'99 Ranger 3.0L 2WD 4R44E badly flare slips into second gear

[Paul Heiser]

1999 Ford Ranger 3.0L 2WD with 4R44E transmission won't shift into 2nd automatically for me. Everything else is working though including manual 2nd gear.

I tested the pressures on the EPC side port, and they all checked out fine although I decided to replace the EPC solenoid anyway since these happen to be a problem frequently on this transmission series.

I rebuilt the transmission after the reverse band broke. I replaced all band and disc clutches, seals, gaskets, o rings, rear sprag, torque converter, EPC solenoid, and included a shift kit and boost valve kit from Superior Shift. 2nd gear worked before that...and no longer worked after that.

I upgraded both Forward and Intermediate Servos with the upgrades from AEJI. All they do is take servos, cut out grooves around their servo pins before and after the fluid channel ruts, and their o rings set in those grooves. The o rings seal it up in place of the metal to metal seal which eventually wears out the bore.

I air tested all of the bands and disc packs after assembly, and everything seemed to be moving. I torqued down the clutch bands to 12 foot lb, and turned them out 2 spins.

I'll appreciate any reply.

 

[rubydist]

That is almost always an issue with the valve body gasket. If you don't get it fixed right away, it will burn up that clutch in about 50-100 miles.

 

[Paul Heiser]

It's a new VB gasket though.

I heard on iATN who looked it up in TNRW for me (I don't have a membership there yet) saying that 2nd gear problem is mostly based around VB gasket and servo issues. I've been wondering if these AJE1 servo upgrades are any issue. And I think I need to disassemble, and air check all of the clutch drums because I only air checked the clutch movements through the fluid ports of the case after everything was assembled. I didn't air check the clutch drums individually out of the case, and I think one of them has a check ball issue which may need to be replaced.