Ford Techs - 5R55E Question

[Jspafford]

The wife's sport trac is starting to have odd transmission issues. I am not very happy about it. It is the 4.0L, 4WD.

When I first bought the truck last fall it when shifted from gear to gear it would shift immediatly. I don't drive it often, been a few weeks. Got in it last night and backed out of the driveway, put it in D and hit the gas. The engine revved and then it jerked into gear and off we went. There was at least a 2-3 second delay before it shifted from Rev. to Forward.

So I stopped, and shifted from Forward to Reverse, voila, 2-3 second delay.

So...Now the tranny has a delay in shifting, it never used to... is this a valve body issue? I refuse to rebuild or replace a tranny with only 72K.

Help!

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

So its gots a flairing issue between gears?

There was a TSB about this, the valve body gaskets were blowing out causing a flair between shifts.

Shoot me your VIN in a PM and I will see if it applies to yours.

 

[Jspafford]

So its gots a flairing issue between gears?

There was a TSB about this, the valve body gaskets were blowing out causing a flair between shifts.

Shoot me your VIN in a PM and I will see if it applies to yours.

No, I have an issue of trying to get what I think into words without making it come out wrong.

It has no issues with shifting, that I can tell. It still shifts smoothly (too smoothly if you ask me) in all 5 gears. The only thing I noticed wrong is the delay when changing directional gears. What could cause the line pressure to drop only while switching directions?

I am going to check the fluid tonight. But there is no leaks, so I can't see it being low.

I will send you the PM tonight, thanks!

 

[Bent Bolt]

Seen the o-rings on the filter fail, especially it someone has changed the filter recently. Will cause that very symptom.

 

[Jspafford]

Hrm... do they change the filter when they do the flush? AFAIK, nothing has been done to it. Now it's only had about 7K put on it since I bought it, and I know the dealer who serviced for the lady I bought it from said she had just had it in there, but was not allowed to tell me what was done.

Maybe she had it flushed.

I take it this issue alone is not common, unless it has other symptoms along with it, which I don't think it does. How much of a PITA is it to change the filter?

 

[Jspafford]

Well... I just had a brain fart and decided to read the two factory shop manuals I have. Duh!!

So my concern is called "Delayed/Soft Forward and Reverse"

The five causes are as follows.

Fluid - Incorrect level or contaminated.
Incorrect Pressures - Line pressure low
Filter and Seal Assembly - Filter Damaged, plugged, seal damaged, cut or missing.
Main Control Assembly - Gasket or seperator plate damaged, epc boost valve damaged, stuck or missing.
Pump Assembly - Leaks, seals worn.

So... it sounds to me like having the tranny filter changed and flushed will knock 3 of the five issues out.

Hrmm... Is the dealer the best place to go?

 

[Bent Bolt]

So... it sounds to me like having the tranny filter changed and flushed will knock 3 of the five issues out.

Hrmm... Is the dealer the best place to go?

Sure, if you're comfortable with them. Just about anyplace should be able to handle it. I'd stay away from the quick lube places.

 

[Jspafford]

Sure, if you're comfortable with them. Just about anyplace should be able to handle it. I'd stay away from the quick lube places.

Bought the filter and Mercon V today. Plan on doing it this weekend.

Bent Bolt, how common is the problem. I hope I am not getting excited about this solving it, only to be let down.

I hate auto's!

 

[SMTGREG]

Drive it to 20 mph and throw it in manual 1st to see if you have engine braking.
If you don't the separator plate gasket is torn at the reverse servo cover
replace the gasket and the epc and filter and reset KAM.

 

[Jspafford]

Still have engine braking...

 

[WNY964x4]

when you change the filter , check the driver side rear corner of the valve body for blown out chunks of gasket , these transmissions are famous for blowing the gasket , and this is the symptom for it

 

[Bent Bolt]

What year is the Sport Trac ??

 

[Jspafford]

2002. I plan on starting it Friday night... Hopefully finishing it the same day and it will be fine.

 

[Jspafford]

I found another site with a 25 page topic on the 5R55E.

They tell of a place that sells the rebuilt valve bodies complete with all the upgrades to the gaskets, springs, and solenoids.

However, no one there has my exact problem. They all have other issues along with the slow engagement.

So if the filter does not fix it, would it make sense to just buy this complete valve body for $229 and call it quits.

How does ford repair these units? Valve bodies or just replace the whole transmission?

Trying to weight my options.

 

[olddude55]

If all you have is slow engagement, don't spend the money on the valve body.
Try the filter first. The only thing you have to lose is several quarts of Mercon V, a pan gasket, and an hour or so of your time.
If you read that thread (and I have, so I know how long it takes to slog through 25 pages), it deals with a whole rash of problems related to the valve body on the 4R/5R44/55E, and if you had those problems in addition to the slow engagement, you'd know it. Take my word for it.