4X4XFD
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2021
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 9
- Points
- 3
- Location
- Carthage, MO
- Vehicle Year
- 2002
- Make / Model
- Ranger FX4
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
Hi. A little background seems appropriate first. I bought my used 2002 FX4 in 2005. It had been a fleet vehicle and had 70K miles on it when I bought it. I took it to the local Aamco shop of whom I knew the owner soon after purchase and had them drain/fill and change the tranny filter. Honestly, I've been negligent in the tranny maintenance since then. The truck now has 151K miles.
About 2 years ago I headed off for work at a place about 30 miles away. After a couple of miles I stopped a stop sign, and proceeded on. The 1st to 2nd shift was extremely hard and I noticed the OD light started flashing on the dash. Sensing the OD wasn't working I keep my speed on the highway to about 50 mph. I got to my workplace and when lunch time came I checked the tranny fluid level. It seemed low so I limped the truck to the closest Walmart and bought a quart of fluid. The truck shifted extremely hard every time from 1st to 2nd on the way. I added fluid and it seemed to be better on the way back home.
Since that episode it's continued to have occasional 1st to 2nd and into OD hard shifts. Not all the time, and I try to accelerate slowly as that seems to help it from hard shifting.
I don't sense any slippage of the tranny. So I'm wondering if the software is doing as it should but some malfunctions, perhaps because of wear, in the valve body is causing the erratic shifts.
My research today lead me to a company named Sonnax.com. From the articles I saw it seems they have a goof understanding of the fluid dynamics involved in auto transmissions....perhaps especially the functions of the valve bodies. Has anyone heard of them or have any experience with them? Their most local distributor to me is in Tulsa OK. I'm thinking of giving them a call. Maybe....just maybe...a professionally reman valve body will resolve the issues?
About 2 years ago I headed off for work at a place about 30 miles away. After a couple of miles I stopped a stop sign, and proceeded on. The 1st to 2nd shift was extremely hard and I noticed the OD light started flashing on the dash. Sensing the OD wasn't working I keep my speed on the highway to about 50 mph. I got to my workplace and when lunch time came I checked the tranny fluid level. It seemed low so I limped the truck to the closest Walmart and bought a quart of fluid. The truck shifted extremely hard every time from 1st to 2nd on the way. I added fluid and it seemed to be better on the way back home.
Since that episode it's continued to have occasional 1st to 2nd and into OD hard shifts. Not all the time, and I try to accelerate slowly as that seems to help it from hard shifting.
I don't sense any slippage of the tranny. So I'm wondering if the software is doing as it should but some malfunctions, perhaps because of wear, in the valve body is causing the erratic shifts.
My research today lead me to a company named Sonnax.com. From the articles I saw it seems they have a goof understanding of the fluid dynamics involved in auto transmissions....perhaps especially the functions of the valve bodies. Has anyone heard of them or have any experience with them? Their most local distributor to me is in Tulsa OK. I'm thinking of giving them a call. Maybe....just maybe...a professionally reman valve body will resolve the issues?