My 98 ford ranger auto tranny is messed up PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Rangerwright18]

I have 1998 ford ranger 3.0 v6 4 wheel drive, automatic, I have put this thing through hell and back. but about a month ago my first gear went out. I have to put it into 2nd gear to get it to move and then once i have gained speed move it into the drive postion and from then on it shifts fine untill i need 2 slow down below 10 mph, which then it needs first gear, so i have to put it back in second. I dont know wat to do. i have thought about changing the fluid and filter, but dont really know enough about it 2 know if that would help. Any help would be great. thanks

 

[woodyedmiston]

Hmmmm

My transmission did the same thing - but I had the 5 speed auto - a bracket holding a solenoid broke - the part was $400 from Ford. The used transmission I bought from Greeleaf Auto in Dallas was $375 Good Luck

 

[35Remmy]

FORD has a TSB on this...not sure of the number, but this fix includes a new separator plate with bonded gaskets and a new blow-off valve. About 30$ a piece from Ford. It addresses no 1st or 2nd gear, slow into reverse, etc.

The 2 piece factory gasket on the valve body blows out in different places causing a loss of line pressure in the valve body.

Don't know what year Ranger you have, but this is a COMMON...I repeat, CCCCOOOOMMMMOOONNNN problem with the Ford 5R55E transmission and 4.0. Go to a transmission shop and they'll tell you that you need a rebuild. 90% chance it's just the valve body. Another problem that causes your symptoms on this tranny are loose VB bolts. That's it. 90 inch pounds. They have a tendency to loosen. EVERY time you do a fluid change on this transmission, check the torque on the VB bolts.

Get the Superior or Transgo shift kits to really make this tranny great.

Better yet, purchase a rebuilt VB from centralvalvebodies.com which includes all of the Sonnax brand (tranny company) upgrades for 229.99 if you tell them that you're a member of Explorerforum.com.

There is a WHOLE write-up with extensive pictures/instructions at Explorerforum.com. Another GREAT Ranger/Explorer forum.

TRS is my favorite...I have over 1,000 posts for the past, oh, 8 years...but I leave for a while and forget my old username/password and have to start all over again!! Really are good guys here that will do their best to help a brother out.