1994 ford explorer A4LD transmission problems

I'm having a problem. I have to back off the throttle then hit it again for it to go to the next gear. Also 2nd gear just isn't there. When i back off the throttle in 1st, and hit it again, it goes right to third. Can't shift while in manual second, only while in manual third and overdrive. Third to overdrive shift is great.

I tried to use engine breaking to see if there was a second gear, by upshifting from 3rd to 2nd, nothing happened, Once the gearshift is in 1st the engine revs go up.

So this is currently what i've done:

Change Transmission Filter / Fluid
Adjust Kickdown Cable
Adjust Intermediate and Overdrive bands

Now after I adjusted the bands, i still had to back off the throttle to shift, but i tried the manual upshifting procedure, and from drive to 2nd, the revs go up, it does upshift into 2nd, and from 2nd to 1st it upshifts again. This means that 2nd gear isn't burned out.

But why isn't there a 2nd gear while accelerating, no matter if its manual gear or drive?

Could it be the vaccum modulator or the servo's?

 

Some of the problems you're seeing are typical to the vacuum modulator, but losing second gear indicates something more major. You may have a specific transmission part causing the problem, but over all I think you may be headed for AAMCO.

I would get a shop to look at it and be prepared for an overhaul.

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

after futher testing, i've noticed i have a second gear at low rpm's and low speed. it only jumps from 1st to 3rd if i rev it up high (like 3000+), then let my foot off the gas, then accelerate again.

if i rev it up like 1800, let my foot off the gas, and accleerate again, it goes to what i believe is 2nd gear, due to the slow speed i'm going, i don't think its third.

Now i'm not too knowledgeable on valve bodies, but could the kickdown lever or spring or whatever does the kickdown in the transmission be stuck? Sometimes it will upshift to first way too early, like gas pedal 1/4 way down.

But according to engine rpm's, i do have a second gear, its just the backing off the throttle / kickdown issue. I think they're both related.

 

The vacuum modulator may be having an effect on what you have there. That would be easy enough to replace. But what you're describing would be fixed more readily by transmission experts. Anytime you jump a gear it's starting to get a little past the average DIY'er.

We do have some guys here that could tell you more about what's going on with that tranny. Maybe they'll jump in on this one.

 

i wouldn't call myself an average DIY'er. I've rebuilt a few motors and do all my truck / car repairs.

i've just recently gotten into transmissions, and i'm currently rebuilding the transmission from my 86 pulsar (burned clutches / bands from lack of fluid). Rebulit the motor and fabricated custom headers, ported / polished heads and intake, with new camshaft and a converted carburetor system (Weber 32/36))

so if an expert wants to chime in, i'm all ears! its still very driveable, so i might get it overhauled this spring if i get the money and time!

i'm going to try some seafoam trans tune next week, as it claims it frees stuck valve bodies

 

the problem was a broken intermediate band. transmission has since been replaced with a refurbished one.

 

Thanks James, for reporting back!