Tranny problem?

I bought a 97 explorer about 2 years ago and it has been a nightmare. It had 87,000 when I bought it. I had it about a month when I went on a hunting trip to S.D. and was driving down a dirt road in reverse when I stopped, then tried to go again......no go, high pitched grinding noise. I shifted into drive and it worked and I drove off. Off the same problem when I was going down the road and would let off the gas the high pitched noise would return only to go away when I stepped on the gas. It sounded like something was slipping. I took it to a Ford dealer and they said something about some sort of clutch that was used in "engine braking" and reverse. When I got back home I took it to the dealer here and they claimed the transfer case needed to be replaced. I'm not mechanically inclined so I didn't know. I took it in they fixed it. Anyway now 2 years later the o/d light was blinking. Took it in and mechanic says the readout claims the torque converter is bad. Have it replaced. A week later it doesn't start....turns over but no spark. Crank sensor replaced. Got it back yesterday and going down the road and let off the gas and slowed to 45 mph when the high pitched grind returned. I hit the gas again and it went away. It seems to be happening when the truck decellerates and hits about 45........sounds like a slipping/grinding noise but when I hit the gas it "catches" and goes away. What do you think the problem is?

I have that same problem with my 97 mountaineer. As soon as I hit 45/50, the tranny either make that noise, slips and I have to baby shift it by letting off the gas lightly, or just sits at 3500 rpm and shifts VERY hard. My mechanic said to have the tranny replaced or serviced. Its possible the rings need to be adjusted. Because it has 107,000 on it and is AWD, he suggested I buy either a rebuild tranny or new one. The rebulit is MUCH cheaper, $1,500 and has a 50,000 mile warentee. Because I'm 16, I don't have the money, but I do know a bit about cars. And ford trannys in the 97/98 mountaineer/explorer aren't the best. Best of luck to you!

Here's iorney if i've ever seen it. 2 days after i posted that reply, my O/D Off light started flashing. The mechanic said it was a valve body in the tranny. And it was about 1/3 of the way fried. I ended up getting a new transmission $2,000 later..........

I have a 97 Ford Explorer Sport that is in its 4th visit to 2 local shops. We started feeling & hearing a thump in the rear end after hitting bumps in the road. Sorta sounds like you're crossing the dotted white line in the middle of the highway and you hit one of those plastic reflectors- that's the noise- except you aren't hitting a reflector. It's coming after a bump/ railroad tracks/ and now when going uphill, accelerating...used to be we would be going 60mph to make it happen, now it's happening at 25. Aamco transmission shop has no clue how to fix it. They thought it was either the rear wheel bearings and seals (which we replaced), the rear emergency brake shoes (which we replaced) or the differential needed draining. (which we paid to happen) Still the same problem. Another local shop has it now- told me almost 3 weeks ago that he thought a gear or chain was stripped in the transfer case- except he puts the truck on the rack, takes the xfer case apart, and finds that it's in good shape. Doesn't need to be replaced. He delves a little deeper, and finds a wave spring broken off in 3 pieces, wedged in between 2 other parts inside the xfer case. Paid $100+ to get the part, they install it. Put everything back together- and the thump in the rear end is still there. Today I am being told it might be the "parking pall" and they have pulled out the transmission pan. Can anybody help us with this??? The transmission was overhauled/ worked on by our local Ford Dealership over 3 years ago. The truck has 142,000 miles on it- 1997 year model. The noise/thump is getting worse- the mechanic has also noticed that he put the truck in reverse, it wanted to stay in neutral, he gave it a little gas, and the truck "jerked" and went into reverse- it's done that a couple of times with us- and the mechanic has noticed it in the 3 weeks they've had it. They have taken the truck for many test drives..

I really hope that you were able to find a solution to your tranny problem. I am in the middle of the exact same problem. It whines in reverse and when in drive when I let off the gas it whines. I found that if I give it a little gas and keep the rpm's above 1300 while appling the break it slows down to a stop without the noise. I have replaced the the tranny fluid filter with no effect. Please help me if you were able to find out what was wrong. I have two months left on the lease of this thing and wanted to get rid of it but $3000.00 for a new tranny makes it hard to walk away from it. I would would almost rather pay 3000.00 in taxes than put another doller in that thing

I have been expeerienceing a lot of these symtoms in my 2000xlt. I have been driving
with the radio off, and have been listening for the slightest unexplained rise in R.P.M., and then letting off the gas, and bliping the pedel
a little. This method has been working for
about 15,000 miles. I hope it continues .