previous. You can buy the OTC6604 on the web (none of the major parts stores had them in Austin TX and the dealership does not sell them). I bought mine from Monstronix for about $ 21.00 including shipping. It has a nipple on the other end that you can push a tube onto from a suction gun loaded with fresh ATF. I found one of those for about $8.00 at Autozone that says it is specifically for filling transmissions, differentials, etc., so you don't need the special Ford pump shown in the Haynes manual illustrations.

I checked my transmission for the first time at 84,000 miles and found the transmission was overfilled. Worse, the fluid was dark brown, so I am going to get a shop with a flush machine to do the flush. Even if I don't do the flush myself, I feel more in control of what's going on when I have done the check and confirmed that service is needed.