Hi, I own a 2003 Explorer V6 and am experiencing some transmission issues. I got the Transmission serviced about six months ago, and since then it occasionally does not want to go into 1st gear. I will stop at a light and when I push on the accelarator, it takes a few seconds before it goes. It only does this every now and then. I cannot check the fluid level. Is this serious? Thanks

 

I would consider it serious (I'd be seriously ticked). It's got to be rough on the clutches and other components with the extra pull when starting out. And I'd hate to think about towing with it.

 

Where did you have it serviced? What did they do? If you didn't take it to a dealer there's a very good chance that they left the fluid low in it (I say this from personal experience). There is a very specific procedure that should be followed to confirm that the tranny has all the fluid it's supposed to, it's outlined in detail in a Ford TSB (special temperature has to be reached before checking it. If you driven it any with the fluid low, it's likely been damaged. Topping it off will restore function for a while, but sooner or later, it will die. I took mine to a dealer (yeah, even they didn't follow the procedure, apparently) for a tranny flush, and they left it low. Drove it about 10 miles (wierdness like it not changing gears, etc), took it back, they topped it off, fixed it. THe tranny died 20,000 miles later (at 54,000 miles)... had a local trans shop put a refurb from Ford in, it died only 20,000 miles later... I suspect they probably did something wrong with the install.. fortunately, took it to the other Ford dealer in town, and Ford had the tranny guy at the shop rebuild the tranny as opposed to replace it... it drives better now than it did new (mine was an '02, they had teething pains with those 5R55W trannys). IF it's low, I'd insist that they tear it down and check for damage, at a minimum, it should probably be flushed.

 

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The problem you are describing sounds exactly like a low fluid condition. Have it checked and topped up if necessary. Might be worthwhile getting it checked at a dealer who as the tools and knows the procedures for checking levels for the 5R55W

 

Thanks! I took it to the local Ford dealer and had them check the fluid. It was 2 quarts low. It definately shifts better now.

 

Where'd you originally take it? If you drove it very long like that, it's very likely some damage was done that would shorten the life of the transmission... that's what happened to mine.

 

Hi, guys. Let me share my experience with you. About a year and a half ago, I took my wife's 02 Ex to Pep Boys for an oil change (~45,000 miles at that time). She had not been in for an oil change in ~6,000 miles. I was pissed that she was not taking care of her car and so when they asked if I wanted to flush the transmission, I figured it was a good idea. Half hour later, I was driving it home and the trans stops shifting. Lots of revving between shifts and then some clunking into gear when it would get around to it. I turned around and went back to Pep Boys. They walked around in circles for about three hours and then said that they have to take it to a transmission shop. The transmission shop said that the service tech took out a bolt in the side of the transmission tht he should not have and they would have to dissassemble the trans to fix it. Pep Boys paid the $605 repair bill and we were on our way. Today, she was driving my daughter to a snowboard race and the trans does it again (65,000 miles). Towed it to a frend of mine's trans shop. He is someone I trust with my life, so I believe him when it comes to trans'. He says that it will require a rebuild and will run $1800 - $2000 for repair. He does not believe that he will find anything definative that will prove that the Pep Boys incident is what ruiined the trans. I am at a loss. I don't have $2000 right now to fix it and I feel that I have been screwed by a bad service. I feel like I should take it back to the trans shop that first serviced it and demand that they repair it, but I do not trust them and feel that I will just get screwed again. Any ideas?

 

When it come to the transmission, I ALWAYS have the dealer service it.

 

Yeah, with these, the dealer is the best option, 'cept one dealer I used to use was the one that shorted me a quart or 2.. I now use a new dealer with a much sharper tranny guy. Good luck proving that the previous shop screwed up... what's sad, is that if they follow the ford procedure (can be found on Alldata, for example), it's actually pretty simple to make sure the damn thing's filled properly (I would do it, but I don't have a lift!)