2003 2 Wheel Drive Transmission info

[joezek]

I'm buying a 2003, 5.4L, 2 wheel drive eddie bauer edition. It's got the tow package. I have 136K miles on it.

What transmission model should be installed, and does it have any known issues?

In comparison, my 98 explorer has a 5R55E 5 speed automatic, and they're gauranteed to have valve body leaks which cause all kinds of wierd driving problems. Besides the valve body, it's a great transmission.

So what problems are there, if any at all, with the 4 speed automatic in the Expeditions?

When I get the truck, is there anything I should do right away- upgrade the cooler, better fluid, ? I'm being very cautious and preventing anything expensive from happening.

 

[joezek]

To answer my own question, and also for anyone else who cares besides me, the two transmission options are 4R70W and supposedly 4R75E. I don't know which is which, but pretty sure the 70W is the 2003 tranny.

Looks like a real good transmission, which was beefed up in 1999 after a few concerns about durability. It's pretty indestructible according to the articles I've read. It's built to withstand 506 Lb/Ft of torque according to Ford's engineering data, and there are false rumors that the 70 stands for 700 lb/ft torque.

Guess I'll just keep clean fluid in it and not worry about anything.

 

[ELVATO]

Read here: http://expeditionforum.com/showthread.php?t=4622&highlight=transmission+change

Surefire way to tell are in posts 6 and 8, namely by way of the door sticker.