Transmission Engagement

[Blueox]

Daughter has an '02 Explorer with about 117,000 miles on it.

I drove it the other day, and there seems to be a 3 or 4 second delay before the transmission engages when put in drive. There also seemed to be a hard shift from 3 to 4.

Any thoughts on the problem or fix?

 

[RonD]

Slow engagement is most likely a valve body leak, so loss of line pressure.

Is reverse the same?

She should have the 5R55W trans
Detailed read here on that trans: http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/members.atra.com/resource/resmgr/webinars/5r55-product-issues.pdf

Along with valve body leaking it could be solenoid seal leaking.
There are probably Transmission trouble codes stored in memory, some ODB2 scanners can read them but most can't.
A trans shop can read them and maybe do a couple of pressure tests.

As a temporary fix there are additives like Lucas that swell seals to slow leaks in side the trans, they don't hurt anything for sure but as for making it better or fixing it........just have to try it, but also for sure it is temporary

 

[Blueox]

Appreciate the response.

Yes, reverse also.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Has the transmission filter ever been changed on it ? If not it is most likely due for it, it could be a build up of clutch pack material in the filter causing the delay.