Auto Transmission for 96 Explorer,Not just which will fit, but Which one to hope to find?

[Josh B]

I'm hoping to make it over to Pik-N-Pay tomorrow, hoping to find a transmission for a 96 Explorer XLT 4.0 Automatic 4WD.
The list of available Explorers is all I can get online with absolutely no further details, simply make and model
At the desk they'll ask what I'm looking for and search their database for any vehicles that might match for that particular part.
Their search there will show Rangers, Mountaneers, Etc, from any year, of models that may have a match for my transmission.

I'm wondering of the available 4R55e transmissions, are there any years and models that I should consider above others?
I.E. ones that are known to be improved over others etc??

On another note are there any particular years/models that I would likely want to avoid?

 

[RonD]

From the 1985 A4LD to the 2011 5R55E the rotating parts of the transmission were the same
Only the valve body changed with the addition of more solenoids, for the 4R55E and then a computer change and added sensor(ISS) for the 5R55E
So same basic transmission, but yes later models will always have improvements

In theory you could use a 2011 Ranger 5R55E from a 4x4 4.0l Ranger, just has an extra sensor you don't need to plug in
I as far as I know the wiring is all the same

The last 4R55E would be in the 1997 Ranger with 4.0l, but they were changed to 5R55E during that year so could have either
Ranger Door label will have a T for 4R and a D for 5R

Explorers last year for the 4R was 1996 your year, first year was 1995, so not a big choice

Only 4x4 trans can be used, no conversions possible

One heads up the 1996 and 1997 4.0l Flex plates liked to crack and break, give it a good look or replace it and its spacer
In 1998 ford change 4.0l to an 8 bolt crank and problem lessened

 

[Josh B]

Thank you so much RonD! I'll print this out and carry it with me

 

[Josh B]

Will the 8 bolt crank flexplate work on my 6 bolt crank?

Is the 4.0 and 2.9 the only engines I can go from?

 

[RonD]

No, it will not, unless you change your crank shaft, lol, and they didn't break that often, just give it a close look for cracks

Couple of other things
Picture of early 4R55E: http://www.atraonline.com/gears/1999/1999-03/gmar99p49a.jpg

You see the sensor at the front that says discontinued 1999, well it was never actually used at all
Fords FIX , if you get a transmission without this sensor, and have harness wiring for it
Cut the two wires on your trucks harness plug, strip wires and twist the wires together, tape them up
Thats FORDs fix in a TSB

Many times yards may say you need that sensor, 100% you do not
Only sensor you need is the OSS(output shaft speed) sensor, which you can see in both pics


In 2001 the 5R55E got the new ISS sensor seen here: http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/4763/4721/24407360010_large.jpg

Circled in read, 2001 computers need that sensor, your 1996(or 1995-2000) do not needed, so doesn't need to be connected

The 16 pin wiring plug was the same from 1995 to 2011 on the 4R55E and 5R55E

The explorers got a different transmission in 2002 and up so won't work in your 1996

 

[Josh B]

Thank you again Ron, this is certainly helpful to have

 

[Josh B]

There wasn't as many there to look at today(yesterday) as I had hoped, in fact there were precious few, two to be specific.

I didn't have much luck at the desk either but they gave me a list of possibilities. I took a bag of tools and headed on down, but instead of following their list I just checked them all.
In 4 or 5 rows of Fords there were only two possible candidates, a 95 and a 98, both Explorers. The 95 had about 230K and the 98 just over 200, and the 95 is a 4r55e(or maybe even A4LD), and the 98 a 5R.

Both sticks were laying across the engine. The top half of the 95 stick was badly rusted, but the 98 was in good shape, and the oil in it was cleaner. It didn't seem to smell burned, but my sense of smell isn't that good.

I'm between a rock and a hard place and after awhile decided to drop the pan and give it a look. When the pan popped loose very little oil sloshed out, but I think they pump it out before putting them on the yard.

Inside of the pan looked much better than the one I have now looked, much less sludge in the pan and zero metal bits. It had the cork gasket with the little round spacers, possible factory gasket. I pulled the filter and brought it home, not sure why, but here's how it looked

Those places where you see the metal is probably where my picking it up wiped the smudge off of it.
If the weather doesn't set in over night I'm a good mind to go pull it, otherwise it'll be next week before I get another chance, and I don't think any other options are going to be forthcoming any time soon

I need something to at least leapfrog awhile until getting one to where it may last for a bit

 

[wildbill23c]

I would really think no matter what transmission you pull you'd best rebuild it before installing it. There's absolutely no telling what condition that transmission is in and as far as you know the reason its sitting in the Pick A Part yard is because the transmission blew up in the first place...that's of course without the obvious sign that it as totaled due to an accident.

Personally I'd pull the one with the lowest miles and go from there with a rebuild...or just pull the one in your vehicle and rebuild it or have it rebuilt, either way I wouldn't waste my time pulling an unknown condition transmission and install it in my vehicle without rebuilding it or having it rebuilt, it may be ok, or you may be pulling it the next day due to a failure you just never know.

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^

No matter what you buy USED, you are buying someone else problems
From a whole vehicle, to a transmission, to a ???

It may last, it may not, that's why you pay LESS for it

 

[Josh B]

I would really think no matter what transmission you pull you'd best rebuild it before installing it. There's absolutely no telling what condition that transmission is in and as far as you know the reason its sitting in the Pick A Part yard is because the transmission blew up in the first place...that's of course without the obvious sign that it as totaled due to an accident.

