Difference in trannys...5R55S

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lamb88ert

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I cant remember which transmission I have or which does which

I have an 03 v8 ultimate. I kno its the better tranny with sst and all that fun $%@ but cant remember which is which and what benefits one has over the other

Can someone help enlighten me?
 
Same transmission for "SST and all that fun sh*t", and the non-sport. At least, the same transmission for the v8. It did switch between generations though. I want to say the 5r55s is the gen 2 transmission, and the 5r55n is the gen 1.

I could be completely wrong though.
 
for some reason i thought there was a differentiating factor, the more i think about it i may be thinking of my jeep commander.......I prob can just jump on ford parts website enter my vin and it should show my tranny and other specs if i remember correctly.....
 
o wait, i thought it was something with the cup holders r different with the different trannys or something to that effect?
 
Thought the placement of the cupholders signified something, dont know if this pic will help anyone identify

IMG-20120512-00252.jpg
 
I want to say that even the v6 automatic variant used the 5r55n/s as well, but most likely had a different bellhousing bolt pattern.

So to directly guess at your question... You have a 5R55S mated to the V8.
 
thanks pektel appreciate it

just noticed on ur signature u have a kenwood excelon. I was looking to put one of those in my commander. Which model do u have and r u pretty happy with it? Nav-wise and all around?
 
The 2003 model year was a little odd. Look at your VC label on the driver's door. Under "TR" will be a single character. It should be "S" for 5R55S (with manual select)
 
joegr said:
The 2003 model year was a little odd. Look at your VC label on the driver's door. Under "TR" will be a single character. It should be "S" for 5R55S (with manual select)
Click to expand...

The label on mine has TR listed twice; the first one is "6W" and the other "A"
 
M4rk said:
The label on mine has TR listed twice; the first one is "6W" and the other "A"
Click to expand...

The first TR is part of "INT TR" for interior trim.
6W = Nudo leather Black Ink

A = 5R55S (less manual select) which shouldn't be what you have, unless the meaning was different in 03.
 
Thanks for that joegr

BY3AB
2ND ROW HEATED, AUTO FOLD SEATS

TCMA5
3W43-18B036-LA LEFT/FR SPRING/SHOCK

TCPAQ
3W43-18W002-FA LEFT RR SPRING/SHOCK

TCNA5
3W43-5310-LA R/F SPG/SHK

TCQAQ
3W43-5560-FA RIGHT/RR SPRING/SHOCK

D2YE3
7.5 X 17" CHROMED CAST ALLOY WHEEL

It also lists further that my car is equipped with "Special Suspension"

I assume this is referring to the sport suspension?
 
lamb88ert said:
...

It also lists further that my car is equipped with "Special Suspension"

I assume this is referring to the sport suspension?
Click to expand...

Maybe. Here's the list for my 06.

