ls 3.9 90k miles no 2nd or 5th gears

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fishbone1

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My 2000 LS Sport just had a hard failure on the transmission a couple of days ago. CEL stays on all the time. I get a "Check transmission" in the status display and an "E" in the gear display if I leave the car in D5. If I turn the car off and back on then use manual shifting I don't get a status message of check transmisson or a "E" in the gear display but the "CEL" stays on. When I go through the gears manually I get solid engagement in D1, no rpm drop or engagement in D2, rpm drop in D3, rpm drop in D4, no rpm drop in D5. Reverse and Park seem fine. I didn't notice any shudder. I dropped it off at the dealer tonight. The service manager was nice enough to go 10 miles out of her way and take me home. The dealership has scored 1 +point for that. I dread getting the estimate for repair tomorrow. Anyone want to give me their guess and see if the match the dealership diagnosis and estimate.
 
Me too. I think this is the straw that broke the camels back and my wife's patience. She is a realtor and always has clients in the car. The car is too high maintenance and undependable. Once it is fixed I am sure its days are numbered. She really hates the car.
 
If you lost 2nd and 5th, you've probably lost the overdrive (2nd is OD + 1st, and 5th is OD + 4th, IIRC). I have no idea what it'll take to fix it or what it'll cost, though. Could be something as simple as a bad solenoid that won't engage the overdrive, or something as bad as a shattered gear...
 
Thanks, for the info. I should have a diagnosis tomorrow morning sometime. They said it would be looked at first thing in the morning.
 
We will probably stick with a Ford or Lincoln product. Although the LS has been a pain I have owned several very good Ford products. I think we will buy a Five Hundred or a Montego. She needs something with room to haul clients.
 
Maybe a relay?? My friend had only 2nd gear once on his inteprid and some relay was out...
 
SoonerLS said:
If you lost 2nd and 5th, you've probably lost the overdrive (2nd is OD + 1st, and 5th is OD + 4th, IIRC). I have no idea what it'll take to fix it or what it'll cost, though. Could be something as simple as a bad solenoid that won't engage the overdrive, or something as bad as a shattered gear...
Click to expand...

Sooner...please explain that philosophy to me. The only OD this car has is 5th gear. 4th is 1:1.
 
2001LS8Sport said:
Sooner...please explain that philosophy to me. The only OD this car has is 5th gear. 4th is 1:1.
Click to expand...
I too remember reading that 2nd gear in the 5R55S transmission is really 1st gear + OD. But I'll be darned if I can remember where I read the information. If you multiply the 1st gear ratio by the OD ratio, you do get the second gear ratio listed for the 5R55S transmission. I think I learned about this in a discussion with a tech about the 2-3 shift being slower than the 1-2 & 3-4 shift. It was explained to me that it just took longer mechanically to come out of OD 1st gear (2nd Gear) & then into 3rd gear.
 
Well here is exactly what the dealership put on my invoice.
"Accessses codes, p0732, p0735, p0775 - PCM is communicating, electronic solenoids accepting info - recommend further testing to verify mechanical failure, possible mechanicla issue in solenoids, servo and or bands- further check out may lead to actually needing trans assembly - customer declined."

So I paid $79.95 and picked the car up. They also let me know if I did need a new trans it would be $2304 plus $629 for installation. I think I will just fine a low miles boneyard trans and have it put in.
 
2001LS8Sport said:
Sooner...please explain that philosophy to me. The only OD this car has is 5th gear. 4th is 1:1.
Click to expand...
Kelleyo posted it here a few days ago, but I've also seen it over at LLSOC. IIRC, it came from one of the engineers who did the original firmware for the LS's tranny.
 
BTW, you might ask a transmission shop about an alternate source for the tranny. I don't know if there's anything different other than the electronics (if that), but the 5R55N was also used on the Explorer...
 
GWL said:
I too remember reading that 2nd gear in the 5R55S transmission is really 1st gear + OD. But I'll be darned if I can remember where I read the information. If you multiply the 1st gear ratio by the OD ratio, you do get the second gear ratio listed for the 5R55S transmission. I think I learned about this in a discussion with a tech about the 2-3 shift being slower than the 1-2 & 3-4 shift. It was explained to me that it just took longer mechanically to come out of OD 1st gear (2nd Gear) & then into 3rd gear.
Click to expand...

Ahh...so what you're saying is to get 2nd gear, they are applying 1st gear and OD. I think I can find that to be sure. But it sure makes sense...saves an extra clutch pack and planetary.
 
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