My wife bought a Ford Certified pre-owned Ford Explorer XLT Sport SPT/NBX 4X4 4.6 L V8 16V with 29,555 miles on it last week from the Ford Dealership in Marble Falls, TX. She traded in her 2003 Ford Escape Limited 4x4 on it for more room because we are expecting another baby. 2 days after buying the thing it started making a loud clunk when you would put it in Reverse and sometimes have a 5 to 10 Sec delay. Also When you take off it shifts real hard from 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 gear. We took it to Ford and they flushed the Transmission out and put in new fluid, replaced the the solenoid, and reprogrammed the circuit board. Well all was good for about 3 days and now its making the clunking noise again in transmission and is starting to have a delay again. I told my Wife that we need to return this thing back to Ford. It now has 30,127 miles on it. I thought if you bought a Ford Certified pre-owned car, Ford checks out the car 100%. We have had this used Explorer only 1 week. I drive Powerstrokes so this is my first rodeo in a Explorer. Other than the Transmission problems this thing is great. Right now she's driving my Powerstroke because I don't want anything to happen to her and the baby. Any help would be great. Thanks

 

Solenoid replacement is the usual fix for delayed reverse engagement; when you take it back, ask if the tranny is throwing any codes, and also if it needs the additive put in.

Steve

 

I be sure to ask because it still having the problem. My wife wants to give it back and make them put us in a new model.

 

Good luck - hope you get 'er straightened out! Keep us posted........

Steve

 

i have a 98 explorer ... it's has had the same probs since 2001 and i never got it fixed... it never got worse yet!

 

Burne: I also have a 04' Explorer NBX, 4.6 V-8, with some tranny issues, not the same as yours though, mine kinda seems to slip sometimes on take off,,but it shifts fine,,I read on here there's a gasket that fails on the valve body or something,,and to test this,,on take off,,pull the tranny shifter all the way down into first,,and take off, bring it up to 30 mph or so,,and let off,,if it free wheels,,,,,Bad gasket,,if it has lets say engine braking (slowing down,,like in 1st gear),,not a problem with this gasket.,,I tried this on my 04' and all seemed fine there,

I beleive this test is at the top of the page,,Explorer tech page or something,,,good luck,,,,Mark

PS, we love this Explorer,,mine has the 3:73 gears,and with the 4.6,,she is fast,,Awsume, and sounds great,,and it gets decent mileage,,,well when the GF drives it,,LOL,,,,FORD should make a Ranger with this setup,,be a wild little pickup truck !