Problem with a Ranger transmission

Subject is a 2000 model year, 3.0 V6, automatic 4sp, 4x4, with 155k.

Truck appears to have been generally well cared for, or at least never worked very hard.

Under all circumstances, when it is in drive, as you pull away from a stop it jolts into motion. kind of like a stalled torque converter, except more abrupt. other than this symptom it functions normally. any experience out there on this?

Low fluid, bad pump, or generally worn out would be my guess. If it's full of fluid I'm going to say pump. It's probably not building enough pressure to keep the clutches engaged. Of course, on a 2000, it might be electrical.

Automatic transmissions are magic, replace immediately with manual transmission. and LS swap while in there.

Sorry, have a ranger but its manual so I'm useless. I've had decent luck here: fordrangerforum.com

Drop the pan, fluid and filter, go from there.

Sounds like the first gear clutches are slipping when the pressure drops at idle. They are known for pressure solenoids going bad.

I agree with Kenny. Drop the pan and do fluid and filter. It probably won't fix it, but it needs to happen anyway. If the fluid is nasty, chances are you have toasted clutches or a bad pump. If the fluid is clean, look deeper, like the solenoids or the wiring.

Any CEL?

none. had the fluid changed (where they disconnect the cooler lines and circulate fresh fluid in place of the old), no change.

A mild clunk on acceleration is probably the slip joint in the driveshaft needing lube.

if thats it im gonna pee

belteshazzar wrote: if thats it im gonna pee

Well documented issue on these trucks. Who gets the golden shower?

Try this before an expensive fix. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106307

belteshazzar wrote: none. had the fluid changed (where they disconnect the cooler lines and circulate fresh fluid in place of the old), no change.

That doesn't change the filter(which for all you know might have a crack in the pickup or something stupid like that) or clean the magnets.

The Ranger Station is the best Ranger forum:-)

Kenny_McCormic wrote:

belteshazzar wrote: none. had the fluid changed (where they disconnect the cooler lines and circulate fresh fluid in place of the old), no change.

That doesn't change the filter(which for all you know might have a crack in the pickup or something stupid like that) or clean the magnets.

i like to change the filter after the aforementioned service.

I almost think the filter is just there to give DIYers something to fuss over. By the time the filter becomes meaningfully restricted, the trans is trashed.

So, aside from the fact that i dont like that auto trans and just had to put that in my post somewhere, my in-laws have one with 130k that does something similar intermittently. I havent looked at it because noone has asked me to, and honestly im not even sure if they've noticed. What theirs does does not feel like a driveshaft issue, but hopefully that's what yours is!

Also, does a Ford box this new have any band adjustments that can be performed?

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Also, does a Ford box this new have any band adjustments that can be performed?

My 99 did. You adjust from the the outside.

When I worked at a GM dealer, I "rebuilt" several transmissions just by changing the filter and fluid. These were on cars that had been traded in because the transmission was shot. Always worth a try.