i just changed the trans filter and fluid on my 1996 explorer. there was no problem with my transmission before this. the first time i drove it the transmission would not go into gear for a few seconds and then the od light started flashing when i drove down the road. could i have done something wrong when i changed the filter? could i have put the pan on backwards or will it go on just one way? the only other thing i have done duringthis down time is the radiator had a leak on the fluid side and it had to be replaced.

 

Check your fluid and make sure you have enough.

 

Also the filter could be cracked, or the seal not installed correctly.
I think for folks that are not transmission people, that it is money better spent going to an honest transmission shop for fluid changes. If it doesn't work good after the fluid change it is their problem not yours.

You have to be almost surgically clean with automatic transmissions, if you got any sort of crap in the tube for the filter or in the pump inlet, you will have problems.

 

Sometimes when you pull a filter out, there's a little ring on them that, most times, sticks in the hole where the filter goes.

I've never left one in, so I don't know what problems it would cause (besides a bad fit), but do you remember getting yours out? Look on your old filter and see if it came out with it (should have in a perfect world). Or, sometimes if they stay in there, I take the ring off the new filter and just put the filter up in there.

 

Yeah a common problem... Some of the filters have an O ring or hard seal that fits on the neck of the filter and slides into the valve body. When you remove the old filter, you need to check to see if the O ring got stuck in the valve body. If you install a new filter and ring with the old one still there, you will have problems. I am not sure if it is possible to use two seals with the metal hard seals.

Also possible that the filter was not snugged down enough, check torque specs if there are bolts involved. Or sometimes the bolts holding the valve body down get loose and need to be snugged up. I always snug any bolt that I can see when I drop the pan.


Problem is when you drop the pan to get at the filter, much of the fluid pours out. If you are cheap you can save most of the fluid. Make sure the drain pan and everything you touch is clean and that the pan is spotless, NO GRIT. Drop one corner of the pan and let it drain into the clean catch pan. Since the fluid is new, you should be able to see thru it to the bottom of the pan. Make sure you don't see any sand or grit. I like shiney metal pans since they usually are easier to see thru the fluid.

Once you fix your problem pour the fluid back into the tranny thru a big funnel, preferably with a CLEAN shop rag or maybe a screen type strainer. I just lay one of those red shop towels in a single layer inside the funnel and pour thru that. it is slow but some tranny fluid is just too expensive to throw out if it is clean.

By the way, how many miles between fluid changes? Once in awhile a high mileage tranny gets a fluid change which MIGHT loosen old caked on sludge which can cause problems This is common enough that some people are sure clean fluid is the cause and won't change old fluid.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson