Two Part Tranny Question
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Two Part Tranny Question
Part I
About 6 months ago I changed the transmission fluid on my 2001 Ranger 4.0 with NAPA brand ATF fluid. The truck has 138,000 miles on it. In the last month, the truck has intermittently had difficulty going into gear for the first few moments after a cold start. I thought about trying a different brand ATF fluid. Is this worthwhile, or is the transsmission on the outs?
Part II
When I dropped the pan for the fluid change, the filter and bolt were laying on the botton of the pan (the dealership was the only one to have previously dropped the pan and must have overtorqued the bolt). So there was an unknown period of time with no filter. If I follow through with step one, I will need a better way to attach the filter (I put some hardening paste on the bolt and I doubt it held). I thought about trying to find a slightly longer bolt, which will hopefully grab some threads. Does anybody know the size of the bolt, so I can find one before starting to change fluid? Any other possible ideas to reattach the filter? Thanks.
About 6 months ago I changed the transmission fluid on my 2001 Ranger 4.0 with NAPA brand ATF fluid. The truck has 138,000 miles on it. In the last month, the truck has intermittently had difficulty going into gear for the first few moments after a cold start. I thought about trying a different brand ATF fluid. Is this worthwhile, or is the transsmission on the outs?
Part II
When I dropped the pan for the fluid change, the filter and bolt were laying on the botton of the pan (the dealership was the only one to have previously dropped the pan and must have overtorqued the bolt). So there was an unknown period of time with no filter. If I follow through with step one, I will need a better way to attach the filter (I put some hardening paste on the bolt and I doubt it held). I thought about trying to find a slightly longer bolt, which will hopefully grab some threads. Does anybody know the size of the bolt, so I can find one before starting to change fluid? Any other possible ideas to reattach the filter? Thanks.
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From: SW Va
Are you saying that the tranny filter retaining bolts threaded hole is stripped????
If so, you may be able to drill it out & tap it for a thread cert.
Driving it without the filter in place has probably sucked some debris into the valve body & mucked something up.
Maybe consider pulling the valve body to clean it too, while you have it opened up.
If your bolt fix didn't hold & has come loose, letting the filter drop down again, then the tranny may be starving itself for fluid, as it's suction feed point is now raised up a good bit, to where the neck of the filter plugs in, so it'll be close to the top of the fluid level.
More thoughts for pondering.
If so, you may be able to drill it out & tap it for a thread cert.
Driving it without the filter in place has probably sucked some debris into the valve body & mucked something up.
Maybe consider pulling the valve body to clean it too, while you have it opened up.
If your bolt fix didn't hold & has come loose, letting the filter drop down again, then the tranny may be starving itself for fluid, as it's suction feed point is now raised up a good bit, to where the neck of the filter plugs in, so it'll be close to the top of the fluid level.
More thoughts for pondering.
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Thank you very much for the information. I am going to do the ATF fluid change, and I am considering cleaning the valve body as well which was recommended. I picked up some longer M6 bolts to try before retapping the threaded hole for the transmission filter. Is anybody aware of a link to instructions for cleaning the valve body? Thanks again.
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My transmission is working flawlessly. I purchased some longer M6 bolts and they held my filter in place. Additionally, I added some Lucas cleaner to the transmission. One of these two actions corrected my problem immediately. This week I am going to drain the old fluid with Lucas cleanser in it and replace it with some Castrol. Long live my transmission!
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From: SW Va
Good feedback & to hear the longer filter bolts have worked out & that your tranny woes are history.
Thanks for taking the time to close out your tranny thread.
Thanks for taking the time to close out your tranny thread.
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New User
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my rangers 5 speed has trouble getting into first, especally at colder temperatures but i usually shift into second then into first and its smooth sailing
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From: Dexter, MI
Hi joe--- welcome to FTE. Since you are relatively new to the boards, let me make a suggestion. Instead of tacking your issue relating to a 5 speed manual to a thread about fluid and filter problems in an automatic, start a new thread. The box you need to do that is on the Ranger/Explorer index page. Good luck.
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