Automatic transmissions used on 1996 and other Explorer models come equipped with complex electronic controls that make it difficult to troubleshoot without the proper equipment and training. Nevertheless, there are a few problems you may experience with your 1996 Explorer transmission that you may be able to solve at home.
There are four common problems you may encounter during the normal service life of your 1996 Explorer automatic transmission: trouble with the shift mechanism; downshifting issues; noises, rough shifting and no drive either forward or reverse; and leakage problems.
Diagnosing problems related to downshifting issues and noises, rough shifting or lack of drive, may require special equipment and technical skills. In such case, you are better off taking your Explorer to your dealer or auto shop. Most shift mechanism problems are due to a maladjusted shift cable or neutral start switch. When this happens, you can only start the engine in a gear other than "Drive" and "Neutral"; the gear indicator points to the wrong gear; or you can move the vehicle when in "Park." With fluid-leaking problems, check the pan gasket, filler pipe rubber seal, the speedometer connector O-ring and transmission seals.
Without the proper equipment and necessary skills, it would be difficult for you to troubleshoot a noisy transmission. Yet noises can be misleading. Before blaming the transmission, make sure the noise is not coming from the wheel bearings, a dry universal joint or the engine itself. All these components may produce noises when problems arise, which can be wrongly attributed to the transmission.
For those transmissions problems that you can check at home, you will only need a handful of common tools: a screwdriver, set of wrenches, set of ratchet and sockets, and pliers. Still, transmission electronic controls store specific trouble codes in your 1996 Explorer computer memory that you may be able to retrieve using a scan tool. These codes will give you an idea about the type of problems affecting your transmission before you take it to the auto shop.
Just like the engine on your 1996 Explorer, the automatic transmission requires a change of oil and filter at recommended manufacturer intervals. After a period of service, the oil becomes contaminated with dirt, friction material, metal particles and other contaminants. If these particles remain in the transmission oil for a long period of time, they will accelerate parts wear and failure. Check your car owner's manual for the recommended oil change intervals for your particular model and replace the oil to avoid serious problems and increase the life of your Explorer transmission.
