1999 Explorer Sport - Good Buy?

[ragajungle]

I origionally put $300 down on it and then ran into some $ hardship - had to move etc... The dealer has held it for me for 3 months now (I thought for sure her woulda sold it by now)

October 1999 Ex Sport
4.0L SOHC (Not the timing belt nightmare engine)
99K miles
4x4
everything works inc air
tires at 90% Nice Dunlop LTS's
$1300 (Less my down payment) so I owe $1K
BUT
the auto transmission has NO REVERSE

I knew I took a gamble when I plunked down $ on it, but with the cash for clunckers thing going on there were a million explorers in the JY so I figured I could just get one.

I'm worried now that all the transes on these are crap (A million on Craigs list for the same issue)

Which auto transmission should I look for at JY?
(I don't wanna stick-as it'll be my Chicago work truck)

Is there a fix for loosing reverse or is it trashed?

When I get the differnt trans in how can I AVOID future failures - or is it inevitable - regardless of religious fluid changes?
I speak as a former Taurus AX4N-pos transmission owner those die NMW

Sorry for the long winded blah blah, I just need some info and maybe reassurance

FYI My sis's Exp has 275K on the clock all OEM 5.0L V8

Thanks!

 

[exbass94]

October 1999 Ex Sport
4.0L SOHC (Not the timing belt nightmare engine)

The 4.0 SOHC IS the timing CHAIN nightmare engine. Ford got all the bugs worked out, but 99 was still a problem year. Hope and pray that the previous owner fixed it and installed the updated parts. FWIW, my cousin has a 00 (problem year) Explorer SOHC with 120k and has no problems with his.

BUT
the auto transmission has NO REVERSE

I'm worried now that all the transes on these are crap (A million on Craigs list for the same issue)

Which auto transmission should I look for at JY?
(I don't wanna stick-as it'll be my Chicago work truck)

Is there a fix for loosing reverse or is it trashed?

Loosing reverse means you'd probably be best off looking for another trans. Look for a 98-01 Explorer trans from a 4.0 (not a v8), or a trans from a 01+ Ranger 4.0 (Once again, must be a 4.0, not 3.0 or 4 cyl)

When I get the differnt trans in how can I AVOID future failures - or is it inevitable - regardless of religious fluid changes?

Auto trannies in general are a bit of a crapshoot, but definitely change fluid every 30k miles. It will be far more likely to last a long time.

 

[ragajungle]

sorry I meant NOT SOHC -
I always get them mixed up. Thanks for the thorough response!

 

[88_Eddie]

yeah, i've got an 00 explorer 4.0 sohc with 178k and never had a problem, knock on wood

 

[ragajungle]

Bump. Please give some input on this if you can.

 

[dirttrackracer]

i would still buy it. i drove one around that had the pulley fly off! it put a dent in the hood. i fixed it and now 25,000 miles later nothin happend. those are reliable cars as for reverse i would start lookin for a different tranny but im sure it could be fixed. and go with chaning fluid every 30,000 miles it does help

 

[ragajungle]

Thanks for the input. Does anyone know if there is a good write up on replacing an auto trans w/ 4x4? I'm sure I could do it with out, but just wanted to prepare myself mentally. All the projects that I do on my truck or otherwise I try to read up on first - maybe if I am lucky find a thread with pics

 

[ragajungle]

Thanks for the input. Does anyone know if there is a good write up on replacing an auto trans w/ 4x4? I'm sure I could do it with out, but just wanted to prepare myself mentally. All the projects that I do on my truck or otherwise I try to read up on first - maybe if I am lucky find a thread with pics

^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^

Anyone have a good
write-up on replacing
this transmission??

4.0L v6 Auto

 

[adsm08]

Define "good write-up" I can C/P out of the shop manual, but those are sometimes less than helpful.

 

[ragajungle]

Define "good write-up" I can C/P out of the shop manual, but those are sometimes less than helpful.

Write up like a build post where some one did some pics swapping a tranny

some "watch out" for this

some "you'll need this tool to get that off"...

Shop manuals are good too though.

I still have to find out if it is the 4R44E/4R55E or 5R44E/5R55E/N/S/W
??????Not sure which trans is used with the Sport with a OHV 4L??????
I'll have to get the exact VIN to decode it before I bug about a Shop Manual

 

[adsm08]

Actually, they are pretty much the same trans. It will matter more for getting a trans than it will for taking it out.

What are your shifter settings. Is it a PRNDL or a PRND123? It helps with trans ID.

 

[ragajungle]

I'm actually hoping someone else that lost Reverse will chime in with a PN for a clutch or valve body fix... I know its a long shot.

These trannys are used in the 97-01 4X4 Rangers too I would guess?

If it wasn't gonnna be my tech-truck (used for city/chicago/a**hole driving ALLLLLLL Day) I would start scoping for a 5spd and computer

 

[adsm08]

Well, I'll tell you right now that its a 5R55E. The 4R70W is the only other auto listed for that year, and that was the 5.0 trans.

Looking at the clutch and band application chart there is no solenoid that could kill reverse without taking out at least 2 other gears, so I'd say that they are probably ok.

See if it has manual 1st. The LOW/REVERSE band is only applied in Manual 1st and reverse, so if that doesn't work either, then you have narrowed the problem quite a bit.

 

[ragajungle]

You are a walking talking plethora of auto-mechanics knowledge - now that I got that outta the way.... So If 1 Low Manual is out (as well as Reverse) this would rule out a clutch/solenoid fix?

Are/Were you a transmission builder?

Thanks for your input BTW

 

[adsm08]

Well, I'm not a trans builder. I've been through a few and my first mentor tech was a trans specialist. I've been through 2 years of auto tech school, have about 5 years of field experience, and web-access to most of Ford's shop manuals from the last 15 years.

So yeah, if manual 1 is out as well I'd say that odds are pretty good the low/reverse band is shot. Either way you are looking at tearing into the trans. If I had to guess, I'd say it's probably not the band itself, but a seal that gave out. Still gotta take the trans apart farther than is wise for someone who isn't familiar with auto trans work.