96 Ranger 4R44E Trans issue, opinions?

[Rob B]

I'm new to this forum and after doing a lot of searching I decided to join up. I'm sure this has been asked before but here it goes.
I just purchased a 96 Ranger 3.0 2WD with the 4R44E trans for my son.
We got it for a great price because the owner thought the trans was done. After doing some research, I'm not so sure I need to pull this thing thanks to all the great info available on this site. I am in no way a trans expert but have rebuilt some T400's, T350's, 700R4, and a couple of C-6's in my life time so I'm not "scared" to attempt this one if neccessary.
When the truck is running in gear, you need to get the RPM's up to get it to engage almost acting like it's low on fluid or a pressure/pump issue. Reverse works the same way and I haven't tried to see if it will shift. The previous owner said she was driving it one day, everything was fine, then when she took off from a stop it started "slipping" from what she explains. She drove it home and never again until I loaded it on my trailer.
Could this be the blown Valvebody gasket on the separator plate causing this that is so common? Or maybe the pressure control solenoid? The trans makes no weird noises and just acts like it has to build pressure up first to move.
Any insight or help would be greatly appreciated.

Truck has 144,000 on it and the previous owner was the original owner.

 

[Rob B]

anybody?
I just need to decide if there is a possiible fix without pulling the trans or just pull the thing and go thru it.

 

[exbass94]

It sounds like it is likely the valve body gasket and/or EPC solenoid. It's worth a try to replace those before tearing the trans apart.

 

[Rob B]

It sounds like it is likely the valve body gasket and/or EPC solenoid. It's worth a try to replace those before tearing the trans apart.

Great! thats what I was thinking since it happened all at once and this thing had never been driven "hard" before we bought it. Thanks for the response.

 

[Baseranger]

That does sound like a valve body separator gasket issue. Does the od off light flash or stay on?

 

[Rob B]

That does sound like a valve body separator gasket issue. Does the od off light flash or stay on?

No light on inside BUT, we haven't driven the truck at all, just started it up to make sure everything else sounds fine.
Can a get a new seperator plate and gasket thru a parts distributor like Transtar or do I need to get it from Ford. I've also read about a Ford service bulletin that basically is the same as using a shift kit from someone like Transgo or Superior. Which is the better route to go? Since I'll have the valvebody out, might as well make those changes.

 

[Baseranger]

I only have experience with motorcraft valve body parts, but transgo is probably fine too.

 

[Rob B]

Thanks for the info. Doing a little research and joining this forum has potentially saved me some time and money in either buying a junkyard tranny or pulling and rebuilding this one when it might not be needed.

 

[Rob B]

Well here's an update on this trans.
We pulled the VB and replaced the gaskets but didn't install a Shift Kit. I also replaced the EPC solenoid with one I bought from Transtar Industries here locally. The one I took out had the green filter, the one they sold me was the red filter. I asked them repeatably if that was correct and they assured me the red was also for a 97 and was showing it retro-fitted the green filter EPC back to 95. There was no heavy metal or debris in the bottom of the pan so don't think there is anything catastrophic goin on internally. I also discovered the trans cooler in the radiator was leaking fluid inside the radiator itself so replaced it with a new one. Figured this out when we lost 1/2 quart of fluid and nothing was leaking externally and we had a mess inside the radiator itself. No antifreeze ahd gotten inside the trans.
Once all that was done, took it out for a drive. Truck has a mild 1-2 flare and a bad 2-3 flare. Sometimes the OD light comes on, some times it doesn't. I'm going to try and adjust the bands and see what happens there but I'm really wondering if the EPC they sold me might be the problem. Anyone been told to use the red filter in place of the green? Is this truly a retro-fitable EPC??? They insisted it wasn't an issue.

 

[Viper Command]

I have seen a pressure controller/booster, that mounts in the truck and jumps EPC solenoid so you can ajust your line pressure to your needs.

 

[Rob B]

Well another update. Haven't done much with the truck all winter since my son doesn't have his license yet so its mainly just sat. Still has same issues. This time I purchased one of those valve body off ebay that is suppose to solve all the problems, it didn't. Actually made it worse. So thats getting returned and I'm now going to install a Superior Shift Kit in my original valve body and would like to use one of the new "bonded" Separator plates with gaskets instead of sandwiching the plate between 2 gaskets.
Can anyone give me the definitive OEM Ford part# for the correct bonded separator plate for a 1996 4R44E So I can get the right one?
I'm really getting aggravated with this trans.