Vehicle: 2004 Explorer V6 Auto 4x2
Miles: 79,xxx
Usage schedule: Mostly city, few trips here and there
Symptoms: Slipping, poor shifting, banging into gear (esp. 1-2), overdrive won't engage. 1-2 shift almost impossible. Bangs into 2nd HARD.
CEL: Illuminated, P0745 code.
O/D light: Flashing
Message Center: displays "Check Transmission"
Additional symptoms: Engine shuts down intermittently at cruise speed. Message center displays "check fuel cap" when engine shuts down. Engine starts right back up, only to run for a while before shutting down again.
Fluid status: Unknown. Pulled small T-30 Torx plug to check fluid (truck was idling, and had just been driven for at least an hour on the highway). Loosened the plug, and some fluid trickled out. Didn't remove totally. Not sure trans was in proper temp range for check. The owners (my sister and bro-in-law) say they haven't noticed any leaking fluid, but they're not sure, as they haven't been actually looking for it.
A Ford dealership tech who is a friend of mine says it's probably the solenoid pack, which is easily replaceable by removing the trans. fluid pan. I just hate to replace that and then have it still not working correctly. He says one of the clutches could also be bad. He also says that the different systems in the trans. need to be checked for proper hyd. pressure, in order to localize the problem.
Anyhow, I thought I'd ask here if anyone has had this sort of problem on this vehicle, and, if so, what you did to fix it.
Hate to have to take to a trans. specialist if we can avoid. Tempted to replace sol. pack and see what happens.
I wonder if there could already be damage to other components inside the trans.
Miles: 79,xxx
Usage schedule: Mostly city, few trips here and there
Symptoms: Slipping, poor shifting, banging into gear (esp. 1-2), overdrive won't engage. 1-2 shift almost impossible. Bangs into 2nd HARD.
CEL: Illuminated, P0745 code.
O/D light: Flashing
Message Center: displays "Check Transmission"
Additional symptoms: Engine shuts down intermittently at cruise speed. Message center displays "check fuel cap" when engine shuts down. Engine starts right back up, only to run for a while before shutting down again.
Fluid status: Unknown. Pulled small T-30 Torx plug to check fluid (truck was idling, and had just been driven for at least an hour on the highway). Loosened the plug, and some fluid trickled out. Didn't remove totally. Not sure trans was in proper temp range for check. The owners (my sister and bro-in-law) say they haven't noticed any leaking fluid, but they're not sure, as they haven't been actually looking for it.
A Ford dealership tech who is a friend of mine says it's probably the solenoid pack, which is easily replaceable by removing the trans. fluid pan. I just hate to replace that and then have it still not working correctly. He says one of the clutches could also be bad. He also says that the different systems in the trans. need to be checked for proper hyd. pressure, in order to localize the problem.
Anyhow, I thought I'd ask here if anyone has had this sort of problem on this vehicle, and, if so, what you did to fix it.
Hate to have to take to a trans. specialist if we can avoid. Tempted to replace sol. pack and see what happens.
I wonder if there could already be damage to other components inside the trans.