5R55S slipping into Neutral at stop

TheDarkPath

forum member
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Posts
187
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
Hi everyone,
I tried searching and couldn't find much out there. I have an 06 auto with a Circle D stalled 5R55S and at times when I come to a somewhat quick stop, it seems the transmission drops into neutral. If I give it some gas, it will engage back into 1st and drive normally again without me touching the shifter. What could cause this?

I found one post online where it was suggested this could be due to low trans oil. To test, could I just use a hand pump to pump additional oil up into the hole in the plug until it drips back out (meaning full)?
 

datmbn

forum member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Posts
95
Reaction score
22
Location
Sweden city Motala
Yes but I sudgest you leave 3-4 dl "to mutch" oil in there, I have to do that with mine to get it work as it shudd.
It seams that some oilfilters are not so good in picking upp oil.
regards Mats
 

TheDarkPath

forum member
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Posts
187
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
Yes but I sudgest you leave 3-4 dl "to mutch" oil in there, I have to do that with mine to get it work as it shudd.
It seams that some oilfilters are not so good in picking upp oil.
regards Mats

What is the best way to leave 3-4 dl over the full level with the way it's pumped in through the bottom of the plug? Wouldn't it continue to drip out until at the full line or do you just add extra and then quickly screw in the torx bolt?
 

Forty61

forum member
Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Posts
1,166
Reaction score
1,060
Location
Dallas, TX
I’m sure someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in but I don’t think having ‘to mutch’ oil is a correct solution.
 

JJ427R

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
Posts
3,305
Reaction score
1,205
I would suggest not guessing and take it to your local Ford dealer or certified mechanic and have them check it. I'd also have em investigate the fluid for metal particles.
 

Iceman62

Bullitt 6005
Joined
Feb 5, 2017
Posts
1,297
Reaction score
386
Location
NE
I've only torn into a tranny couple of times & "luckily" everything worked, when done, w/"0" spare parts on bench. If you're not familiar w/this type of maint., agree w/ others, get to reputable shop & have them check it out. Most will have free estimates.
 

TheDarkPath

forum member
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Posts
187
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
Thanks for all the replies. Let some oil out to check it and it looks in need of changing but not burnt so that is good. No metal bits in what I saw. Filled it back up (was about 2/3 qrt low) then cycled a few more quarts in. If it still misbehaves, going to take it in.
 

07 Boss

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Posts
3,831
Reaction score
968
Location
Sin City
Any metal debris should be picked up by the little magnet in there so it's hard to find metal in the fluid itself. I might try dropping the pan to really see if you have a large accumulation picked up by the magnet. I say this because it sounds more like a sticking valve body which can easily be cause by debris, but I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to these synchronous transmissions. I'm on my third one by the way.
 

stv_huff

Stock
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Posts
179
Reaction score
11
Location
TX
I just had mine rebuilt and it’s doing this. Taking it back in Wednesday I’ll let you know what they say.
 

TheDarkPath

forum member
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Posts
187
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
I just had mine rebuilt and it’s doing this. Taking it back in Wednesday I’ll let you know what they say.

I hope it's nothing major for you! Yes, please keep me posted.

As an update for me, I bought a fill adapter for $13 and with car at operating temp, it did take about 2/3 of a quart to be full. I let it cool off, drained some oil, it is not burnt and looks normal for used oil. I cycled in about 4 quarts making sure it was full at the end. Test drive yesterday was good, no slipping into neutral, temps staying about 10-13 degrees cooler than before, and no other issues reported by feel or via datalog. Time will tell.

I had a mechanic friend tell me it could also be the pump inside the trans and if that is the case, I'm looking at a new transmission. So far, that doesn't seem to be the case.
 

Derf08

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2018
Posts
39
Reaction score
5
Trans pump replacement would not require a new transmission unless the pump has blown up and turned into shrapnel or you ignored a slipping problem for to long and clutches and bands are all burnt up.

The pump sits directly behind the Torque Converter. To remove it you have to separate the Engine and transmission, remove the TC and then remove the pump. Install is the reverse.

To the OP, low fluid can cause the transmission to not engage or hold gears very well. These transmissions are VERY level sensitive. Do you have any leaks?

