Hi, I have a 99 2.5l 4cyl ranger long bed. it has 190,000 miles on it. I don't know the service history of the truck other than what we did to it about last June-July. It used to be a city truck so first and second gears got used a lot. Anyways whenever we changed the fluid last June we pulled the pan and it had normal particles around the magnet, and the fluid looked clean. We cleaned the pan and reinstalled it. we filled it up with fluid and went with it. The truck always shifted hard in first and sometimes second gear and its always been sluggish feeling. i have checked my trans fluid multiple times and it looked just like it did when we put it in. Recently it hasn't been shifting hard in first and second as much as it used to and it has me slightly concerned. Also it seems like it takes forever to get out of first. i cant tell the rpms though because i don't have a tach. It makes a whining noise in first as well. ALSO it shifts better when i have a trailer behind it for whatever reason. Hope you can point me in the right direction with this. thank you

 

Transmission vacuum modulator going bad or a vacuum leak in the line going to it is the only thing I can think of that would make it take longer to shift, and then work better when pulling a load.

 

You have a 4R44E automatic, Rangers got these in 1995, no vacuum modulator, these were the first full computer controlled automatics in Rangers
The 4R44E and 5R44E are the same transmission internally, these were used with 4cyl engines and the 3.0l V6
The 4R55E and 5R55E were used only with the 4.0l engines, they have larger overdrive drum, but are essentially the same as the 4/5R44E transmissions internally

So when looking at transmission problems any of these numbers are interchangeable

You are describing a "flaring" problem, thats the term for delayed shift and what feels like slipping when it does shift

Goggle: 4R44E flaring

Maybe some other descriptions will "ring a bell" with your symptoms

Generally, flaring and/or slipping means seals or gaskets in the Valve Body are leaking, and replacing valve body can be done without removing transmission.
All automatics run on Pressure, pressure is needed to engage and disengage clutches, and to engage and disengage the brakes(bands)
Slow to engage Reverse is usually first sign of lower "overall" Pressure, but flaring or slipping can be specific valve body passage's loss of pressure.

And like on any vehicle that has clutches and brakes, these wear out, because these are in a fluid, that helps them last longer, less friction and heat, but they still wear out, and you need a full rebuild to replace these.
Biggest killer of automatics is heat, trans fluid above 210degF starts to shorten the life of the parts, second trans cooler is the best $65 you will ever spend if you have an automatic.

The Solenoids control the pressure routing thru the Valve Body passages, and the computer controls the solenoids
And while the computer doesn't have an "ATF Pressure gauge" it can detect shifting issues, so check for OBD Transmission codes, they will be P07xx or P17xx
Most OBD readers can get transmission codes but some can not
Transmission codes may or may not turn on the CEL(check engine light) or Flash OD light

 

thanks for the reply's guys it doesn't throw check engine lights the two i have are p1401 and something saying there is a leak in the fuel system. like if the gas cap was off. I believe it is flaring now by reading Rons post. its definently doing it between 1-2 and sometimes between 2-3. 3-4 is pretty good. So could i buy the secondary cooler anywhere or is it specific? and the valve body can be interchanged between the 4r44e and the 5r44e?

 

Yes, 2nd trans cooler can be generic but it needs to fit somewhere, Ford put them behind front bumper on vehicles with "Trailer Package" option, you can sometimes find them at wrecking yards, from any Ford truck, trans cooler is not Ranger specific, flush them well before installing if used.

I believe Valve Bodies are the same between 4R and 5R, 44E or 55E