Transmission Woes!

[Dweano]

Hey guys I have a 96 4x4 4.0L. Leading me to believe I have a 4R55E tranny. Back when I was a youthful newb (aka last year ) I jacked it up and threw on heavy 33's with my stock 3.73's. After about a year of running that I switched to 4.56s finally. However, the tranny did not survive unscathed. It slips between shifts basically all the time now. I should take a video of it driving sometime but I currently have my truck parked. Also everything just seems all around soft. It loves to downshift and just seems soft. I don't get decent mileage and that is probably not being helped by all the slippage eh? I really don't know much about trannys and such, is it possible my torque converter is slipping too? Or not locking or something? My main question is there a way that I can extend the life of my tranny until I can get a fix done somehow? I want to get a tuner... I hear that they can be tuned for harder shifts and stuff...would that help my tranny slipping issues? Thanks guys

 

[chrwilkins30]

you could get a programmer but I doubt that will help since its already slipping. you just need to do transmission work. The best thing i can tell you if if you cant do it now hope for the best and use it only when you really have to. mine is slipping to and that's what im doing until the summer since i wont have school and will hardly need it.

 

[Dweano]

I don't have the skills money nor time to fix it. Won't the programmer tighten up the tranny a bit? Also another thing, when I put it in drive or reverse it takes like...a good second or two to engage.

 

[v8318cid]

You have internal wear consistent with either low fluid pressure or worn clutches (or both). While you can try all sorts of "snake oil" treatments that claim to swell seals to help aid shifting, your best bet is probably going to be R&R/overhaul. All a programmer would do is possibly alter the line pressure threshold so that your trans has to work harder before shifting. Probably just wear it out faster. This, of course, also assumes that the trans has some sort of spool or electronic pressure control valve/solenoid. If it doesn't, a programmer probably won't help you. Like stated above, drive it only when absolutely needed to make it last.

 

[Dweano]

I thought harder shifts were supposed to extend transmission life? I do drive it a fair bit. In terms of a replacement what all bolts up? Do I need the same year same tranny? Or can I get different years and stuff, as long as they are a four speed?

 

[v8318cid]

Hard shifting, especially if the trans is demanding max line pressure, puts more stress on the gearset. While it doesn't guarantee failure, if the trans has a lot of miles, I don't think it would be good for it. You could see issues with weld breaks or cracking due to metal fatigue (loss of tensile(?) strength).

 

[Dweano]

I'm not really worried about the gears...its the more the clutches/sychros? (I'm a noob...) that are slipping. I think the gears are still fine. People do harden there shifts with programmers and everything is fine correct? I just want it to stop slipping...and the slipping mostly happens with the "soft" stuff in there right?

 

[v8318cid]

If by soft you mean soft parts like the clutch packs and bands, yes. The clutch material wears down over time. I'm fairly certain bands wear in much the same manner although I don't know what the material is. If you increase line pressure via programmer (or other sources if manual adjustment is possible), then yes, you could potentially eliminate some or all of your slippage. This will hold you until the remaining friction material wears down. At that point, nothing left but to R&R. Line pressure will only get you so far in the long run. Synchros are only in manual transmissions as far as I'm aware.

 

[fords]

you should try changing the oil and filter in the trany. if you drive it alot, the filter can be restricting flow thus not allowing to shift right. I think on averge oil a filters should be changed every 70,000 k

 

[Dweano]

I changed the ATF about...5000kms ago maybe. Approx then, and yes thank you thats what I am talking about. I think I will get the line pressure upped to hold me until I can rebuild the tranny.

 

[Dweano]

Oh one more thing...it takes forever to shift. When I put it into reverse or drive it takes awhile to actually engage. It flares up like 500rpm between shifts...thats what I was trying to describe before. How much can a tuner fix that stuff?