sometimes when i slow down to yield and then go again my trans takes for ever to shift, then when it does it shifts hard into the next gear. i was thinking i might be able to unhook the battery to clear the computers shifting points, what else could it be?? thanks

02 ranger 4.0 4x4 auto

 

I wouldn't clear the computer yet. That relearning process isn't that healthy for an auto tranny.

I would recommend getting the fluid checked--cheap stuff first.

Maybe soem of the guys with newer auto tranny Ranger clones can chime in on issues with their auto trannies, if they have any to speak of.

 

Well I like Alfreds check the tranny fluid first, idea.
If you find it's low, top it off & then you need to find out WHY it's low & remedy that.

If the fluid level & condition check out ok, then I'd ask are you having any other probems, like a misbehaving speedometer, cruise control that drops out or won't set, ABS light or problems, if so, then maybe it's the speed sensor acting out, as they & the computer use outputs from it to help decide when & how to do their things.

The speed sensor is located atop the rear differential housing.

If the tranny fluid's condition doesn't look good, say brown & smell burned, then maybe the tranny valve body & or shift solenoids are varnished up from breaking down tranny fluid.

So, how is your tranny fluid level & condition????

 

I am having this same problem with my 00 Ranger- 4x4 4.0L. Seems that taking off, the RPM's go higher than normal before shifting, then it shifts real hard into second. It seems to shift fine through the rest of the gears. I checked my fluid when enigine was cold and it was low. Drove for 15min and checked and it was in normal range. I put in some Lucas trans treatment a couple days ago but no help yet. I am interested to see how this thread goes

 

i checked the trans fluid and it was good and it looked pretty good too. i havent had any troubles with the cruise droping or the speedo. oh ya i forgot to mention that usually when it does this strange shifting, the o/d OFF light blinks and wont stop until i shut the truck off and turn it back on. the o/d button still works even when its blinking.

another reason why i figured the trans is goin out is because when i got the truck it had 24.5k miles and was on its second set of tires, it didnt hit me until awile after i got it that it should be on its original tires. so previous owner did some burning out...

 

The OD light is flashing a code you need to record and check out. The Tranny is trying to tell you it has problem.

 

about how much does it cost to have a shop scan my computer?? my school has one i could use but the teacher doesnt know crap and everytime somebody tries it and he cant get it to work he says "oh your car is special". but maybe i will give it a try...

 

I called my Ford dealer today. Seems they have a lot of problems with valve gaskets in the tranny. They are pretty sure thats what my problem is. Now gotta figure out how bad the job is and weather I want to do it myself

 

Could be the speed sensor on the rear differential as pawpaw mentioned. Similar symptoms on a 99 Ranger I used to have. The O/D light flashed and hard shifting. Simply replaced the sensor and problem solved.

 

seth1, good idea to try the school scanner. Try & pull & post the code that the OD light is blinking.

If you don't have luck with the scanner at school, try a local autoparts store in your area, most autoparts stores in my area will scan the computer at no charge, if your having problems, so call around & check policy where you live.

It could still be the speed sensor, the symptoms I listed aren't all inclusive, just an example. I had a speed sensor problem on my 94 Taurus year before last, that caused rough up & down shifting in 1-2 & 2-3 & slow, or no up shifting from 1'st during hard acceleration & sometimes the engine would cut out when it hit the rev limiter. Sometimes the cruise control would just drop out. sometimes it would just "grab" 1'st on a down shift.

I suspected the speed sensor, but when I scanned the computer, no codes!!!!
So I hooked my scantool up to monitor the speed sensor.
While the wife drove, I monitored the speed sensors output & sure enough right at 34 mph where the rough up & down shifts were occuring, the speed sensors output just "hung up" & then jumped to 37-40 mph, this confused the computer & caused it to slam the trannys shift. Sometimes it would "grab" 2'nd or 1'st on a down shift. Sometimes the cruise wouldn't set, or sometmes it would just drop out, yet no trouble light or any trouble codes!!!

Point is, even if you scan the computer & don't get any codes, don't stop there, rig a scan tool to monitor live feeds & monitor what the tranny, speed sensor & engine sensors are doing during a dynamic scenario & see if you can catch any acting out, while someone drives the routene your having problems with & you monitor the scan tool.

So the tranny fluid level & condition were ok. How did it look if you put a drop on a white napkin???? How did it smell????
How long since the fluid & filter were changed????

Let us know what you find.

 

thanks for the help. i will let you know what i come up with.

the trans fluid was nice and red, i never smelt it though. i think its the oringinal fluid, it had 24.5k miles when i got it, now im up to 43.5k and i never changed it. how often should it be changed??

 

OK, good input on the tranny fluids condiion.
From your description of it's color, it sounds as if it's fine & not like it's in a degraded condition, as it would be brownish & smell burned, sorta like varnish!!!!

How often to change it should be governed by your driving conditions & habits. Refer to your "scheduled maintenance" booklet for Fords recommendations, that encompass your conditions & driving habits & do it at least that often, more so, if your driving conditions & habits fall under "severe sevice" as called out in the booklet.

Towing, carring heavy loads, stop & go city driving, lots of idling, long high speed highway trips, under hot, humid, dusty, extra cold, wet, conditions would qualify as severe service & call for more frequent fluid changes.

I tow in the mountains under hot, humid conditions with my 99 4.0L 5spd auto, which fall under severe servce, so I do a complete fluid pump out & filter change every 20-25 thousand miles. I use the specified Motorcraft fluid & tranny filter.

Your probem could be a sticking shift solenoid, or valve body, or the acting out speed sensor we've talked about, but all these are just a guess at this point, we really need some more good clues & maybe the computer can offer up some good ones, as the flashing OD light indicates it's unhappy with something. So have the computer sanned & list ALL the codes found.

 

I took mine to the dealer I bought it from this morning. My OD light is not flashing, but they are going to do a free diagnosis for me. They are actually a Chevy dealer, but do have the computer and everything. I will post the results.

 

No codes were found in mine today. How hard are valve body gaskets to replace?

 

Seth, my O/D light is now flashing too. Starting tonight, it now shifts into reverse hard too. Sounds like we might have the same bug. I will take it to the shop again tomorrow for hopefully another free scan. I will post any progress. Maybe together we can get them both solved.