My daughter had a high mileage 2008 ford ranger 2.3 liter, automatic transmission that she got for a very low price. The transmission has gone out in it. Local shop quoted me around 1800 to rebuild it, with several upgrades they say the tranny needs due to known weaknesses. That's like double what she has in it to buy it, so I'm hesitant to spend that kind of money on a truck with really high mileage. Looking online, I found one sight claiming to sell a 5r55e but for a 3.0 liter 6 cylinder for under 300.00 plus shipping, but switch to the 2.3 liter engine and price goes to just over 1200. Found a few used on ebay for a few hundred dollars that say in the listing title it's for the 3.0 liter, but say they are also compatible with the 2.3 liter version. I already bought my daughter something to drive and took the ranger with plans of replacing the tranny and probably driving it myself but still don't want to spend 1200 for one tranny if I can get out cheaper. I'm having trouble finding any web sites with specifics about what tranny is interchangeable or will work with different motors. Is there any resource I'm missing I could study or some general knowledge you all could share with me so I know what to do here? thanks

 

Welcome to the forum

The 2002-2011 Rangers used the 2.3l DOHC Duratec engine and the 5R44E automatic, 2001 and earlier used 2.3l SOHC Lima engine, so earlier is not compatible

The 2.3l Duratec and 3.0l Vulcan did both use the 5R44E model but with different bell housings so one won't bolt to the other, changing bell housing requires some disassembly, so not for the novice, a trans shop can do it so ask a price, it would void any warranty from the place you bought the used trans from, if any
But from bell housing back the 2.3l or 3.0l automatics were the same

The 5R44E is OFTEN listed as 5R55E that's just a generic model number, it was only used on the 4.0l Rangers
You need one for/from a 2002-2011 2.3l Ranger or Mazda B2300, if you want it to just bolt to the engine

Try here: Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

Enter the info and your Zip

Looks like $800-$1,400 is the going rate down south


What you spend to fix a vehicle is not really related to vehicles value
If vehicle value is $1,000
And you spend $2,000 to fix a vehicle and it lasts you 5 more years then it cost you $33/month
And small pick ups hold value, they drop to a certain point and then stay there because they are specific use vehicles so hold a minimum value

If you buy another vehicle see what the cost would be for 5 years

 

same year range if looking for one from the Mazda?
wow, car-part.com the prices are way higher when looking for '08 Mazda b2300
the prices for the ranger are reasonable, but guess it's a junk yard tranny, never know

 

Yes, the Mazda's were built at the Ranger factories from 1994-2010, so same frame and power trains by year, just different body panels and badges

Maybe because there were fewer of them that used parts are more, but when buying the whole used vehicle the same year Mazda's with same setup as Ranger is usually less money