I've read through the archives as best I can today but don't see anything real specific on this, so I'm sorry if this has been visited before;
I have a 2002 Ranger XLT 4WD w/ the 4.0SHV motor and an auto (AOD, I think) transmission. The truck has been off the road recently due to a bump in the front end which broke the nipple on the bottom of the tranny cooler. It came back repaired by the body shop so not sure if mechanically they got it right. Drove a few miles on a few different occasions with no problems but then the tranny started slipping, particularly in FWD gears, reverse doesn't seem to be affected. Anyway, I'm hoping this isn't a sign that the tranny needs rebuilt but maybe they used a cheap, or incorrect fluid. Is this possible/ likely? It seems to be getting worse with time, it takes over 20 seconds to drop into D now.

Thanks for any assistance you gurus can offer.
David.

 

From what you describe, it sounds like more than just a wrong-fluid issue. On the other hand, the 5R55E tranny is known to be finicky when it comes to the proper fluid (Mercon V).

Did any fluid leak out of the tranny when the cooler was damaged? Did the tranny get run with low fluid? Or maybe some dirt got ingested into the system, is that possible?

 

Yes, when the car hit, the tranny cooler broke and dumped all the fluid. Apart from the few seconds it took to realize the car wouldn't shift it was never run dry. I am on a small island in the Caribbean and the body shop "fixed" the tranny cooler so it is very unlikely the correct fluid was used.
It is possible some dirt got in also but not likely I don't think. The car was left sitting for a few weeks with the damaged cooler so something may have gotten inside but not a high likelihood in my opinion. I'm going to try dumping the fluid and exchanging for Mercon V tomorrow, will report back after that. In the meantime, let me know if you have any other thoughts on this.

Thanks for your response Rockledge, is that Rockledge, FL? I have lived and spent quite a bit of time there over the years.

Cheers, David.

 

Well, I got to my job site and the tranny locked up, wouldn't go into any forward gears AT ALL after this the other day. I towed it to the shop and asked he go and clean out the filters in the pranny pan and put new fluid in. It was indeed the wrong fluid and he said he found some sirt in it too. I haven't picked up the car yet but the mech said it shifts with a few seconds and a little gas, which is what it did last week but it's still not right. Btw, we couldn't find ANY Mercon V on the island but I found a synthetic oil that claims can be used for Mercon V, among others. Do I need a tanny rebuild kit now, or could this be worse?
I started looking at kits over the weekend and noticed a couple of things...my car has 02 on the paperwork but was manufactured 08/01. Does that mean it is probably NOT a 5R55 tranny? All the kits I saw said from 02 on....?

Thanks again for any answers, David.

 

An '02' model could have been built in '01' as the next years models are very often released in late summer/early fall. A marketing trick that's been around for many, many years. I can't say for sure that you have the right tranny but I'd bet it's what it should be.

 

If your '02 has a 4.0L, then the tranny is a 5R55E.

Drive it around for a while with the Mercon V fluid and see if anything changes.

I don't understand why Mercon V is still hard to find, because Ford is discontinuing the regular Mercon spec and no longer recommends it....?

 

call your insurance company and see if its covered as part of the accident!

 

That is a good idea. Damage to tranny as part of the accident - very possible and might be covered.

 

OK, thanks again for all the advice guys. Afew things that might be interetsting here;
1. It is the 4.0 V-6, so I guess the tranny must be a 5R55E?
2. I am on an island in the middle of nowhere, almost. I can ship items in but not everything(*) is available here. (*) = understatement.
3. I still haven't found any Mercon V here and they charged me almost $20/ qt for the synthetic rep[lacement.
4. Insurance (though available), is not required, and therefor not carried by most here....including me!
5. The damage was *very* light and I'm sure nothing IN the trans was damaged. The only reason it was affected at all was the plastic teet broke off the bottom of the cooler because the rad was pushed back *ever so* slightly.

Now, I got the truck back, with new oil and cleaned filters but it will still only shift into FWD gears when you gas it to 4-5k then let it idle down, it generally slips in on the way down.
It doesn't drive at all well, so I'm still seeking a solution to this.

New question;
Would I be somewhat right in assuming because the way it is acting, and there was no metal found in the trans oil, this is simply a hydraulic pressure issue *somewhere* in the trans?

If so, is buying a 'rebuild kit' with all new seals etc a good idea and could I expect a fix with this???
I've heard the OEM kit would be better than an aftermarket one, is this true?

Thanks again guys, much appreciated.
David.

2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4.
1999.5 F250 XLT 7.3PSD Crew(my baby)
and the car I miss the most, ex-'88 Mustang 5.0L convertible.

 

There are a bunch of problem solver parts available at PATC. If the aftermarket parts are just direct swap ins, they are probably inferior to OEM. If they are Superior brand, then that are designed to exceed OEM specs and even solve problems.

 

OK, thanks. My mechanic said he'd only install an OEM rebuild kit so I guess that solves my dilema.
I tried using the truck again today and it wouldn't even go into gear...AGAIN! So, I'm really hoping that a rebuild kit will fix this...if anyone has any better ideas, or knowledge, PLEASE let me know. I'm not happy I just spent 180 bucks and got nothing but new fluid, my car still won't drive.

Thanks for the answers, Dave.
2002 Ranger XLT 4x4
99.5 F250 Crew, 7.3PSD (my baby)
and 2004 Caterpillar 420D (daytime toy lately)