Hello, so I was driving my ranger the other day and it just felt like it was shifted into neutral even tho it was still in drive. When I put it into park to see what was wrong there was a bunch of smoke. I later realized that the smoke was because something broke and dumped trans fluid onto my cat. My question is exactly what is this thing that broke? I have been searching trying to find the name of what it is so I can replace it and get back on the trails but I have not been able to find it anywhere. Any help will be much appreciated!!!


2002, 3.0, 4x4

 

Welcome to the forum

Good to include year of Ranger, engine model, assuming automatic trans because you mentioned "Park"

If its an automatic and your Ranger is 1995 or up, its a 4R44E or 5R44E model transmission, if so then on the Passenger side of transmission there are two Servos, front one is OverDrive servo, rear one is intermediate servo
Guessing from your picture the OD servo blew out/off

Picture of passenger side of 4R or 5R automatic: https://www.charlietranny.com/4R55Eps.JPG
You can see the 2 servo covers, and where the 2 trans cooler lines and dipstick come out

Go here: https://www.vistatransmissionparts.c...PartsType=4R55
Click on the diagram and it will get bigger
Servos parts are at the bottom center

 

Sorry it’s a 2002, 3.0, 4x4 I think it has the 5R55E. It being the OD servo would make sense because the OD light was flashing when the servo went. Could it have just been the trans had no fluid causing it to not be able to drive and only be in a neutral state? Or would you think that it could be a deeper issue? I have just purchased this truck and am not fully familiar with the problems that they have, I do know there engines are usually quite solid. I have also heard that they can have some transmission issues. When it was driving it shifted fine and felt good until that servo blew out and it was not able to move under its own power at all.

 

Its a 5R44E in a 2002 3.0l Ranger, only the 4.0l got the 5R55E in any year

Bummer that you just got it, wouldn't surprise me if there was some "trans fix" or other non-standard fluids in it

They are good transmissions, used in Rangers(and other Fords) since 1986 thru 2011, so 26 year run
They are just automatics and have automatic issues

But to be honest never read about a servo blowing off
Transmission needs to come out to see why this part failed, regarless

All automatics run on Fluid Pressure(not a Ford thing), that's what engages/disengages the clutches and bands(brakes)
With a blown out part there would not be enough pressure to engage
Like having a hole in a tire, it doesn't just go flat near the hole, lol, the whole tire goes flat

Factory 5R44E was good for 250-300k miles
Good rebuilt will run $2,500-$3,000, good for another 200-250k miles
Quick rebuild, soft parts, will run $1,400-$1,800 and be good for warranty, 1 to 2 years

You can source used with under 150k maybe
You can only use a 2001-2008 5R44E from a 4x4 3.0l Ranger or Mazda B3000, must be 3.0l and 4x4

Try this site: https://www.car-part.com/
2002
Ford Ranger
Transmission
Skip Areas
YOUR Zipcode
SEARCH

New window will open
Select "AT, 6-183 (3.0L), 4x4, ID 2L5P-BB"
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It will show you available used 5R44Es nearest to you
Get some prices
Then see what local transmission shops will quote you for rebuild, you CAN rebuild it yourself, there are step by step guides, even videos if you look around