2001 4.0 4X4 auto NO REVERSE

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Tombstones81

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2001 Sport Trac 4.0 V6 4X4 auto transmission. 177K

Out of the blue, it started acting up for my wife a couple days ago.
Said reverse wasnt working.
& when I went out, it did.
(thought it was her & not the truck)

2 days later.... no reverse at all.
Tested it when it was warm when she got home last night & told me.
& Also numerous times after it got cold.
No change.

All other gears work just fine.
Only thing I didnt check, was to put it in 1st & see if it would engine brake at speed.
(did a bunch of searching & reading last night & read that)

Never noticed any problems in Any gear before, or grinding, or hard shifting etc

& No its not low on fluid! haha

No difference in 4X4 High or Low or 2WD

So in simple terms.

What am I looking at?
Yes I know it can be a whole Slew of things.
But mostly what I read had more problems then just no reverse.

Possibilities of it being an easy, only have to drop the pan to replace a part fix?
or professional shop?

Worth just getting a Good used trans & just having them swapped?

Or just sell it to someone else to fix & get another vehicle?

& last.
what transmission is in this truck?
The 5R55E???
just so I know which specific trans to ask for when calling around for a Possible replacement.

Thank you
 
The early 01 had issues with blowing the valve body gasket. It was a molded design to the spacer plate and would leak.
You can install the updated gasket and spacer.

It also could be the solenoid pack, or its the reverse band servo bore is leaking or stuck.

OR she didn't have it completely in gear

OR the shifter cable bracket on the trans is rusting or rotted causing a misalignment.

Gotta look into it.
 
Update.
I read if the Reverse band is broken, I wouldnt have drive if put into 1st gear (gear selector)
Also read something that I cant Exactly recall, about no engine braking in 1st gear.

I just drove around my block to readjust my wifes parking job with no reverse
So I dont have to go push a 4000lb vehicle back up a Slight incline to get out AGAIN! haha

Drove in 1st gear around the block no problem.
But ZERO engine braking & obviously still no reverse.

Also didnt sound smooth turning, that sounded more suspension related.
I did do "Something" to my front passenger side after hitting a HUGE pothole weeks ago but could not locate any damage.

Only ever replaced my grand ams axles.
But Axles go into the trans? or transfer case? I dont know

but could that have caused a problem?
 
Don't think they are related.... the band could be cracked and just slipping, or it was just a fluke.... Drive it normally and see.
 
Drove it yesterday to the store.
Grinding sound from the front passenger side just got louder & louder.
actually affecting the steering where I felt the truck Slightly wobbling.

Sounds as if the brake rotor is bent like a bmx rim
but I already checked that after hitting the pot hole weeks ago.

crawled under & didnt see any axle damage
or any other damage!

Until I jack it up & take the rim off, im stumped
 
Can ANY kind of suspension damage affect reverse?
Basically, anything between where the axles go in & to the rim.
I was Hoping maybe the axle was damaged & partially pulled out but nope.

where do the axles go in on this truck?

I know my grand am because ive replaced 2 or 3. (into the trans)
but i read some go into the transfer case too.

without any visual indication of damage, im just reaching for a starting point.
I think whatever got damaged from whatever I hit (me & my wife cant recall if it was a pothole or a curb haha) affected the transmission.

So now im trying to find & fix that first
 
Located the grinding noise!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Cant help but laugh!
Outside messing with the grand am prior to inspection & see my wife coming home from work.
Tires sideways and smokin! hahahaha

No idea if this could affect it moving in Reverse or not.
But its obvious I need a new Axle hahahahaha
Wont know if thats All it needs until I jack it up & start removing shit.

At least the problem "Presented Itself" hahahahahahahahahahaha
Saves me the money of having a garage Find the grinding noise for me!

Cant help but laugh.
Never seen a vehicle driving with a wheel like that!
 

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Rotor is grooved.
Axle & Wheel bearing is fuxxed!
& thats as far as I got today.
Cant get the rest of the wheel bearing off (3 bolts)
Because the last bolt is sheared smooth on the one side & I need to snag a 15mm open wrench vs only having a 15mm socket as a piece of the metal is hanging off the bolt.
ABS sensor got freakin Melted!!!

So far, need a rotor, axle, & wheel bearing with sensor.
Will know more as I take parts off.
 

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Stuck again!
Instead of trying to remove the wheel bearing, just decided to replace the whole knuckle assembly.....
Now im stuck Again, until I get a ball joint separator tool.
Lower ball joint just did Not want to budge!!!!
& is the Only thing holding it on!

New list of parts needed in total.

Rotor
wheel bearing
axle
Steering knuckle assembly.
Control arm
Lower ball joint.
Steering stabilizer
Tie rod end (gotta inspect the rest as the boot towards the outer edge of the truck is ripped)
So hopefully just a boot replacement.