AD6DB 2006 JOB #2 PROGRAM CONTROL
YZBBH 225A
AAZCQ 4840 LB. GVW
TCMC2 5W43-18B036-L* L/F SPRG/SHK
TCND2 5W43-18B036-L* R/F SPG/SHK
TCPB6 5W43-18W002-F* L/RR SPG/SHK
D2YCC 7.5 X 17" 5 SPOKE CHROME ALUM WHEEL
GCDAD ADJUSTABLE PEDALS WITH MEMORY
FEFAC ADVANCETRAC® ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
CPGAB AIR BAG RESTRAINT-DRIVER
CPHAB AIR BAG RESTRAINT-PASS
CP1AB AIR CRTN RSTRNT LH
CP2AB AIR CRTN RSTRNT RH
IBAED AM/FM STR/CD/CLK/NAVIG SYSTEM
BSBAR ELECTROCH MIR W/ CMPS AND MIC
C9LAB ENGINE OIL COOLER
AD2AB FEATURE CONTENT GROUP 1
BVRAC FRONT 2-WAY HEADRESTRAINTS
BBHAB FRONT THROW IN CARPET FLR MATS
CLVAD FRT LICENSE PLATE HOLDER DELUX
AACTG FX2 SPORT PACKAGE
SATAB GENERIC COUNTRY GROUP 1
BY1AD HEATED/COOLED WITH 10 WAY POWER PASSENGER SEAT
JBBAC HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLAMPS
TDAAB HORN CHIRP ENABLED
YCLAE HTD/CLD STS-D/P W/PERF PREM LE
YC1AG IBAED/IDAAS
MD0L0 LINCOLN DIVISION DERIVATIVE
BVUAC LUMBAR SEAT SUPT-PWR L/H SIDE
BVVAC LUMBAR SEAT SUPT-PWR R/H SIDE
ADPAB LUXURY PACKAGE
FLNAB MANUAL SHIFT AUTO TRANS
HKDAB MESSAGE CENTER
YK2AB MK CB-DRV/PASS SD AIR CURTAIN
HDHAB MPH/KPH SPEEDOMETER
IBMAB NAAO RADIO FREQUENCY
FF1AB NORMAL FUEL FILL
TASAU NOT DEFINED
YBCFS NOT DEFINED
YQFAB NOT DEFINED
AEDAB OWNER HAND BOOK PACK
D3KJD P235/50VR17 A/S BSW TIRES
BSFB5 PASS PWR HEATED MIR MEMORY MAN FOLD
HNAAD PERIMETER ANTI-THEFT
BVSAD POWER DRIVER SEAT RECLINER
BVTAD POWER PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER
CHAAC POWER SLIDE SUN ROOF
CLUAB REAR BUMPER SENSOR DEVICE
BBIAB REAR THROW IN CARPET FLR MATS
B2GBC SOLAR TINTED WINDSHIELD
D3MFY SP TIR-T165/70R16
D17AH SPARE WHEEL-MINI STEEL
DWAAE SPECIAL SUSPENSION
FS00B STANDARD FRONT SEAT
GTAAQ STEERING WHEEL - WOOD/LEATHER
AAHAB U.S. SALES
GBVAF UNLEADED FUEL CAPABILITY
SBRVT VEHICLE REG CODE LABEL
YKXAB WALN BURL TRM/LEA STRG WHL&KB
BWEAB WITH 2 WAY ADJUSTABLE REAR HEADREST
BSDBI WITH DRIVERS ELECTROCHRO PWR MIRROR
CBFAE WITH ILLUMINATED DOOR ENTRY KEYPAD
BBDAC WITH INTERIOR WOOD TRIM ACCENTS
FJFAD WITH MAN TRANS SHIFTER KNOB - WOOD
BY2AD WITH PASS HEATED AND COOLED SEAT
IDAAS WITH THX AUDIOPHILE SOUND SYSTEM
HIBAA WITHOUT ACOUSTICAL WARNING SYSTEM
TAQAA WITHOUT B&A CONTROL CODES (9270)
TAPAA WITHOUT B&A CONTROL CODES ISSUE 030388
JZAAA WITHOUT BATTERY CUT OFF RELAY
JBCAA WITHOUT DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS
AAFAA WITHOUT FLEET RELATED ITEMS
DEBAA WITHOUT IMMERSION HEATER
ABDAA WITHOUT MILITARY RQMTS
YZTAA WITHOUT MKTG TRIM
JDJAA WITHOUT REAR FOG LAMPS
BY3AA WITHOUT REAR HEATED SEAT
JBGAA WITHOUT SIDE REPEAT FLASHERS
AEAAA WITHOUT SPECIAL LANGUAGE LABELS
GRBAA WITHOUT STEERING COLUMN LOCK
CJFAA WITHOUT TRANSIT COATING
AAGBA WIXOM PLANT BUILD
 
LOL are their pics of your car anywhere Joe?!?!?! I wanna say I've never seen it before LOL
 
Depending on who you talk to, the functional differences are as follows:

N = Non-Synchronized
S = Synchronized
W = Wide-Ratio Synchronized


The S/W are compatible with the changes being internal to the planetary and drums and a modified solenoid pack. Explorers and Trucks came with the W to make up for the lower rear gears used for towing and pushing more mass. Evidently it helps the engine stay in the usable torque curve longer.

The Non-Synchronized versions use a different pattern to lock up the drum and have an intermediate sprag and drum clutch that is controlled by a Solenoid. This intermediate sprag and drum clutch are not present on the "synchronized" versions. This is the biggest fundamental difference in how these two transmissions operate and why one in "Synchronized" and one is "Non-Synchronized".

What makes them Synchronus or Non-Synchronus has to do with how the clutches/bands are controlled and applied to obtain the gear ratios. It's counter-intuitive too, well at least to me it was at first. A "Non-Synchronized" transmission applies one clutch or band to change a gear. It does not have to synchronize a gear change with any other action in the transmission. A "Synchronized" automatic transmission has to do two actions or more in a synchronized order to effect a gear change. Hence the term "Synchronized".

