What transmission do I have???

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beaups

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I have an 03 built in 11/02. I've read that units built prior to 7/03 had 5r55n still (not the s). However I'm now getting conflicting info. want to pop in a new tranny and cannot for the life of me figure out what I need now. Do I need an S or an N? And why would car-part show different units after 7/03? Was there another change?

While we're talking about this, were there any engine changes after the 03 models were introduced that would make a newer motor incompatible w/an 03?
 
beaups said:
I have an 03 built in 11/02. I've read that units built prior to 7/03 had 5r55n still (not the s). However I'm now getting conflicting info. want to pop in a new tranny and cannot for the life of me figure out what I need now. Do I need an S or an N? And why would car-part show different units after 7/03? Was there another change?

While we're talking about this, were there any engine changes after the 03 models were introduced that would make a newer motor incompatible w/an 03?
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All 03's+ have the 5R55S. AFAIK, the "S" is not compatible with the "N". BTW, the "S" stands for synchronous and the "N", non-synchronous.
 
are you positive? I read somewhere else that many had the N and someone else on the board here ran into the same thing. Is there a tag on mine I can easily see to confirm? What changed in july 03?
 
You mentioned something in your initial posting that your car was built in 11/02. How do you know that - how can I tell when mine was built?
 
My '03 LS Sport was built 01/03, but wasn't purchased until 02/04. The original owner traded it in on 03/06 at 28,125 and I bought it 03/06, the same day. Thanks for the info - I didn't know the date was so easy to find.
 
Then that would make all 03's have the 5R55N transmission. 7/03 is when they started on the production of the 04's. Something doesnt sound right on that cut off date especially if they changed to the 5R55S trans in 7/03. Which VIN position is it for the N or S transmission?
 
seems to me they didn't put them in until the 04 models. makes sense since there was a tsb for 04 models regarding some tranny issues that didn't apply to the 03 models.
 
I do believe they did put 5R55S in the 03s - and the first batch of them had a ton if issue with the valve body initially.....
 
This shows the position of the trans code on the door sticker, there is no trans id in the vin number, only engine.

A = 5R55S

and suprsingly enough...stupid ford motor company uses the same code on 02 fo the 5R44N so its pretty useless lol

5 — 5-Speed manual (M5 221), Getrag
A — 5-speed, automatic (5R55N), Sharonville

A0009022.gif
 
well this just gets weirder. my door jamb says trans code A. Is there a tag on the tranny???
 
beaups said:
well this just gets weirder. my door jamb says trans code A. Is there a tag on the tranny???
Click to expand...

I checked your vin online with Ford. It says you have a 5R55N

They are using ths same id code for the 5R55N and 5R55S, Ford = Stupid haha
 
There is a trans Id tag on the tranny

I dont remember what side it is on.

but you will see a number such as FAZD - BA in big letters at the top of the tag. Its located on the side of the tranny near the top i woudl say, more towards the back...i cant recall off hand.

something to that affect on the tag. that is your trans ID code, if you called the dealer for a transmission they would probably need that number to make sure they get you the right one.

Jay
 
I found the following information at wed site:
http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_help/html/Ford/Lincoln_LS_2000-2006.htm#Trans
If this is true (which there is no reason to believe it is not, then, the "S" transmissions started in '04
Transmission Codes
Code Model
5 M5 221
A (2000 - 2003) 5R55N
A (2004 - 2006) 5R55S
S 5R55S

The following is from the 2000-2003 section:


Five Speed Automatic Transmissions

Trans Model First Second Third Fourth Fifth
A5LDE 2.47 1.87 1.47 1 0.75
5R110 3.09 2.2 1.538 1 0.712
5R110W* 3.09 2.2 1.538 1 0.712
5R55E 2.47 1.87 1.47 1 0.75
5R55N 3.25 2.44 1.55 1 0.75
5R55S 3.22 2.29 1.55 1 0.71
5R55W 3.22 2.41 1.55 1 0.75
 
makes sense and seems to confirm what we're seeing!
 
I don't know how Lincoln numbers them, but the 03's+ have the 5R55S. As Quick pointed out, there was an issue with the valve bodies in the early ones. I saw the offending part (at the Livonia plant) in July 2003. It was a needle valve about the size of a pin that hadn't had the burrs totally removed. The manufacture date may have something to do with the valve bodies. As I recall, the new valve bodies came out in June or early July 2003.
 
Well, I'm taking my '03 LS Sport in for transmission repair this morning (Monday 23rd). I know my vehicle was built in 01/03. I will be able to tell you what transmission is in my car. That doesn't answer the entire question, but it gives us a partial time line. We just need more data input for the remaining months.
 
LS4me said:
I don't know how Lincoln numbers them, but the 03's+ have the 5R55S. As Quick pointed out, there was an issue with the valve bodies in the early ones. I saw the offending part (at the Livonia plant) in July 2003. It was a needle valve about the size of a pin that hadn't had the burrs totally removed. The manufacture date may have something to do with the valve bodies. As I recall, the new valve bodies came out in June or early July 2003.
Click to expand...
july 03 is when they started building the 04 models.
 
I just verified my vehicle's transmission as the 5R55N when I took it in for warranty repair. They told me the same thing: that the 5R55S transmission began production with the 07/03 build date for the 2004 series vehicles. No one that I have been able to speak with can verify any earlier "S" transmissions in the '03's.
 
paulownian said:
I just verified my vehicle's transmission as the 5R55N when I took it in for warranty repair. They told me the same thing: that the 5R55S transmission began production with the 07/03 build date for the 2004 series vehicles. No one that I have been able to speak with can verify any earlier "S" transmissions in the '03's.
Click to expand...


That would sure be a trick. TSB 3-15-8 dated 8/4/03 covers 5R55S transmissions installed in 2003 LSes built between 11/18/2002 AND 5/17/2003 ONLY.

Here is the description:
LINCOLN:
2003 LS

ISSUE
Some 2003 vehicles built between 11/18/2002 and 05/17/2003 with the 5R55S transmission may exhibit harsh shifts.
Click to expand...
 
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