So I bought a 2011 2.3l reg cab automatic for $200 and the transmission is not working is it possible the Transmission Shift solenoid just needs to be replaced it has 116,000 miles

 

Welcome to the forum

Nice looking Ranger

Probably not a valve body issue(shift solenoids) if previous owner didn't fix it, you can do that fix without pulling out the transmission.

It will be a 5R44E transmission, thats the MODEL, not what it works with, i.e. Rangers with 3.0l V6 used the same 5R44E model transmission but it WILL NOT bolt to a 2.3l engine

You can google 5R44E to see symptoms and possible fixes, "transmission not working" is a little too general, lol

If you are looking for used replacement:
Ford used this transmission from 2002 to 2011 in the 2.3l Duratec Rangers
Mazda B2300 of the same years also used this same transmission
And thats about it


If you want to try and repair it then look at the cost of a new Valve Body with solenoids and bonded separator plate
As said you can replace this by removing the pan and swapping it out
After dropping the pan look for metal bits in the fluid and pan, if found replacing valve body won't help, full rebuild will be needed, trans needs to come out

If trans pan and fluid look OK then swap out valve body
If trans still does not work then you will have to pull it out for a rebuild, but the new valve body would be used with other new parts, so not a waste of money

And if trans does come out to repair or swap, replace the coolant hose and fitting on the back side of the head, these can leak and you have to pull out transmission to fix the leak, lol, so just replace it as general maintenance

If you have never installed an automatic transmission before there is ONE BIG GOOF first timers do that breaks even a brand new transmission, so if it gets that far check first BEFORE installing

 

Seating the TC?

 

Thanks for responding however I got confused my transmission is the 5R55E so are you telling me to use the part out off the 5R44E transmission?

 

The Ranger 4cyl engine and the 3.0l V6 engine both used the 5R44E, thats is for sure what you have

Only the 4.0l V6 used the 5R55E

They are basically the same transmission, 55E has different OD drum for the higher torque of the 4.0l

But what applies to one, problem-wise, applies to both

The A4LD(1985-1994), 4R44E(1995-2001) and 5R44E(2002-2011) are internally the same transmission so parts for one will fit the others for the most part

The 4R55E and 5R55E just had the different OD drum for the 4.0l OHV or SOHC V6 used in Rangers and Explorers
And the parts for the 5R44E will fit the 5R55E except for a few, like OD Drum

Anyway, if you want you can try the valve body, you will see its the same part for either 44E or 55E, as for 4R or 5R

You didn't mention any symptoms?
Can you borrow a Code Reader, computer will set codes if solenoids start to fail, P07?? would be the codes it uses

 

It needs to be a higher level code reader, the ones that they sell at the parts store generally won't read the Ranger transmission codes.

 

Okay I’ll look into that the problem I have is after I start it and put it in any gear it won’t move. I just dropped the transmission pan and no metal shavings or broken piece of any kind found I was told that’s a very good sign what should I start with to get it to shift?

 

You're real lucky to get a truck like that for that little money in any form. Wrecked, blown, etc. Even if you totally strike out, you'll still profit, just call a scrapper, but thats beside the point, lets try to focus on fixing it. Theres a company called, atransmissions,who rebuilds transmissions, and they have ranger ones, they carry a warranty. https://www.atransmissions.com . That being said, I would go electrical routes first, as it sounds like thats what the problem is Is everything good but your trans? Alternator is solid? Could be a shitty little sensor, its something ford would do. I would get a code reader, you can get a diagnosis done at a shop too and go from there. As ron said 'transmission doesn't work' doesn't give us a ton of ability to help you

 

That is a good sign, but if you bought it with "bad trans" my guess would be previous owner had trans serviced to try and repair the problem, so any debris in the pan would have been flushed out then

You can test solenoids with OHM meter, info here: http://up.picr.de/30024877jv.pdf
5R44E and 5R55E are the same solenoid wise

But no reverse or drive is never a solenoid issue, OD sprang or Pump failure usually

After it has trans fluid and new filter start engine, check fluid level, then turn off engine and check fluid level, should be much higher with engine off, if not pump is not working, there is a big fluid level drop with engine running on all automatics
If no fluid level change then pump is broken

Engine on
Put trans in Reverse and Drive, if no movement shift to 1st or 2nd manually, if you get movement then OD sprang is most likely issue, a sprang is a one-way clutch, it prevents a shaft or "gear" from turning in one direction, the OD Sprang needs to hold to get reverse or drive to work
In 1st or 2nd position the Coast Clutch takes over so OD Sprang isn't used/needed and if trans engages then it usually means OD sprang is broken

Either of the above requires a full rebuild to repair