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Transmission is slipping?

Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD EXPLORER
  • 210,000 MILES
Hello, my explorer has nothing wrong with the engine and only thing on suspension is a tie rod boot torn. No vacuum leaks either.

Here is what it does

When taking off from start it will accelerate and when it is changing gears it will rev up suddenly usually only around 3 to 3.5 rpm. As it is revving up it kinda stalls going but when it quits it goes. When you stop after it does this it will slip when stopping like the brakes are slipping. Primarily it only does this in warmer climates and never does it in cold climates. It usually involves a lot of driving to do this too. It will do it once every great now and then. Any ideas what the problem is? The transmission is original with 210000 miles along with the engine.
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 12:41 AM

43 Replies

Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Sounds like a a trans problem on the way. i would scan for trans codes these guides can help us fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 12:46 AM
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
No Codes and fluid perfect
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 12:47 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
The pcm should have fault codes in the history the only thing you can try is a new throttleposition sensor this someties causes erattic shifting and slippage
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 12:55 AM
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
The Throttle position sensor gets regular voltage. Could it be a valve body problem or a pressure issue? There are no codes whatsoever. It has never had a transmission problem till now.
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 12:59 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
The throttle position sensor actually is a poteniometer that gets varied voltage from 0-5 volts depending on the position of the throttle. This could be a valve body issue but generally this will not cause slippage. Slippage is caused by a clutch assy releasing and grabbing again. If the fluid is clean and no codes then the only alternative is internal failure. This is most likely just the onset of this problem it will get worse.

You can service the filter and fluid and make sure you have the proper type of fluid. You can also go to your ford dealer and buy a bottle of friction modifier and add this to your transmission worth a shot I have seen it work.
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 1:20 AM
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
Ok, a better explanation would be that my ford explorer when it accelerates and revs up. It revs up like someone just popped into neutral. Like I said it does not do it every time.
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 1:25 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Yes I understand your explanation and it is something inside the trans rather it is a band or a clutch plate there is no way to know without dissassembly. I would give the friction modifier a shot. Or take to trans shop for diagnostics good luck with it
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 1:33 AM
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
Thank you very much! My last question is why did it not do it in the winter but when it is warmer outside and you drive it a long time why does it do it then?
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 1:40 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Good question. It has to be a problem that only shows up when the trans gets very hot. Did it do this last summer or is this the first time?
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 1:42 AM
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
It did it last summer but at the time it had an intake manifold leak and we thought that was the problem and we fixed it when it got cold. It shut off the check engine light. It has no engine issues. I feel really upset that my engine is nearly in perfect shape and im about to have a transmission fail.
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 1:46 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Well the good news is it could do this for a long time before the trans fails it will progressively get worse. But you need to service it even though you have clean fluid you may still have restrictions in your filter. Explorer is well known for trans problems so you have been lucky so far. But it is what it is. Good luck
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 1:49 AM
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
Is it possible it could be the torque converter if it is a pressure issue.
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 4:20 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Yes it is possible
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 AT 3:39 PM
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
What about valve body gasket?
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Thursday, March 29th, 2012 AT 11:23 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
This is a possibility but should have code for internal pressure loss. Just grasping straws without codes
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Thursday, March 29th, 2012 AT 3:59 PM
Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 132 POSTS
What could it be if there are no codes at all?
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Friday, March 30th, 2012 AT 7:13 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Well no codes has to be internal mechanical problem. Possibly clutch disc slipping or even a badn or servo just really hard to accurately diagnose.I would try the friction modifier from ford dealer.
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Monday, April 2nd, 2012 AT 12:54 AM
Tiny
FRANK532
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 FORD EXPLORER
Transmission problem
1999 Ford Explorer Engine Size unknown Four Wheel Drive Automatic 120000 miles

Ok, with the transmission slippage, at random times whenever I start the vehicle and put the gear to reverse, the transmission keeps on spinning but makes a loud noise. The fluid was just recently replace about 3 weeks ago, but it was still doing making the noise sound when I first bought it. Sometimes I would try and go to reverse fro like 10mins but the transmission would make that noise. What would be the problem? And what would the price range be?
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FLEXY5
  • MECHANIC
  • 512 POSTS
On some of the late model explorer and ranger models, they had an issue with seperator plate gaskets on the valve body. At one point you could get a kit that replaced the seperator plate and gasket as well as an updated valve for the valve body. The noise you hear is the pressure release coming from the tear in the gasket. If I had to take a stab at it, That would be my guess.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HEATHER29
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
I have had the transmission serviced recently, my mechanic tells me it is in good condition. However I do have the weirdest problem with it, one that my mechanic still does not have the answer for.

When I turn on my air conditioner in the summer, after awhile of running it, hit a light and it will cause the truck to hesitate, almost like the transmission won't go into gear, and when it does, it is a hard shift out of first. Then I come to a stop again, and it sounds like the transmission hesitates to go back down to first gear. I can turn the truck off, not run the air conditioner, and it will never once do it again. It will shift fine, take off fine, as long as I don't run the darn ac.

Does not do this with the heater on in the winter.

I have had a check engine light on for months, a problem I know to be the O2 sensors, but no one can tell me which one, and costs to much to replace them all.

Also my airbag light flashes on when this happens.

Thank you.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)

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