transmission interchange

[ssom61]

I put a good 5r55e transmission from a 97 explorer 4.0 4x2 into my 97 ranger 4.0 4x2. It won't shift.Only has 1st and reverse. Seems like it must be something electronic because it worked fine in the explorer. Anyone know if the electronics are different and can anything be done about it?

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS


Both are 5R55Es so same wiring for solenoids, shouldn't be an issue.

Assume speedometer is working so it knows when to shift?

And even if wiring was a problem it should just go into Limp Mode, shifts are harder but it does shift

 

[ssom61]

Thank You. This forum is totally new to me!
Thank you for that info. The truck is about 100 miles from my location so I couldn't check on the speedo myself. I just got in touch with my friend and he had disconnected the wiring and re-connected the plugs. He noticed the main plug (I think) wasn't a real solid connection. He messed with it, got it connected better and the truck shifts now. He said it does seem like a pretty hard shift into 2nd but the other shifts are smooth. The speedo works fine. I'll be down there on Tuesday so I can try it myself. Could you explain that limp mode? I had never heard of that and I'm curious how that works if it has nothing to do with the electronics.

Thanks again

 

[RonD]

Limp mode is when computer believes there may be damage if it operates "normally".
This can be caused by engine sensors that are out of range or transmission sensors that are out of range, and CEL(check engine light) will come on when that happens.

"Limp Home" is where the name comes from.

There is no actual 2nd gear on these 5-speeds, what Ford did was to add software to the computers that have 1st and OD active at the same time, that's 2nd gear, so shifting is 1st, 1st/OD, 3rd, 4th, OD

Yes the shift can be hard even in normal mode, there are shift correction kits available they are suppose to make it smoother, never tried one, I use manual transmissions mostly

 

[ssom61]

Hey thanks again VERY interesting. Appreciate the info