Hi All,

I recently purchased a 2000 XLS Explorer. Although I am new to the Explorer, I am NOT new to 4wd's. It Has a 5-spd auto, and a L/S rear with 3.73 gears.

Yesterday, I took the Explorer out 2 tracking to evaluate the capabilities. I was very impressed. I must confess, I USED to be one of the un-informed that thought the Explorer was not the most capable 4x4. I will stand toe-to-toe with anybody who says that the Explorer does not belong in the wilds. Granted you have to use your head and realize that the vehicle does not have the skid plates of a Hummer, but with this in mind, they are suprisingly cabable.

With that said, I did run into an area that stopped me momentarily, and required some fast rocking to get un-stuck. I was in 4-lo, and used Reverse and Drive. (Should have stayed in 1st) During this struggle in Deep, Wet, slippery, HEAVY snow, The ABS light comes on to disactivate the ABS *(obviously this is desireable, for instant tire stop) Shortly there after (3-4 minutes?) into the battle, I noticed the O.D. light flashing. WHY? When the mighty Explorer chewed and clawed it's way out, I pulled to a safe area and shut it off to look at the battle scene. When I started it back up, all lights were off and seems that no ill effects occured. So, again I ask, why did the O.D. light flash? Did I maybe bump it during the shifting from R to D.?

 

And what's the procedure for installing them?

 

8 cylinder? 6? need to narrow down tranny to give you more info.....

might have gotten hot and thrown a soleniod code or something...

 

This Explorer has a 5 Spd, auto with the 4.0 o.h.v. engine. Would an OBD read this (solenoid code) if it where still in memory somewhere?

I think it is a solenoid because today I noticed that under heavy acceleration third gear acts like the someone pushing the clutch in on a manual tranny before the accelerator pedal is released fully. It catches the gear firmly, no slipping but it gives the split second rev in r.p.m's before it shifts. But like I wrote, it shifts firmly, with no slipping. I am thinking I will change the tranny fluid and see where this takes me. I still would like to know for sure why the O.D. Light was flashing.

 

scan it for stored code....

check tranny fluid to see if it smells bad....

service it if you can and you can get a much better idea if there is crap in the pan...

 

Yea, I checked the fluid today, it's stinky. It is still red but it is discolored. I had a friend of mine look at it *(he's a motorhead) and he said it smells like it got too hot. He said the same thing, service and look for crap. I am going to the tranny store tomorrow.

If I should have to replace this tranny sometime soon, Is there a heavy duty one that some one makes? Jasper or maybe a small outfit that builds a serious off road style? Seems to me that if this tranny is starting the slide to destruction, it is awfully weak. The Explorer only has 87 K on it. My brothers Ranger has a five speed and he has over 160K and it is like new yet.