The difference is in the missing sprag/clutch and the 2nd to 3rd shift specifically. A non-synchronized transmission simply applies pressure to the intermediate clutch to shift from 2nd to 3rd. There is no chance of a high-rpm flare where the engine could free-wheel under load. It's like shifting gears on a 10-speed bike. The chain just jumps to the other gear even while you are peddling.

On a synchronized transmission, the Shift from 2nd to 3rd is a processs of releasing one clutch/band while simultaneously engaging another clutch/band. Hence the two actions have to be synchronized and timed accurately to prevent you from loosing all gears and getting a high-rpm flare. A high-rpm flare under load can cause increased stress and wear and is usually where failures occur.

This is why a gen1 LS will bang through gears consistently, while a gen2 (like mine) will feel the engine power drop for a second when shifting from 2nd to 3rd under high-throttle. It's either the ECU throttling the engine back to prevent a flare, or the new gear action is being applied slightly ahead of the old gear action being released resulting in a transition where you are in more like 4th gear then 3rd gear for a split second resulting in engine bog. Or both? And THAT is why I learned all this, because mine bogs for a split second going from 2nd gear to 3rd gear at anything above about 75% throttle.

A non-synchronized transmission is technically a better transmission in theory alone, but the synchronized transmission has less parts, just as easy to control electronically and is also cheaper to manufacture. It also appears that Ford beefed up the synchronus transmissions a little to compensate for the 2nd to 3rd shift.

The other interesting thing is not all gear-shifts are "synchronized". For instance, 1st to 2nd is not synchronized in a 5r55s, but 2nd to 3rd is. I also believe 4th to 5th is synchronized as well. Would have to consult someone who knows much more about how this thing works to tell for sure.

There is also a fourth iteration that was used mostly in Rangers and older Explorers called 5r55e. The E means "Electronic" and was for lighter-duty applications. It was the first iteration of this style of transmission and it also has the coveted dipstick! Something Ford should have kept IMHO.

In order of geneaology:
1) 5r55e 5-speed introduced in rangers/explorers around 1997
2) 5r55n introduced in LS in 2000 and S-Type in 1999
3) 5r55w introduced in 2002+ explorers and rangers
4) 5r55s introduced in 2003 and replaced the "N" variant in most places

S/W gear ratio difference
gear - 5r55s / 5r55w
1st Gear - 3.22/3.22
2nd Gear - 2.29/2.41
3rd Gear - 1.54/1.54
4th Gear - 1.00/1.00
5th Gear - 0.71/0.75
Reverse 3.07 3.07

If my understanding, or explanations are wrong, please correct me. I like to know what I am wrong on rather then claiming ignorance. :)
 
lamb88ert said:
Thought the placement of the cupholders signified something, dont know if this pic will help anyone identify

IMG-20120512-00252.jpg
Click to expand...

I though all 2nd gens had the same cup holders, third time is the charm.

the cup holders dont have anything to do with which trans is in the car (other that, of course, differences between the generations)

the first cup holder design was just rubbish and they had to change it before the redesign, then with the 2nd gen, they kept the same design, and just improved on it quite a bit.



BTW, if that picture is of your car, you rubber insert for your cup holders is in backwards.
 
Here is a pretty good demonstration of how the power moves through the gears on a transmission and how 5 gears are generated. The 5r55s operates in a similar fashion although I am guessing the order in which they lock clutches up is different. The theory still applies:

Chrysler NAG1 5-Speed Transmission Power Flow - YouTube

Any time he talks about doing something more then just one action, like only applying one clutch-pack to change a gear, is considered a synchronous shift for an automatic.

Pretty good demonstration if you've never seen the core guts of a transmission or how it works.
 
Kumba, there is a lot of good information in your post (#19), but some of it is not 100% accurate. For example, the 5R55S was around in 2002, and did come in some of the Explorers.
 
The 5R55X is basically a 3-speed transmission with an overdrive. There are actually 6 available gears; though one (IIRC what would be 3rd) is so close to the previous it is virtually useless.
 
LS4me said:
The 5R55X is basically a 3-speed transmission with an overdrive. There are actually 6 available gears; though one (IIRC what would be 3rd) is so close to the previous it is virtually useless.
Click to expand...

They overdrive 2-3 and 4-5.
 
JoshMcMadMac said:
Kumba, there is a lot of good information in your post (#19), but some of it is not 100% accurate. For example, the 5R55S was around in 2002, and did come in some of the Explorers.
Click to expand...

Just goes you show you can't know everything. :)
 
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