Auto Transmission Shifting - Does this look normal? (video)

rangerbrah · #1 12-02-2012, 10:40 AM

Hey guys,

I just bought a 2004 XL 3.0 V6 Auto with 57k miles on it. When I accelerate as slowly as possible the RPMs drop very little after some shifts (like only 100 RPMs). Is this normal?

Here is a YouTube video of my gauge cluster while accelerating...

rangerlocal · #2 12-04-2012, 06:48 PM

Something definitely seems off. I can't really tell that it shifts at all after the first one. But the gears are a little close together on this truck after 1st. I also noticed your lockup doesn't happen until around 48 MPH. That should happen right after 42 under light load, or at least on my truck.

One thing I did notice, is your speedo doesn't kick in until 10 MPH, then it jumps up to 10 and is normal after that. When that happened to me, I had RABS lockup. Turns out it was my rear speed sensor on the diff. It's a $12 part, and very commonly goes bad. Might want to replace it, it can make the tranny shift weird. It can also affect lockup speed.

That, or your tranny is slipping something fierce. Are the shifts delayed and very sloppy? Can you feel it shift at all, or do you have to let off the gas for it to shift sometimes? If so, you may have a blown out separator plate gasket. Just a few dollars for the part, but you have to tear out the valve body in the tranny to replace. Not fun, been there, done that. Hope it's just the speed sensor!

rangerbrah · #3 12-06-2012, 03:43 PM

Ugh. I was wondering if it was slipping. I've never had an auto transmission go bad.

Today driving home from work I noticed that under low acceleration it was going all the way up to 3000 rpms, maybe more, and then shifting very roughly. It felt like I was in a manual being driven by someone new. It felt like there was a huge pause between shifting gears and the rpms just went up from 2500 to 3000 with no power to the wheels.

rangerlocal · #4 12-06-2012, 07:28 PM

Could be slippage, but not likely with that low mileage. Still can happen if it was driven like crap by the previous owner, towed a lot of weight, or if the fluid has never been changed. Check the color of the fluid and if it looks brown or burned, try changing it. A lot of people have had really good luck just changing the fluid. These trannies seem very sensitive to having good, clean fluid. Look for gold flecks in the fluid; if there's a lot, then it means a lot of friction material is missing from the plates and could be causing slippage.

But, without being in the truck, it's hard for me to say either way. Hard, late, thumping shifts usually points to a speed sensor malfunction. Sloppy, sliding, delayed shifts usually points to low pressure, which could be the bad plate gasket or a blocked filter pickup. You'd find that when you changed the fluid though. Some people have pieces of the blown gasket get stuck in the filter and plug it, causing low pressure scenarios. Might be worth a check, especially if it needs a change anyway. Fixing the low pressure problem may also cure the slipping. It may just not have enough pressure to engage the next clutch pack quickly. I would say it could be your EPC (pressure) solenoid, but this usually triggers a CEL. Those are another common fault with these trannies. If you pull the pan and see it's resistance values are off, let me know as I have an extra solenoid laying around somewhere. Mine was around 7k ohms.

First thing I would do is a fluid change if it looks bad and replace the speed sensor on the rear diff. I never got a CEL when mine went bad. Total surprise to me. It may fix your problem for just $12. And, if it's not the problem, keep the original as a spare for when it inevitably goes bad again.

rangerbrah · #5 12-08-2012, 11:13 AM

I took it to Aamco. They said there aren't any codes showing anything wrong but they felt it shift roughly sometimes, but not always. They of course suggested removing the whole transmission for $1,250 to take it apart and see what's wrong. If it needed to be rebuilt or replaced, that would be included in the $1,250 and it would come with a 1 year/12k mile warranty. BUT, if it needed a new torque converter, etc. that would be extra.

rangerlocal · #6 12-08-2012, 03:57 PM

As long as they checked for hidden Ford transmission codes (not accessible with a normal OBDII scanner unless a solenoid problem), then that's a good sign. When mine acted up with the bad separator plate gasket, I had a code for low transmission pressure. Unless you hear something rattling around near the torque converter when the truck is running, or feel like you're running over the little reflective bumpy lane markers constantly when the road is smooth, then the torque converter is PROBABLY fine. I don't think a bad converter would cause these symptoms.

I'd replace the VSS for $12 insurance, and be sure to accurately check the level of the fluid. These trannies are really sensitive to fluid levels and quality. I don't think a rebuild should be in the cards yet at 57k miles. And rebuilding these things yourself is actually quite simple. Once you do it one time, you'll wonder how any transmission shop guy can sleep at night charging what they do. Since it shifts hard occasionally, that sounds almost exactly like a VSS to me. Try it, it may be the miracle cure. It was for me.

rangerbrah · #7 04-21-2013, 10:08 AM

I replaced the VSS on top of the rear differential today. Dorman part number 970-012. Cost me about $13 at Advance Auto Parts.

Now the transmission doesn't feel like it's slipping, and the speedometer works under 10mph now, it just takes a couple seconds to kick in.

Thanks rangerlocal!

gcextreme · #8 04-21-2013, 10:19 AM

Its amazing how some stupid small sensor can go bad and make the truck run like crap...
Imagine if u had spent $1000 to drop the tranny and have them open it up and maybe rebuild it all because of a bad speed sensor..

Rangerman49 · #9 04-21-2013, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangerbrah

Hey guys,

I just bought a 2004 XL 3.0 V6 Auto with 57k miles on it. When I accelerate as slowly as possible the RPMs drop very little after some shifts (like only 100 RPMs). Is this normal?

Here is a YouTube video of my gauge cluster while accelerating...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtoTVWXRK7A

Looks just like my New Ranger looking at the Tach. Under normal acceleration mine stays at 2 grand till 45mph and overdrive kicks in and RPMs drop to 1500 at 45.

rangerlocal · #10 04-21-2013, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangerbrah

I replaced the VSS on top of the rear differential today. Dorman part number 970-012. Cost me about $13 at Advance Auto Parts.

Now the transmission doesn't feel like it's slipping, and the speedometer works under 10mph now, it just takes a couple seconds to kick in.

Thanks rangerlocal!

BAM! Awesome!

rangerbrah · #11 04-21-2013, 02:26 PM

Also replaced the air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, cleaned the throttle body, adjusted the gear indicator, and tightened the throttle cable with a zip tie. It drives much better now.

BigAlxlt · #12 04-23-2013, 05:48 AM

I had the EXACT SAME problem, saw this thread yesterday and tried it out. Thank You "rangerbrah" for starting the thread and "rangerlocal" for the solution. Saved me lots of money that I DONT have. THANK YOU!!!!!!

rangerlocal · #13 04-23-2013, 03:59 PM

That's what we're all here for! Glad you got it worked out cheaply.

day004 · #14 05-02-2013, 04:39 PM

When my VSS went bad I had half the warning light in the dash on. Plus it would not shift itself out of 1st. I could manually shift ok though. FRF got me the info to do the cheap fix too.
Priceless!

rangerbrah · #15 05-03-2013, 08:34 AM

Well the slipping feeling is back. There's a 1-2 second pause at one of the shift points.