Just bought a truck, need tranny help!

[rangerlocal]

Will do SVT. Separator plate will be here on Wednesday, and I probably won't get it installed until next weekend. I will have a new EPC solenoid on the way as well as a shift kit. With it being a holiday weekend, their delivery times may be lengthened, but I'm hoping they'll be here by the weekend. Keep an eye on this thread, you've been a big help! I'll be sure to let you guys know as soon as I find out.

If this all works out great, I'd like to drive my wonderfully shifting truck out to bring you a beer!

 

[RangerSVT]

Sounds good, I'll be watching...

SVT

 

[rangerlocal]

So slightly ahead of schedule, I am pulling the valve body off today. (Some labor day) I will post back what I find post-mortem this evening!

If it is blown I am really thinking to replace the whole valve assembly. It's not much more cost-wise than the parts I know I already need. One question I have though is that the separator plates are slightly different between the 4r44e and 5r55e, and all these valve bodies on ebay are listed as fitting 4r44e, 4r55e, and the 5r55e. Is this right? I mean, after the upgrades are they all interchangable? I thought the separator plate for the 5r55e had one pressure hole slightly more forward than that from the 4r44e?

 

[rangerlocal]

So tore into the thing tonight. Confirmed my EPC is still reading 7 ohms, so I know I need to replace it. Also confirmed my bands APPEAR fine, as in both ends are attached the way they should be (seems these like to pop off the square block on the adjusting end of the band).

The valve body gasket was blown on top, right in front of the Shift Solenoid B, and also on the back side of the servo. Now I just have to make sure I find all the pieces of it. I imagine they're in the filter.

So, just an opinion question at this point. I need to replace the gaskets and/or plate. I need to replace the EPC solenoid. I have no access to testing equipment, so I can't tell how worn this valve body is. All I know is it has 149000 miles on it, and I have no idea what the previous owners did to it.

So what do you all think is the best option?
1. Replace solenoid ($50) and plate/gaskets ($41) and shift kit ($42) = $133
2. Buy rebuilt valve body with transgo shift kit installed, new gaskets, including 6 solenoids, pan gasket, and filter w/ lifetime warranty = $222.50

What you guys think? I'm very happy I found a blown gasket...is that normal?

 

[rangerlocal]

Bought the valve body with shift kit installed and lifetime warranty. I'd like to have the bonded plate with gaskets, but I don't suppose it will pose an issue since the transgo kit has a blowoff valve installed to prevent that from happening. It should be here Monday, so Tuesday night I'm hoping to have it installed and will post back.

 

[Explorin94]

Sir I just added to your rep as you are answering your own questions and figuring this out with little to no help.


Others who have helped please don't take offense to my post here.

 

[rangerlocal]

Thank ya much good sir! I've gotten a lot of help and suggestions from these guys, and the good amount of reading and stickies on this forum are great resources as well.

I've been around cars all my life, but this Ranger is a new world for me, so any comfort input I have received from this forum has helped tremendously! Anyone who can add experience from their tranny issues to this forum can really help newcomers looking for help. The same problem in the same tranny can exhibit totally different symptoms, so I hope I can help someone in the future! These things are pretty stout and are generally easy to fix but they can be quite intimidating!

I really enjoy this forum...I think I'll make it my regular lil' Ranger home.

 

[RangerSVT]

TRS is my home I use my trucks too hard and put too many miles on em, so I chose to upgrade the power and trans to v8 specs, there is more aftermarket for them, and are physically larger to be stronger. My next SUV for the leadfoot gf I have will probably have a 4.0 and I'll make an adapter to run the v8 trans (4r70w)so it'll last a year or three...

SVT

 

[rangerlocal]

Ahead of schedule yet again! Valve body arrived yesterday, and I installed this evening. Truck shifts great, I was overjoyed!

However, for future reference, the 10lbs of torque for the band adjustment for me was WAY TOO TIGHT! I was thinking to myself that they bottomed out quite a bit deep, but I thought maybe the bands were very worn. Turns out at that torque the bands were way too tight and would not disengage, and the truck would not move. Felt kind of like having a stuck emergency brake. I had to just back them off little by little until I had no scraping or resistance to the truck moving then snug down the nuts.

Question though for all those people who installed a transgo kit: The valve body did come with a very small aluminum cylinder with a pinhole in the end of it. It was described as ready to install right away, so I didn't try to put it anywhere. The body had the transgo shift kit already installed, so I assume it may have been extra or a part of the kit. It is about the size of a pencil eraser, and is hollow with a small pinhole in the top of it. Does anyone know where this goes or what it does/is? The valve body came with no instructions since the kit was already installed. Or if anyone has the transgo installation instructions around they can scan to a pdf I'd be eternally grateful! Thanks guys!

 

[RangerSVT]

Glad you got it going. I'm not sure of the part you are describing, maybe if you can post a pic...


SVT

 

[rangerlocal]

I was going to take a picture before, but I didn't want to go into the transmission fluid covered stink bag holding the remnants of my long lost troubles if I could help it...

So here's the best pictures I could get of it. My camera really sucks, but it's the best I can do. Hopefully it is adequate!

 

[rangerlocal]

So while looking through the 5r55e rebuild diary over at explorer forums, I found these pictures.

This looks eerily similar to my cylinder, but it looks kind of flat. Mine looks like it is longer than this, but it could recess into the valve body. Anyone know what this puck looks like removed? Or better yet, what the heck it does? I'm hoping if it was missing altogether I would definitely know it.

EDIT: I just found this other picture that shows a shallow puck, which I believe is the one in the previous pictures, but also a taller cylinder that is supposed to, quote, "restrict flow to the intermediate band". I highly doubt this is necessary, or really something I would want in a shift kit, but I suppose transgo thought it was a good idea. Here's a pic of them side by side with the rivet from the kit.

 

[RangerSVT]

It looks like a restrictor/limiter used as you stated. My guess would be since it came with the shift kit, it allows the shift kit to be tuned to shift more firmer or shift softer, but I'm just guessing. Maybe contacting the shift kit company can shed some light (and correct info)...

SVT

 

[rangerlocal]

I emailed the dude I bought it from on ebay. He got back with me but not with the instructions. Apparently he was surprised it didn't come with any...I'll post back when I hear in case this happens to anyone else buying with the shift kit installed. He's supposed to send me the instructions for installing the puck, but it is taking him a few days. It is actually surprisingly hard to actually find the instructions for these shift kits without buying one. In the meantime, I'll be working on getting rid of all that rust in the cooling system...

 

[rangerlocal]

So here is what this little painfully easy to overlook part does:

"it goes in the front servo feed hole which is above the valve body it is just a extra to the shift kit and is not necessary"

So it actually fits in the passageways above the separator plate before you mount the plate up. Didn't really think to look there. Oh well, it's not hurting anything, so unless I want to firm the shifts up a little more, I'm going to leave it be until the next fluid change. Then I may drop the valve body and stick it in. Or leave well enough alone, considering what I've been through...

So, problem one down, 35873 to go...

time! Thanks guys for everything!