A local U Pull It place has 5 or 6 2001 sport tracs & 1 2003.
I Might take a drive down next weekend & see if any are lower mileage & worth buying.
If they are old & rusted (more then surface rust).... noty

Because on rockauto, the "Daily Driver" listing is $300
the "Economy" one is $88!!!

That tells me NOT to trust the Economy one & the $300 price tag is making me go check out 2nd hand that I can verify with my own eyes!

First time ive ever seen such a hugeeee difference in prices like that!

& this has not shed ANY light on the no reverse issue!
Since I am sure this whole BS caused it.
Parts replaced might not fix it, but they sure as hell caused it.
My luck, i'll get it all done... throw it in reverse andddddddd nothing!

Also wish I knew how to & had all the tools to remove a transmission or transfer case (whatever the reverse problem is)
As the U Pull It places Transmission cost is $125 & Transfer case is $95!
Will see when I get done as if I can find the history of the sport tracs they have & find one with lower mileage that only had an accident that couldnt affect the trans... i would consider trying to get one!
 
Dead forum???

Well, 2 days trying to remove the knuckle from the lower ball joint....
2 MINUTES removing it with the proper tool~!!!!!

Day after....
Grand am with 260K failed inspection & pretty much goes to the junk yard.
(most reliable vehicle ive ever owned!)
later that day.... worthless local PIGS & their Chief PIG tows my truck away because its a "Safety Hazard"
Since it was on the street in front of my house as I have no driveway, just grass (warm winter so my yard is too soft to work on)
It was there for literally TWO DAYS too btw!

No warning, no nothing~!
Its an old but they say new ordnance they just recently FELT like enforcing.......

Stopped by yesterday & they are not charging me for holding it there or for the towing if I just have them install the parts.
or a towing cost to bring it back to my house for me to fix.

So this Saturday I'll go & yank the best one I can find from a U Pull it yard.

& since Both vehicles are down now (well the grand am is fine just not inspected)

My ass went & bought another Sport trac! (2005)

Same price as the 01 I bought last year.
But newer, lower mileage by a little bit, & FAR better condition!!!

& the painted to match hard bed cover!!! <3
Cant find any new to reference but I imagine they run $1500+ new
as the similar ones I found with cloth covers were $900+

Now to fix the 01 & let the wife use that one
 

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Yes, this forum is not that active, not much going on and people dont get notified of new posts unless they reply on it.
Also it sucks going through what you did.... I spent the entire weekend pressing frame and diff bushings only to find a cracked housing.
also you will find many people don't reply to threads where the vehicle was not properly maintained and now has issues....

I only stop in 1-2 times a week.. used to be 10-12 times a day....

the Facebook forums move a lot more.....

Here is helpful but you have to wait.

Believe me I wish I could travel working on everyone's ST and help them with the proper tools or lend them tools to get their trucks back running.

Glad your getting back on the road and everyone is safe.
 
Yeah, its disappointing as my previous motorcycles had Very active forums.

Just bought the new lower ball joint & inner & outer Tie Rods for both sides.
Headed down to the U Pull it yard now to get the entire Knuckle Assembly (& everything on it including upper control arm) & Axle.

was only going to use the steering knuckle, until they towed it.
Now I just want it back on 4 wheels & back home.

Then I can figure out what needs to be replaced from the used parts, if any are needed.
& see if the transmission is still acting up.

& I have no idea if the truck was properly maintained.
Ive only had the 01 for a year now.
Trans fluid was full & red.
& as far as my whole debacle...
Cant locate a problem if all the Visual parts are fine.
First time I ever ruined a wheel bearing, which in turn ruined the knuckle from hitting a giant hole & not sliding hard into a curb or something.

Also have problems with the new 05 to take care of as well.
The typical ignition wiring problem.
Theft light blinking & not wanting to start about 25% of the time I turn the key.
Which I looked up, is usually wiring being pulled too tight & being damaged or coming loose.
& is also affecting the gauges as the fuel gauge needs a bump on the dash sometimes to move.
& the digital mileage flickers & need a bump too.
which all indicated a bad connection.

That will be taken care of as soon as I find videos on how to take the gauges out & get under the dash.
As I like to have a Good idea on what I need to do beforehand, so I dont mess something up or break it.
Other then that, the truck is Flawless!
Cant wait to get a buffer in the spring & go over the body~!
Looks like its a Metallic Grey & Really pops up close at night!
didnt look up what exact paint it is yet tho.

off we go!

(edit)
Heres the color
Silver Birch Clearcoat Metallic - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac XLS

Sucker Reallyyyy pops for its age too!
 