Personally I'd pull the one with the lowest miles and go from there with a rebuild...or just pull the one in your vehicle and rebuild it or have it rebuilt, either way I wouldn't waste my time pulling an unknown condition transmission and install it in my vehicle without rebuilding it or having it rebuilt, it may be ok, or you may be pulling it the next day due to a failure you just never know.

Thanks WildBill, I understand these factors sir. I may well be pulling it the next day, I sure hope not, but only time will tell.

I'm not sure exactly what you misunderstood about the factors I disclosed in my previous post, but I'll try and elaborate a bit.

At the wrecking yard were the two worse case scenarios you used.
One which looked better cared for, and had the lessor miles. If it's been blown nothing came through the case, and that is why I pulled the pan, to somewhat examine its inside, and as I stated it did show some miles but no loose pieces.
It certainly looked better than the one in mine now when I first looked in it. A 5R55E

The other immediately available option better fit your second scenario, ... somewhat wrecked. It took a skid somewhere into a very rough and muddy spot. That transmission wasn't itself physically damaged thanks to the construction of the 4wd's and its' added skid plate, but there was dried red clay mud packed into almost every crevice. It is also the one that had the rusted dipstick all the way down to the normal fluid levels. A 4R55E

I live in a location which requires a vehicle(an almost daily driver) and at the moment, keeping this one somewhat mobile is my only option.

These were my choices.. The 5R

And the 4R

I truly am trying to the best I can with this Bill

 

[Josh B]

+1 ^^^

No matter what you buy USED, you are buying someone else problems
Form a whole vehicle, to a transmission, to a ???

It may last, it may not, that's why you pay LESS for it

Exactly why I am forced to go this route Ron, because I pay less for it. My time at the moment is of no consequence, it's a well known fact labor is the cheapest part of any job

I am currently attempting to form a vehicle, but not just around a transmission

You have been a great deal of help in my endeavors here Mr RonD, for which I am very grateful.
I also have a great deal of gratitude to another prominent member who helped me immensely with the valve body, I think it will also work with the 5R. I am hoping to get a drain plug installed in the pan so I can better access it without contaminating the fluid.

I am also looking at flushing the torque converter while it's out

 

[Josh B]

I also wish to thank whoever moved this thread to its proper category, I hope it could be of use to others who may be faced with the same questions, and with the very helpful and detailed information provided by others, especially Mr RonD, it certainly needs to be in its current locale

 

[wildbill23c]

Thanks WildBill, I understand these factors sir. I may well be pulling it the next day, I sure hope not, but only time will tell.

I'm not sure exactly what you misunderstood about the factors I disclosed in my previous post, but I'll try and elaborate a bit.

At the wrecking yard were the two worse case scenarios you used.
One which looked better cared for, and had the lessor miles. If it's been blown nothing came through the case, and that is why I pulled the pan, to somewhat examine its inside, and as I stated it did show some miles but no loose pieces.
It certainly looked better than the one in mine now when I first looked in it. A 5R55E

The other immediately available option better fit your second scenario, ... somewhat wrecked. It took a skid somewhere into a very rough and muddy spot. That transmission wasn't itself physically damaged thanks to the construction of the 4wd's and its' added skid plate, but there was dried red clay mud packed into almost every crevice. It is also the one that had the rusted dipstick all the way down to the normal fluid levels. A 4R55E

I live in a location which requires a vehicle(an almost daily driver) and at the moment, keeping this one somewhat mobile is my only option.

These were my choices.. The 5R
View attachment 35603

And the 4R
View attachment 35604


I truly am trying to the best I can with this Bill

I don't think I'd pull the one with the oil all over the pan in the 2nd picture LOL...looks like a lot of neglected services. The other one looks to be cleaner. Sometimes miles on the odometer don't mean as much as the mess you find in, under, and around the vehicle LOL. I've seen new(er) vehicles with more mechanical issues than vehicles 30+ years old...so its kind of a hit and miss thing really. I'd be more inclined to pull the transmission without the rusty dipstick LOL. I wish these lots would get some simple information from the owner, like was the engine blown, transmission blown, etc. Write it on a window so someone going out to the yard would know hey its got a good engine or transmission or both. Only takes a couple seconds.

I'd pull the cleaner looking one without all the oil all over it...dirt is one thing but where's all that oil on that 2nd one from and why is it that bad LOL. Sounds like one decided to go 4 wheeling with all that bud caked all over under it but it may be the better one, and means it was probably driving before they took their little venture into getting wrecked.

 

[Josh B]

I'm totally with you on all that WildBill. It's a crapshoot either way, but using a bit of sense can go a long ways, or maybe not, it's just so hard to tell any more

I'm fairly certain this one does say on the windshield "bad motor good transmission", but where does that come from, a yardy trying to get it to budge up to the line at an auction, or a PO wanting it out of his back yard("ohhh yeah, it's got a great transmission!".

Used to the local wrecking yard was a good place to go for the major components. He likely knew every used car/truck in town and saw them regularly looking for a headlight or a carburetor, before they gave up the ghost and wound up on his yard. Finding a decently used transmission wasn't such a gamble then.

Things have sure changed there!
Buying a rebuilt is just as much a gamble, going online and searching and considering for days which ones to trust.
Simply judging from my last experience with that their "rebuilts" are no better, and for the same price I could buy 7 of these, literally.

Another plus is their added on 360 day warranty, which also adds 25% to the out the door price, but gives one lots of time to try it out.

They're certainly not easy to pull or to install, it's a real workout both ways, but there isn't much else on my calendar these days
Although it would seem nicer heading to a fishing hole instead of a wrecking yard

 

[Ranger850]

Fyi: a rusty dipstick sitting ontop of a motor really doesnt say anything, but that the dipstick is rusty from sitting outside instead of in the tube.