2004 Explorer 39,000 miles with a 5r55s tranny.
When I shift from park to reverse I have a 3-4 second delay and then it clunks into gear. The u joints are ok.
I changed the tranny fluid and filter last week with Mercron 5 and it seems not as bad.
If you shifted from park to reverse 20 times it might delay / clunk 4 times.
I see a lot of people having issues with this. Some have changed the selonoid and it still does it.
Any other info?
Can you just live with it or will it hurt the tranny?

 

if the trans is a 5r55s/n/w the solinoid assy usually goes bad.you can try to relearn the engagement stratagy by disconnecting both battery cables and clamping them together with a pair of vise grips for 15 min.then reconnect the cables and start the veh. and allow to run for 10-15 min.go from park to reverse as soon as you feel it engage put it back into park.wait 5 seconds.do this 5 times with a 5 sec. delay between each engagement then go from drive to reverse in the same way .then go from neutral to drive 5 times .this might help your issue.

 

Is the problem only with reverse?

 

I-M Tech
Are you serious? There is a Ford TSB 05-21-8 that describes my problem. Delayed or Harsh reverse engagements. This is where Ford added an additive to the incorrect formulated tranny fluid.Some one said a bushing goes bad in the selonoid.

 

Yes only reverse
There is a Ford TSB 05-21-8 that describes my problem. Delayed or Harsh reverse engagements. This is where Ford added an additive to the incorrect formulated tranny fluid. Some one said a bushing goes bad in the selonoid.

 

I have fought with these transmissions in my shop, I have put up to three solenoid blocks on these to straighten things out. Bad blocks brand new out of the box.

 

I am going to replace the selonoid. Hope it cures it.

 

All is well after replacing the selonoid.

 

I have a 2005 Mountaineer I just purchased. It has the same reverse engagement problem described above, but worse is that in 1000 miles I have twice had a delayed engagement on downshifting on the freeway--that is much more startling.

Will the solenoid fix both problems?

What is the solenoid called (there are many on a vehicle, right) so I get the right one?

And is this something I can easliy replace in my driveway?

Finally, what brand solenoid is the best?

 

Hey, I had all the tranny fluid changed out and a new filter back in July with the transfer machine throught the cooler line. I had them install Redline D4. The tranny is waaaaaay better now, yeah, still some delay, but no slams and just feels a lot better.