My 88's 5spd grenaded. I'm looking for another ranger or b-series truck. What years or what models did they start coming with good reliable trannies?

I drove a b3000 today with 97k on the clock and felt some hard shifts, it has the A4LD, after a few quick searches it turns out this tranny is a POS. What tranny should i be looking for?

Do fords other trucks, like f150 of the 90's use the same tranny? I dont want to buy another truck only to have the tranny grenade on me again.

My transmission has been reliable. I know the manuals have some issues. Mine is an automatic. I like manuals I just hate shifting all the time, and in my opinion an auto is better for cruising.

the only realiable tranny I've seen come outta ford since the C4 and C6 have been the lightning trannies.

really? That sucks.

Hmmmmm, I got a 89 4x4 ranger with a 5 speed in it and have never heard anything bad about the manual trannies. That being said I have read Lots about the automatics and they seem to have Lots of problems with them. I Used to wish mine had a automatic and While I dont Love shifting I no longer wish it had a automatic in it.

LV

his main question was a "realiable auto tranny".. hence, my response.

My last car before my Ranger was a 93 Explorer with an auto. I got 230k out of it. That's not bad IMO

Most are unreliable because very few people service them even at the factory mileage which in my opinion is too long

Bah...

I dont like any ford autos.. The AOD isnt bad, not good, but not bad...

As for the A4LD debate...screw em, im on number two since I owned it, and its out the door right now. After only 11 months. :P

I've never had luck with the AODs in my mustangs, but then again I was pretty hard on them.:burnout:

On all our fleet vehicles we were advised that taking the automatics out of OD except on the road at hiway speeds will double the life of them. We have all 3 American makes. Letting the big Ford trucks w/5 speeds idle for long periods of time will damage them too {the ones with ATF in them}

With the exception of 1 part and or major changes, the 5R55E can be made to be reliable up to and beyond 150,000 miles. Assuming you arn't pushing over 300HP

:secret:(Most of Ford's newer transmissions have a special part that is for a better lack of words is designed to self destruct by 200k)

The only permenant fix to fix that magical part requires special machining and fabracation. I know of only ONE person who ever went that far.

Anywho....

The key to making it work correctly in the first place is (2) TSB parts and having the bands re-adjusted every 50k. It's 30 minutes labor to have it done and ford has a special digital tool for this.



If you are towing I highly recommend adding an aux transmission cooler. In addition do NOT tow with overdrive enabled.

If you want to go the performance route you have additional choices.

Purchase a programmer from Brian (bahma chips) or Justins Modifed

Transgo reprogramming pack ( you do not need the TSB parts installed this kit fixes the same problems)AND IF YOU PURCHASE A CHIP YOU MUST TELL THEM THAT YOU HAVE THIS INSTALLED.


There is another tranny reprogramming kit out there that also does the same repair. (You do not need the TSB parts with either kit.)

Your big Ford Trucks with the 5 speed autos have a different flaw. The Transgo reprogram kit fixes those problems too. Part of it stems from the shif pressure going low and the OD belts being partly engaged during 2nd gear. It prematurely wears the OD band. Disabling OD forces the computer to not partly engage OD while accel and decel in and out of 2nd gear.

Its a known problem. That doesn t start untill your in the 20k+ milage range. I have't looked but I ll bet Ford has a TSB on it. And as you know TSB's only get done when you request a perticular problem to be fixed and the dealer's mechs are smart enought to put 1+1 together.