2000 Ranger 3.0 Automatic. Trans jerking in OD. Now squealing and hard shifts.

[bryhan67]

Help Master Mechanics...Been following the forums for years but I am lost now on what the problem I have.

Spent hours trying to find out what trans I have. Ford dealer ran the vin and says I have a 4r55e. http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...AutoTrans.html says I have a 4r44e. Pepboys says I have a 5r55e. Not sure if it identifies it but this is on the trans.. RFXL2P-7006-AB 750Nm. 95GT-7A040-8A.

On to the strange problem. Its been running a little rough and once in a while I will get misfire codes from Cylinder 1&6 . Just started to notice when the car is in OD doing about 60mph it will jerk or serge a little. I thought maybe it was the misfire. If I turn off the OD it does not do it anymore.. Been getting worse last few weeks. Have never had any codes for transmission. Have had a few on O2 sensors error codes.

So I replaced all three O2 sensors and then the new problem started. I drove it once with the new sensors and rand about the same. I turned the car off and when starting and driving again I noticed the motor was much louder and shifted harder in all the gears. Also it started to squeal a little. Once it gets into OD its kind of ok but if push off the OD button is squeals getting back into drive.

So since it got much worse after putting the new O2 sensors I decide to put the old ones back in. Well it switched back to normal and much smoother also the motor was quiet again and shifted the same with light jerking in OD.

Now I put back in each new O2 sensor and drove it before putting the next to see if one sensor was bad. But I put all three and was fine. Then after driving for 20 miles when I was playin with the OD button it got loud again and squealing again. I disconnected the battery for 2 hours to see if it would reset and no luck.

So what do you think? Sticking solenoid? Maybe MAF going bad? I got new oil and filter ready to install and bought a 1/4 drive torque so I can adjust the OD Band. Not sure if I should put a shift kit and change solenoids and valve body gasket.? I would hate to do all this and have the same problem and need a full rebuild.

I will also try disconnecting MAf and see if it drives different. Again no codes using my AutoXray scanner.

Anyone got any ideas? Thanks....
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/image...gtn/stupid.gif

2000 Ford Ranger
V6 3.0 flex fuel
2 WD
Automatic trans
250,000 miles
Only owned it for 20k miles
Fluid level good
No Leaks
Only codes I get is Cylinder 1&6 misfire
Just changed all 3 O2 Sensors

Casting on trans.
RFXL2P-7006-AB
750Nm. 95GT-7A040-8A

Vin Number
1FTYR14V4YTB11441

[tomboy]

The squealing in od sounds like a worn out band, (down to metal) but have no idea why the 02 sensors would play a part in it.

[sheltonfilms]

When you take it out of overdrive and it shifts to 3rd the overdrive band disengages and the coast clutch locks up. Coast clutch is pretty much engine braking. The input shaft is directly connected to the rest of the gears vs using the one way sprag.

I'm thinking you may have a short in your wiring or something pinched or frayed. The reason why is when you replace the O2 sensors that same wiring goes along the transmission.

When you did one at a time you may not have disturbed the wiring and then after driving and hitting pumps, etc the wiring moved causing trouble.

I would trace the wiring from the transmission connector see if you see any damage maybe near the exhaust etc.

Done any work on it were you may have misrouted the harness besides the O2 sensors?

By the way the difference in the 4r44e and the 4r55e is just heavy duty additions. The 4r55e has 6 pinions instead of 4 and an extra clutch disc and steel here and there.

[bryhan67]

Thanks for the replies I will take a look at the harness to the trans. I tried a new oem MAF and no change. I also adjusted both bands on the transmission. Still have the same problem. The motor is still loud and sounds like it working hard like pulling a trailer up hill. But with the problem switching on and off leads me to think its electronic . What could I try next?

[sheltonfilms]

Still think its wiring. It sounds like the wires that go to the solenoids are being rubbed and causing random solenoids to fire making the transmission shift into "weird gears" by different combinations. There are certain combinations of gears that would cause the engine to fight against the transmission. If the coast clutch and overdrive band were to engage at the same time you are looking at a rebuild.

Mine did this and it friction welded the clutch plates to the steels and then stripped the steels by the teeth locking up the transmission.

[bryhan67]

Its not shifting to weird gears. It is pretty consistent. Quick question does anyone know if the engine would run or sound different if you disconnect the maf? I know other cars do. It runs no different with it connected or disconnected. Seems a little strange. Tomorrow I will check voltage to MAF.