Well, it happened.... just like every single other vehicle ive ever bought...
Within a week... something breaks to make it inoperable.

Getting parts for the 01 & the 05 no longer wants to start.
Stupid Theft light wont stop blinking everytime I try to crank it.
No matter what I did or tried, it always came back on when trying to crank it.
& I tried them all~!!!

$110 towing cost later... back home

Now to clean up the birds nest under the steering wheel~!

Remote starter with 10X more wires then usual.
Along with a stupid additional box & wiring to it to link your phone up to it~!!
Removal videos showed usually less then 10 wires....
Im lucky if this thing is below 60 wires!

Then.......
GPS tracking device under there too but behind the driver side fuse panel~!
The kind the buy here pay here places use to shut ur sh!t off remotely.

So now I have to remove ALL of those wires & inspect & repair all the stock wiring.
Then hope the Theft stops.
If not, remove & inspect the ignition.
If thats a problem...
Replace that with a new one, new keys, & a programmer & be fucking Done with it!!!

Got a sweet Steering knuckle & axle from the yard tho!
Just waiting on the lower ball joint & tie rods from rockauto.

Then the 01 gets fixed & see if the Reverse is still a problem.
 
Got the 05 started.
Still the same issues as Before yesterdays BS!

Basically...
Turn the key into the ON position.
If the Theft light is solid & goes off, can start it.
If the Theft light is blinking, it wont start.

So at least its able to be driven, for now.
Going to replace the ignition tho.
As the dealer I got it from did not get the truck with Any keys or fobs.
So I do not know if they Programmed the key they cut or not.

All the garbage came out no problem.
The remote starter was the main thing wired into the main wires.
Luckily those had connectors & I just pulled them out.

The GPS tracker tho.....

WHOLE nother story I am Still wondering about!!!

GPS tracking device.
Small chinese speaker behind the door fuses.
Black box speaker the size of my palm next to the radio (inside the dash)
Then theres a friggin Microphone as well!!!!

What the F**K was this truck used for????!!!

If it was hands free gps bullcrap...
Then all of this would not be hidden & tucked away like it was
especially the microphone. (rolled up far back below & behind the steering column)

Gonna probably do a history check on the truck & call the number on the GPS.

It was NOT just for a kill switch for the Buy Here, Pay Here places either.
Those are only 3 or 4 wires.

Look at the cluster of wires from the GPS! (pics below)
 

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That’s really weird. It certainly looks like someone was doing some kind of monitoring. Maybe a service vehicle (like public works or a utility company) or a delivery vehicle where they’re tracking location or giving the driver dispatch or routing directions?

Any branding or serial numbers on the speakers or microphone you could Google to check for typical applications?
 
The GPS box has all the info on it, including a phone number.

Did get the carfax report for it.
Nothing odd came up.

3 previous owners.

First owner was in NY & had the truck from New to 120K miles.
& Always had it serviced by a Ford dealership.

2nd owner took it to 133K & had it repossessed in Las Vegas.
Maybe the dealer that person bought it from put the GPS in it.
BUT, that much is More then Extreme!!!!

3rd owner took it to 156K

& now its mine until the junk yard. hahaha

Will probably call the number on the GPS just to find out anything I can.

Ignition problem still happening but not 100% of the time.
(theft light blinking & not letting it start)

Emailed a local locksmith that wont be open until Monday.
They have the equipment to diagnose the problem & cut me new keys & program them.

So im hoping its just a cheap (maybe non programmed) POS key the dealer I bought it from gave me.

Was hoping for names with the report... but of course not!
as I would have contacted them to see if they had the old keys.

& Still waiting on the 01 parts to arrive.
Then I just have to stop & buy a rotor & drop the parts off.

Calling the locksmith tomorrow.
Will update on any news.
 
Was hoping for names with the report... but of course not!
as I would have contacted them to see if they had the old keys.

Your insurance agent might be able to get the names of the previous owners, but I think most states require you to have a legal reason for them to disclose the names.

If the Carfax report lists the dealership or the shop where it was previously maintained, you can call the service department and ask them if they can email you the previous service records. I’ve had decent luck doing that with vehicles recently, as long as the dealership has maintained the records and hasn’t had a change in ownership or purged their records every so many years. Those might show the name of the previous owner.

When we bought my daughter’s car, a 2012 Fusion, the receipt for the tires was in the glove box with the previous owner’s name and phone number on it. I called him and got a good report on the car before we bought it.
 
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Not worried about it too much, being just for keys.
Driving to the locksmith tomorrow regardless if they call or not.
Most likely not as I'll be stopping by there shortly after they open.

I Should look at grabbing a couple of key fobs today & have them program them too.
 
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