5-speed autos

[soylent_green]

So, how many people here have had trouble with the 5-speed autos in the newer rangers?

At my work, we have 4x2 4cyl rangers, and they're great except for a few trouble areas, mainly the auto trans.

We lease our trucks through ARI, so we usually never have them much past the 100K mark. I've seen probably a dozen trucks go through our company in the last 4 years, and EVERY single one of them has had major transmission isues.

Leaky output shaft seals are common, and most of them start consuming fluid early in their lifespan. (20-30K)

All of them shift funny, and it gets worse the older it gets. It'll start out fine in first (sometimes starts in second) shift smooth up into second, but the shifts into third and fourth are violent. It'll let go of the gear, the rpm's will rise, then it'll snap into the next gear.

This behavior starts very early in the trans' lifespan, usually 5-10K, and gets steadaly worse until the trans fails. Usually at 80-100K sometimes sooner. We had to put a new trans in a 06' last year that only had 58K on the odo.

This spring I went to the stealership to pick up a new 07, and it started shifting funny on the way back to the shop! with 30 miles on the odo!

We have all our trucks serviced by a ford dealership on strict regular service intervals, and bring them in before they're due if there is something wrong with them.

We've asked the ford service guys many times about the transmission troubles, and basically have been told to drive it like that until it fails, then put a new one in and drive it until it fails. They say there is nothing mechanicaly wrong with them, it's just how they are.


Does anyone else have any troubles like these with their 5-speed autos?

I might want to get an auto in my next brand new ranger, but will not even consider it if I'm not convinced that it'll be reliable.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

Basically, they're a shitty transmission. Every overdrive automatic that Ford has put in the Ranger has been a huge POS. Interestingly enough, the 5 speed autos are the best because they're beefed up for the 4.0 V6s.

Ford has known it's a crappy transmission, but it's cheap for them to continue to produce it despite all the problems owners have with them.

 

[soylent_green]

ok. so i'm gonna be going with a manual in my new 08.

Thanks

 

[Jspafford]

I had one I put 20K on, sold it with 67K and it never failed or acted crazy. The only thing I noticed about it was it would not engine brake in 1st, only second.

 

[soylent_green]

The only thing I noticed about it was it would not engine brake in 1st, only second.

I think the lockup torque converter doesn't engage in first gear. Also, I've noticed that it doesn't seem to lock at all when our delivery trucks are cold. (Like the first start of the day in zub-freezing temps)

That's got me thinking, maybe the whole problem with our rangers stems from the torque converter?

Next time we get a new truck, I'm going to enforce warm-up before it leaves the lot. See if that makes a differrence.

 

[Bent Bolt]

I rarely see Rangers for trans work. See far more F150, Econolines, Explorer, Super Duty and Escapes. Far more.

 

[Jspafford]

Oh no... What happens to the Super Duty Trannies? I am on pins and needles with mine, I hear they are delicate.. Do they usually hold up to the 5.4L alright?

As far as the rangers go.. I just read there is a TSB out for a revised valve body that fixes the 1st gear issue with no engine braking. Seems it goes from 1997-2002 trucks..

Don't the Explorers and Rangers share the same tranny?

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

For most years, not sure about the later models, yes they do.

At the transmission shop right near my shop there are always three vehicles in the lot: Explorers, Rangers, and Dodge Rams. Now, it could be for just regular service, but after my experience with the 4R44E I'm inclined to say they're not good transmissions.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Oh no... What happens to the Super Duty Trannies? I am on pins and needles with mine, I hear they are delicate.. Do they usually hold up to the 5.4L alright?

As far as the rangers go.. I just read there is a TSB out for a revised valve body that fixes the 1st gear issue with no engine braking. Seems it goes from 1997-2002 trucks..

Don't the Explorers and Rangers share the same tranny?

Starting in 2002, the Explorers are a completely different beast than the Ranger-- including the trans. They went from a 5R55E to a 5R55S/N. Doesn't sound like much but they are for all intents and purposes, a completely different trans-- a lot more troubles.
That TSB is for the 5R55E and once its installed, usually no more problems.
As for the Super Duty, depends on the year and engine size/type. 5.4/4R100 usually doesn't have much trouble. 7.3/4R100, used to do LOTS of trans overhauls. 6.0l/ torqshift ?? Alot more overhauls than the 4R100 on the early models ( 2003-2007 ) 2008 has been much better but Ford has a nasty habit of not pushing the dipstick tube into the trans and that allows water in.Water and ATF does not mix !! LOL !!

For most years, not sure about the later models, yes they do.

At the transmission shop right near my shop there are always three vehicles in the lot: Explorers, Rangers, and Dodge Rams. Now, it could be for just regular service, but after my experience with the 4R44E I'm inclined to say they're not good transmissions.

Dodge trannys are absolutely horrid.Period. 4R44E's are similar to the 5R55E and again, I don't do many overhauls on them.

Keep in mind that 75% of my trans work is under Ford 36/60000 month/km warranty.

 

[Bent Bolt]

I rarely see Rangers for trans work. See far more F150, Econolines, Explorer, Super Duty and Escapes. Far more.

Totally forgot the Focus !!!!! Lost count on them !!!

 

[Captain Caveman]

Soylent,
Beware of the manual transmissions too. Ford took back my '06 Ranger because I was having so many problems with the slave cylinder. There is a known issue with them as well. I don't think that there's any clear winner here, unless Ford starts being a little more serious about it's light duty pickups.

 

[Jspafford]

The slave is not a transmission problem.

Bent Bolt. I just went and drove the ranger with the screwed up needle. The trans shifts fine and it still downshifts into 2 manually. So it is just the needle that's wrong.

So can you go into detail on how to adjust it.. Thanks!

 

[Bent Bolt]

The slave is not a transmission problem.

Bent Bolt. I just went and drove the ranger with the screwed up needle. The trans shifts fine and it still downshifts into 2 manually. So it is just the needle that's wrong.

So can you go into detail on how to adjust it.. Thanks!

I'll give you a picture of it tomorrow.

 

[Bent Bolt]

Soylent,
Beware of the manual transmissions too. Ford took back my '06 Ranger because I was having so many problems with the slave cylinder. There is a known issue with them as well. I don't think that there's any clear winner here, unless Ford starts being a little more serious about it's light duty pickups.

You saying the dealer bought back your truck because of a slave cylinder issue ??

 

[Simple_serf]

That's interesting... we had the mazda trans in our 2001 F150 (4.2) grenade 2 days after we bought it...hauled it to the dealer and had a new mazda trans in it in 2 days. Slave, while a PITA, isn't enough of a big deal to buy a truck back over.