To figure out how to check and level the fluid this vid is one of the best ones. You don't need fords specific tool. You can make one using two brass fittings (1) 1/8" NPT male to Female NPT thread adapter (1/8 or 1/4), (1) male NPT to match the female NPT on one end and whatever hose barb size matches the tubing from the pump you're using.


The car MUST be running to check the fluid level correctly or you will under fill it. When the pump is off (car is turned off) the fluid level in the pan will be higher than when it's running since the pump is not drawing fluid.

I've done this a procedure a few times and even made a trans fluid pump because I can pressurize it and transfer 6-7 quarts in a couple minutes sitting along side the car vs fighting with the mess and stress of a hand-pumping each bottle. from under the car.
 

TheDarkPath

forum member
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Posts
187
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
Thank you for the details here. After reviewing how much fluid I cycled out versus how much I added (checking level while trans temp in proper range and car running), the trans was actually 2 quarts low. I have never seen a leak under my car or oil left behind anywhere. No evidence of leak under the car. Last time trans was maintained was when I had the torque converter installed. I wonder if they didn't fill it properly then.

Since filling it up, the drop into neutral issue has not recurred.
 

Derf08

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2018
Posts
39
Reaction score
5
That's odd that you never experienced issues until now being two quarts low.

Glad you got it figured out though. It is possible that it was under filled from the previous work.

I would recommend checking the level again after a few weeks to make certain nothing has changed.
 

JJ427R

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
Posts
3,305
Reaction score
1,205
Had similar happen to mine after overheating it on track, blows the fluid into the bell housing and then ended up all over the bottom of my car. Then on my way home it started to slip a little bit. That was when I added the JDM Engineering Catch Can and changed my pan to the Performance Automatic with a dipstick.
 

TheDarkPath

forum member
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Posts
187
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
That's odd that you never experienced issues until now being two quarts low.

Glad you got it figured out though. It is possible that it was under filled from the previous work.

I would recommend checking the level again after a few weeks to make certain nothing has changed.

The only thing I can think is it was left low when the converter was installed but not sure I only recently experienced issues. The car hasn't been driven much the last few years so maybe I just didn't drive it enough to notice symptoms.

I'll check it again after driving it some more.

I have a separate thread in the drag racing section about the car's performance where it seems like the transmission is slipping (even after filling it up) and costing me top end speed. It also looks like the converter locked up in the middle of 4th gear causing a drop in RPM enough that I felt a shudder. I data logged it and will be going back through it tonight. I am worried there is still something wrong in the transmission.
 

TheDarkPath

forum member
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Posts
187
Reaction score
4
Location
Houston, TX
Had similar happen to mine after overheating it on track, blows the fluid into the bell housing and then ended up all over the bottom of my car. Then on my way home it started to slip a little bit. That was when I added the JDM Engineering Catch Can and changed my pan to the Performance Automatic with a dipstick.

We're you on a road race track or 1/4 Mile drag strip? My transmission isn't getting close to overheating by the end of the drag strip.
 

JJ427R

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
Posts
3,305
Reaction score
1,205
Road courses, after a couple 20-25 minute sessions it will start to overheat, I've had it up to 250-260*, it will then start shifting itself into overdrive even though turned off. No problem for me on 1/4 mile either.
My 18 GT PP1 however did not last 12 minutes on track before it went into limp mode. My Supercharged Roush outlasts it which I could not believe.
 

BigBeeBaby

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2021
Posts
3
Reaction score
2
Hi everyone,
I tried searching and couldn't find much out there. I have an 06 auto with a Circle D stalled 5R55S and at times when I come to a somewhat quick stop, it seems the transmission drops into neutral. If I give it some gas, it will engage back into 1st and drive normally again without me touching the shifter. What could cause this?

I found one post online where it was suggested this could be due to low trans oil. To test, could I just use a hand pump to pump additional oil up into the hole in the plug until it drips back out (meaning full)?
Could be a early warning sign if a bad overdrive sprag.. Mine did the same thing a couple times before it stopped working completely.. I made a video about it, hope this helps..
 

Latest posts

Support us!

Support Us - Become A Supporting Member Today!

Click Here For Details

Sponsor Links

Banner image
Back
Top