General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

what to do about a failing transmission?

  #1  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
what to do about a failing transmission?

took it to a tranny shop today and just after driving it they assume its internal damage and that it seems as if the torque converter is deteriorating and going through the tranny. that it all has something to do with it coming out of gear on hard downshifts. idk the truth to that. they said its only a matter of time till it grenades itself.

what are my options. they said it would be around 2200 to get it taken out and rebuilt. no way i have that kind of cash.

i think it would almost be cheaper to buy a used trans and swap it in myself.. ?

idk what should i do? need the cheapest option
 
  #2  
Old 03-26-2010
01_ranger_4x4's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
i looked into this when i was having trans issues and i discovered that you can get a brand new ford trans for around $2000, but yes, a used trans would be much cheaper. around here, a decent low mileage used trans will go for $500-$700. whats your trans doing?
 
  #3  
Old 03-26-2010
pwrranger88's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: West Greenwich RI
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if it were me id do a manual swap then you wont have to worry about junk autos
 
  #4  
Old 03-26-2010
zabeard's Avatar
who?
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IN
Posts: 26,044
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
id swap in a used one.


what is it doing exactly? how many miles? when is the last time you changed the fluid?
 
  #5  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by pwrranger88
if it were me id do a manual swap then you wont have to worry about junk autos
what and have to deal with the slave issues with them? pass. lol
 
  #6  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by zabeard
id swap in a used one.


what is it doing exactly? how many miles? when is the last time you changed the fluid?
sometimes at higher speeds on the highway on a slightly hard downshift it'll go to downshift and just pop into neutral. if i let off the gas and let the RPM's go back down it goes back into gear and i go about my way. it does this maybe 20% of the time.

truck has 42k miles on it. i got it with 7k miles on it. but i know since i've had it i havent changed the fluid or anything. thats what i originally went to do but they didn't have time today. nor did I. i still want a second opinion and to change the fluid to see what that does...
 
  #7  
Old 03-26-2010
sniper_101's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sask, Canada
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
ZF6 swap?
 
  #8  
Old 03-26-2010
01_ranger_4x4's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
it kind of sounds to me like its slipping. does it do it in a downshift under power, like when you accelerate to pass?
 
  #9  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4
it kind of sounds to me like its slipping. does it do it in a downshift under power, like when you accelerate to pass?
yeah pretty much
 
  #10  
Old 03-26-2010
zabeard's Avatar
who?
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IN
Posts: 26,044
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
change the fluid. its due.

also a torque converter is like 100 bucks, drop it and put a new one on. i would at least try that first.

also you have 35s with a stock gear, its going through a ton of stress. the torque converter might be going junk. just replace it and try that.

also to check the VB put it in first then drive in a parking lot, bring it up to speed and see if it stays in gear when you let off and actually slows the truck down on its own, if it does then it is at least holding pressure.
 
  #11  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
that it does do. i recently tried that (just for fun lol) and it does stay in first and slow down
 
  #12  
Old 03-26-2010
zabeard's Avatar
who?
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IN
Posts: 26,044
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
drop the transmission, put a new torque converter in and refill the transmission.
 
  #13  
Old 03-26-2010
01_ranger_4x4's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
it wouldnt hurt to adjust the bands either. i was having similar symptoms with mine except it was slipping under hard accel at all speeds. i ran it down the road with the scanner on it and watched the trans perimeters and discovered the EPC solenoid voltage was wacky. after the trans shop told me my trans was toast and needed a rebuild, as a last ditch effort i flushed the trans, replaced the EPC solenoid and adjusted the bands and it improved 90%. it still slips at full throttle on occasion, but the $120 i spent on fluid, filter and solenoid got me through the summer and a few silver lake dune trips. lol
 
  #14  
Old 03-26-2010
rangerboy101's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Winchester, Va
Posts: 8,187
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I thought you were re-gearing? If it were me I would re-gear and then fix the tranny. Why replace the parts that are just going to continue to get so much stress on them? IMO Re-gear and then put in a new TC and change the fluid.
 
  #15  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4
it wouldnt hurt to adjust the bands either. i was having similar symptoms with mine except it was slipping under hard accel at all speeds. i ran it down the road with the scanner on it and watched the trans perimeters and discovered the EPC solenoid voltage was wacky. after the trans shop told me my trans was toast and needed a rebuild, as a last ditch effort i flushed the trans, replaced the EPC solenoid and adjusted the bands and it improved 90%. it still slips at full throttle on occasion, but the $120 i spent on fluid, filter and solenoid got me through the summer and a few silver lake dune trips. lol
how easy of a task is it to adjust the bands? two of my friends have taken and passed several tranny classes and are down to help. im sure they'd know but still.
 
  #16  
Old 03-26-2010
zabeard's Avatar
who?
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IN
Posts: 26,044
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
break the nut loose, tighten the bolt to so many inch lbs then back it off 1.5 turns, the tighten the nut again.

N3ELZ wrote a how to on it.
 
  #17  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
where shoudl i go about purchasing a TC from? and which fluid do i need to go with

tranny newb here lol
 
  #18  
Old 03-26-2010
01_ranger_4x4's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Tys 4x4 FTW
how easy of a task is it to adjust the bands? two of my friends have taken and passed several tranny classes and are down to help. im sure they'd know but still.
read through this post from RPS, it has some great info as well as a link to a write up on adjusting the bands. it requires an inch pound torque wrench and a little patience. its worth a shot. O/D Off Flashing? Read Me First! (Auto Tranny General Information) - Ranger Power Sports Forum
 
  #19  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
gotcha

also should i look into installing a shift kit while i have the ***** opened up?
 
  #20  
Old 03-26-2010
zabeard's Avatar
who?
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IN
Posts: 26,044
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
check with the dealer first but...

A4LD, 4R44E, 4R55E, 5R55E HEAVY DUTY Torque Converter : eBay Motors (item 230451712911 end time Mar-30-10 0008 PDT)

also i think 07 still had the 5r55e, i hope it doesnt have the 5r55w that one seems to be much more.
 
  #21  
Old 03-26-2010
zabeard's Avatar
who?
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IN
Posts: 26,044
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Originally Posted by Tys 4x4 FTW
gotcha

also should i look into installing a shift kit while i have the ***** opened up?
PM NicksterSVT for a while he was selling 5r55e upgrade kits.
 
  #22  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by zabeard
check with the dealer first but...

A4LD, 4R44E, 4R55E, 5R55E HEAVY DUTY Torque Converter : eBay Motors (item 230451712911 end time Mar-30-10 0008 PDT)

also i think 07 still had the 5r55e, i hope it doesnt have the 5r55w that one seems to be much more.
is there anything in the truck i can look at th verify which trans i have>?
 
  #23  
Old 03-26-2010
zabeard's Avatar
who?
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IN
Posts: 26,044
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
look on the case of the transmission, that is all i know.
 
  #24  
Old 03-26-2010
Tys 4x4 FTW's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
gotcha. **** dont even know where to start with all of this lol. guess i should start ordering the parts..

vatozone should be able to get a torque converter for me right?
 
  #25  
Old 03-26-2010
TrePaul86's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Gresham, OR
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Tys 4x4 FTW
what and have to deal with the slave issues with them? pass. lol
I don't see how people have slave issues. I've been rockin my same slave and trans for the past year and not had 1 problem...

I say manual swap it. My thread more than tells you what you need to know and how to go about doing so. You could manual swap it and manual case the sucker for $2000 man... Seriously, think about it.
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: what to do about a failing transmission?



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:53 AM.