Hi s-typers! I know some of you have the Ford 5r55n in your cars, and i've seen the thread/post with some really good pics and descriptions on how to open up and replace the unit's solenoid block. I tackled this recently on my mother's 2001 Lincoln LS, not having that level of hands on wrenchwork before, but was eventually successful on the swap...except I documentedWAYYY too much time loosening and tightening that upper solenoid connector bolt. It may be a little different than an s-type, and the 10mm is correct size, but I had HE-double hockeysticks manipulating it. A 1/4" drive 10mm socket will fit over the head, but it now rests up against the transmission case, no room for a 1/4" drive ratchet. I broke a 10mm wrench trying to get it to bend to a degree so I could manipulate it. A ratcheting wrench also too big.

I loosened the tranny cable bracket, but did not remove it. It took me literally - 3 hours to screw the bolt back into the case again using my broken piece of the spanner and moving it a fraction of a turn at any one time.

What was your secret to success? Why after the fact? Well, it appears, now, that her valve body may need to be replaced next, and I'll be diving into it again, if I can find a quicker way to get the solenoid connector off!

The skinny on the events leading to this is as follows...

• convince mother at 89,000 miles, she needs to have her pan dropped, new filter installed and fluid added.
• she gets parts, takes to an indy to do the work, and returns
• her CEL comes on within a few days with a 'check transmission' message, codes pulled show solenoid B problem, no 5th gear, misfire, and her cat efficiency was beyond threshold on passenger side bank.
• I check her fluid level correctly, and find it 3 quarts low. I add the missing fluid plus one bottle of the red lubeguard, hoping the solenoid got stuck and new fluid would fix it. The smell of the tranny and fluid that exited the drain plug when I added more was burned. Great. Informed mother to not drive more than she has to, no highways, and she limited herself to 1-2 mile, residential trips.
• I found her bad coil and replaced it along with her catalytic converter to resolve the CEL.
• 3 weeks later, drained the tranny, pulled the pan, removed the old solenoid, replaced with a refurbed unit, filled it back up (took 6 quarts) plus one bottle of red lubeguard again, and took a test drive. No codes, no problems shifting. I thought I had gotten away with it.
• 2 days later, she calls and tells me the check transmission message is back...and if the fluid level is ok, I'm thinking it will say P1744, having something to do with excessive slipping of the torque converter clutch, caused by either the TC itself, or the modulator sleeve a valve in the body that corresponds to proper TCC apply.

So, back to my question... Tell me an easy way to get the bolt? If I must, I'll reply with a closer pic of my 'working area' its really tight, and I have small hands relative to most guys I know. There's a supertool, isn't there?

 

pics?

 

Secret to success in this case: a 12 point stubby wrench (I prefer 6 point, but in this case, 12 point helps). And lot's of patience, turning the bolt a few degrees, lifting the wrench off the bolt, and again and again.

You will be looking so much forward to the point when you can turn the bolt with you fingers...

Took longer than all of the other bolts together...

Also do a search on several posts (mine and others) on upgrading/fixing the valve body on the 5R55N