97 Expedition Help! ASAP Please!

[rusty ol ranger]

97 Expedtion, 5.4L, E4OD trans.

Just tonight the trans started acting funny. From a dead stop in drive it acts like it hesitates, you give it some gas and it revs and grabs and then is fine, shifts fine, runs down the road fine.

If you slow to about 15 or 20 or so (like making a turn or something) it will act just like a manual trans does, when someone is riding the clutch, it will rev up and ease into moving, but all the other gears are fine. It only seems to be from a dead stop and low 2nd gear (under 2500RPM) where its having issues. If i pull it into first manually the dead stop hesiation will be gone.

Reverse is also fine, the O/D light isnt blinking, any ideas?

 

[feellnfroggy]

Watch your voltmeter, is it fluctuating? My 2000 expe does that but only when the air is on cause my voltmeter drops to nothing. It stuttters as the rpms climb and then when it has full voltage it takes off again. I recommend having your tranny fluid and filter changed, but dont cheap out. Make sure they pull the converter and swap out that fluid too. After a thorough electronic diagnosis.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

No the voltmeter stays solid.

Its odd because i hit a deer friday nite that bent the driver side of the bumper back,of course i had to get towed home because it puctured the oil filter

But anyways, im gonna look today...maybe it pinched a cooler line or something...because the SOB is fine when its cold.

later,
Dustin

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

Didn't do it before the wreck then I guess. I would look for a simple fix within the wreckage part first.

 

[Frank The Tank]

I'd check wiring leading to trans sensors as well.....
It is odd that it only occurs when hot. I would also keep an eye out for crimped, punctured trans lines.... have you checked the fluid? kept track of amount lately?

Frank

 

[Ranger#1]

I would also keep an eye out for crimped, punctured trans lines

Frank

maby a kinked hard line there not exactly strong

 

[Will]

A tranny cooler line kinked would certainly do this.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Ok...update....

I checked the lines for the trans cooler, there fine. So i changed the fluid and filter, now i have no forwards AT ALL. Reverse is still there in full force, and i can get it to move a little bit in 1st if i rev it to like 3K.

The odd thing is though, the oil was clean, didnt smell burnt, no clutch material, nothing to indicate serious internal damage. Is there some sort of solenoid or servo or something that might not be working right? Second gear seemed to be the problem child untill now, now first is there (weak but there) second is gone, and i cant get it to third or overdrive.

Remember, the trans was fine up untill last night. For the clutch packs to go that fast, with no warning, burnt fluid, or clutch materieal...isnt that a lil odd?

I talked to somebody that said second and reverse run on the same set of packs....does this sound more mechanical or electronic?

Help ya'll....i really dont wanna have to pay for a trans R&R.

later,
Dustin

 

[Frank The Tank]

How exactly did you hit?
I once upon a time, ran my truck off a ditch.... dropped the rear right tire off in a huge concrete culvert.... it partially pulled my driveshaft out of the trans, this caused a major bind that made me think the trans was going out.
I wound up just kind of ramming stuff with the rear tires... curbs and such till it popped back in and fixed itself.

I'm assuming you have a trans cooler in the front ahead of the radiator as well.... Take a look around there as well.

Frank

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

If I am not mistaking on a 97 the low reverse is the same, on the same note if I am correct the low and reverse are mechanical and not controlled by shift solenoids.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Could it possibly be a pump?

I talked to a mechanic buddy of mine and he said it sounds like a classic pump failure.

I dont know a whole lot about auto trannys, but i did bring my dads car hauler home today and am pry gonna haul it to the a trans shop in the next week or so unless i can get some more simple things to check.

On a side note....roughly what does an expedition weigh? Prolly about 5500lbs or so?

later,
Dustin

 

[Frank The Tank]

Depends on the engine, I'd say close to 5,200

You should drop a floor shift 5spd in there and be done with the trans woes.

Frank

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Its got a 5.4L.

I tossed around the idea of going with a 5sp....but i think it would be a PITA.

I was just curisou about the weight.

But what you think...pump or clutch packs?

later,
Dustin

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

clutch probs I would imagine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Its got a 5.4L.

I tossed around the idea of going with a 5sp....but i think it would be a PITA.

Unless you get one out of a Super Duty it would be a major step in the wrong direction, and I don't know how well they fit. The M5OD is ok in a light duty 4.2/4.6 F-150, but there is no way I would waste the time putting it behind a 5.4 Expedition if you don't think the 4R70W is up to the task.