Hi all again!
96 , 4.0, 4r55e, 4x4 , 33" on 15 " rims

OK my mechanics shop and there transmission rebuild company are scratching there heads. this is the 4th transmission they have installed.
the first two had faulty components. the third had problems but i drove it for a month be fore i could get a company truck for a bit, it wasn't acting right and my mechanic said to drive it and pay attention to it every time i got on or off the interstate

Ron i need your help!

every transmission is doing something different but all related to the pressures!
this last tranny is almost good but shifting into 3rd is iffy and shifting into reverse is ify at best what do i tell them to look at before tranny #5 ?

 

Not sure I can help

4R55E was only used for 2 years, 1995/6, a little bit in 1997, but most 4.0l Rangers got the 5R55E that year, officially it was 1998

I assume they are putting in a different 4R55E each time, i.e. different case, and are using 1995/6 valve body gasket/plate which is different from later years, one of the only differences
The Computer may be at fault but that's a long shot, if it was setting transmission codes and flashing the OD light then its most likely OK
If there was no flashing OD light or trans codes when transmission was acting up then could be computer issue

You can leave transmission's 16 pin connector unplugged and start the engine
Should get a code from each trans solenoid because computer can't see it, plus a few other trans codes, its a "sanity" check

 

Thank you ron! yes a new transmission each time!
things they have tried , new maf sensor, new computer, egr, ohmed all the wires, you name it they have did it! so i will mention the valve body and gasket to my shop and see what happens

 

There is no reason I can think of, of why you can't also use a 1997-2011 5R55E, it would still act as a 4 speed, since there was no actual "5th gear" added
Since you have a 4x4 the transfer case has the speedo hook up, not transmission
2001 and up 5Rs have two added sensors on the outside but you(your computer) doesn't need them

Have there been transmission codes and what were they?

 

ok ron,
head scratching time
third trans i drove for a month but it wasn't quite right, sporadic slipping, shift into drive and it would engage 3 seconds later, pulled the pan and the fluid had glitter in it!
finally got a company truck so it went back in!
4th trans was junk no 3rd and slipped bad in reverse
and no codes on the last to trannys (# 3 and 4)
number 5 tranny is on its way!
these are all brand new remans!

 

Well I assume they are from the same company so..................................

And shop is changing torque converter each time?
It will have those metal particles INSIDE IT, and they will be sent out into the next transmission installed

Not sure what to say, there are literally millions of the A4LD, 4R and 5R transmissions on the road, and while automatic trans failures happen Ford used the same transmission for 26 years in a few models, and they just don't do that if its a bad design

You may be better off just seeing if they will give you a partial refund and get a 1995-2011 4R55E or 5R55E somewhere else, same trans, and since its 4WD no speedo issues
2001 and up have 2 extra sensor but you don't need to hook them up
They are plug and play, for 1995-2000 Rangers

 

update time, just got the truck back after 8 months and 5 transmissions later so far so good, tomorrow will tell cause i have to drive 250 miles for work then next weekend will be a 1000 mile weekend,
they ended up rebuilding the #3 transmission! replacing all sensors/ computer even remotely related to how it runs and shifts
thanks for the info ron

mike

 

Fingers crossed

 

ok another update 300 miles later i think i need to junk this truck! transmission is ok but now other issues have showed up, but i can fix them on the road i think
cant win for loosing thank god i have another truck near by that i can get parts off!

 

You can't leave us hanging like that! Take the 1,000 mile drive. We gots to know!
Seriously, it'd be horrid to break down during the Christmas holiday. Do list the probs when you have a chance.

 

ok lol another update, after some in town driving over the weekend before Christmas, i was comfortable taking the truck on the interstate Monday for work and it made the 250 mile trip and the transmission is fixed finally (milage driven so far in two weeks 2500)
but now other problems have arose!
a rock took out the radiator, had a buddy bring one out of my other truck, so that's fixed!
the fan is all kinds of cracked so i ordered a new one just got that Sunday so it will be installed soon
the big problem is after i had the rear axles/ bearings/ seals replaced along with the transmission, the truck has a bad growl between 15 and 25 mph so im babying it for now, think the other bearings are bad but i dont know if my mechanic has ever done a rear end set up before, still trying to get a hold of him

thanks all for all the help
mike