Tranny shifts

[lascassas_camper]

My 1994 Bronco has the 5.0 L engine and automatic transmission. It has 31" radial street tires.

It seems to me the shifts are somewhat hard between gears, especially from 1st to 2nd, theirs a definate jolt and it constantly wants to downshift from overdrive to drive, hunting for the right gear.

I have changed the fluid and added "Lucas" to the trans fluid, which maybe helped a little. (I don't think its "slipping".)

The truck has done this since I bought it a few months ago, but it seems to be getting more pronounced, it has 240k miles on it. I have no idea if the engine or tranny have been rebuilt. It almost feels like some kind of shift kit in the transmission. I'm pretty sure the Bronco was used to tow a traier, there is a Class III frame hitch, trailer wiring and brake box on the truck, but like I mentioned I don't know if this is normal or whats been done if anything to the tranny.

 

[lascassas_camper]

I was looking at another post and noticed someone talking about their 1995 transmission. Anyway is their a light thats supposed to come on for Overdrive? I don't have a light that I've seen come on.

Also whats the button on the end of the shifter arm for? I've pushed it and I cant tell that it does anything.

 

[Miss Kitten]

my tranny really gave no indication that it was slipping till it just up and died

i do have a gut feeling that i believe your tranny may be on it's way out

 

[Bronc76]

What did fluid look like when you changed it? was there a burned odor to it? I have to agree with Miss Kit, its probably time for a rebuild.

 

[broncotough]

after frying my 96 E4OD i had it rebuilt. during the rebuild i had them install a shift kit. my bronco shifts very hard almost like the rear axle will just spit out. i was concerned so i took it back to the shop. they said its normal and should loosen up after a while. so far it hasent. ive gotten used to letting off the gas just before the shift to lessen the impact. someone told me theres two kinds of shift kits ones b&m and one is transflow. one is cheap and the other cost a bit more. i think i have the cheap one. i dont think my tranny shop used quality parts. i recently cooked the fwd planitary gear. it was a cheap aluminum 3 pinion. i had them replace it with a steel 6 pinion for a heavy duty diesel application. the other thing you might be experiencing, i once removed a fuse from the fuse block which causes the tranny to go into a default mode of some sort. shifts very hard, seems to search for gears. you may have an electrical fault somewhere. if you have a code reader it could help. typicaly when there is a tranny problem the overdrive light blinks and stores a code. i hope this helps

 

[lascassas_camper]

I haven't noticed any kind of tranny or overdrive light.

I added another small bottle of Lucas Tranny fluid to the transmission yersterday and today she shifted like a champ. (I've also tried to make sure I let off the gas earlier before the tranny shifts up).

The tranny still wants to drop down from high gear to a lower gear around 50 mph, but this may have something to do with the oversize 31" tires.

 

[fordsohc46]

the button on the shifter **** should turn on the od light in the **** itsel and it should take the trans in and out of od while cruising at hwy speeds. i recently had similar probs w/my tranny and it was a driveability issue causing it. i changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor and adjusted ign. timing unhooked batt. to reset kam and then test drove and now it shifts perfectly. all of these parts were in need of replacing and i had a misfire under load. but u could pull the cap and ck it and the rotor. also if the speed sensor in the rear end is bad it can cause trans problems but it should give an abs light. hope this helps.

 

[Miss Kitten]

31's really aren't anything to concern yourself with as far as being "oversized"

the E40D's aren't that weak that they can't handle 31" rubber

 

[lascassas_camper]

the button on the shifter **** should turn on the od light in the **** itsel and it should take the trans in and out of od while cruising at hwy speeds. i recently had similar probs w/my tranny and it was a driveability issue causing it. i changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor and adjusted ign. timing unhooked batt. to reset kam and then test drove and now it shifts perfectly. all of these parts were in need of replacing and i had a misfire under load. but u could pull the cap and ck it and the rotor. also if the speed sensor in the rear end is bad it can cause trans problems but it should give an abs light. hope this helps.

I have got an ABS light on...but it just came on about a week ago.

 

[lascassas_camper]

I have got an ABS light on...but it just came on about a week ago.

How hard is it to replace the speed sensor?

 

[fordsohc46]

it is in the rear end on top of the pumpkin i think it has a 10mm bolt remove it and pry the sensor out. you can ck codes w/o a scanner but i am not sure how. you can ohm test the sensor and if it shows open it is definately bad.

 

[miesk5]

Do the Self Test by BroncoJoe19 before you buy any parts

Remember to have engine @ Normal Operating Temperature before doing the KOER portion

Post Any Codes found here or look them up here;

DTCs 3 digits & some Possible Causes; MANY CODES!

and even tho it may come up as 452 (M) Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) problem you still shoukd do troubleshooting, such as looking at the VSS connector/wiring etc.

 

[Cocobum]

Did you ever sort this problem out, because my bronco is doing exactly what you described. (my abs light is on as well)

 

[lascassas_camper]

My ABS light is still on.

But it wasn't the reason my OD wouldn't cut on and off at the shifter......a tiny wire (of 3) had broken in the push button OD switch on the shifter arm.

(why they need a button on the SHIFTER arm is beyond me....i thought thats what the shifter arm was for, kinda like chevys "tow haul mode button", i guess)

I had the tranny flushed at Valvoline for $75 and added a bottle of Lucas, she shifts fine now. Occasionally she will shift hard when first starting out....but i chalk this up to 240k miles and it being a Ford, LOL.

(I've heard you can get some good deals on engine/trannies @ Advance Auto)