Ford Explorer: 96 Explorer Auto Transmission Repair cost/options?

I have a 96 Explorer XL with a 4.0 V6 & automatic transmission (I
assume 4R55E?) It has 135,000 miles on it, I bought it with 45,000
miles. As far as I know, it has the original tranny. It began slipping
a few days ago, I had a shop check it out. They say it is slipping in
& out of 2nd gear. They would have to take it apart & rebuild it.. at
a cost between $1,400-2,200. They say they can't tell how much it will
cost until they take it apart. Of course I doubt it will be at the low
end of the price range. I plan to call around & get some quotes. From
the research I have done, this price seems to be about average.

I'm not sure how long I plan to keep the vehicle & was considering
trading it in on something else. I am considering less expensive
repair options. What would be a reasonable price to buy a used or
rebuilt transmission & what is a reasonable price to pay a shop just
to swap them rather than do a rebuild? Or should I consider shopping
for a new vehicle & offering the Explorer as a trade-in without
repairing it & telling the place I am trading it to about the problem
(it would be obvious on a test drive anyway.)

I would appreciate any opinions or ideas. Thanks...

Well, you might make a "test run " first at the dealer.
I doubt you will get more than about 2500.00 for a trade in at the dealer,
regardless of the trans. There are a Zillion used explorers avalable at
auction, and one with high miles they simply don't want.

I would bet you money that they won't even drive it when they appraise it.
It's just going to go straight to auction anyway.

That said, if the rest of the truck is in good condition, and has a lot of
options, fixing it may be your best bang for the buck. You could consider
a junkyard trans, which you can probably get for around $400-500 + $125 to
r/r it or go for the rebuild.

If you are considering getting rid of it, you will no doubt fare better
putting it in the paper and sell it yourself. Don't lie about the trans,
but just market it as a mechanix special and you will probably get at LEAST
double what a dealer will offer as a trade.

Speaking again of trades, be CAREFUL about a dealer "working you " and
saying " sure, we'll give you $6,500 for a trade" and then the price of the
new car is suddenly $4,000 more than if you had NO trade ! They will work
it from one end or the other, but you can be SURE that the DEALER will not
be on the short end of the stick, no matter how much he tries to convince
you that he's "losing money on this deal and he could get fired ".. LOL!

I say Fix it and drive it !

Good luck!

"AZGuy" <net> wrote in message
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