What Went Wrong? Ford Ranger Tear Down

Rocket Rod and Trevor dismantle a 6R80 6 Speed Ford Ranger and Mazda BT50 Automatic Transmission to find out What Went Wrong. They even go as far as to leak down test the valve body against a known good valve body from Wholesale Automatics.
If you own a Ford Ranger or Mazda BT50 then this is one episode you just can't miss!

[@hodzy4x4]

I cannot even fathom the knowledge needed to put something like that back together. That's why these guys are at the top of the league! Great upload again Rod and Co.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Lucky we have a great team of smart mechanics who know these boxes inside out!

[@AydenDoesGames]

Thus why it’s a dying breed.

[@tyronevangraan4363]

My transmission just started playing up under load while towing when it got warm, so I decided to check online and came across this video. You guys really put it together well. Thank you for this informative video.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad we could help

[@BenMitro]

I've absorbed every step, procedure, part and tests you guys conducted blissful in the knowledge I will never have to recall or do any of it - you guys do it so much better! Cheers!

[@danastin6994]

love these videos - so interesting about how much goes into a transmission/how much can go wrong

[@davewilson4612]

Very happy with our rebuilt transmission from you guys, hoping to have a good run with it now. Cheers, Dave and Fiona, Maitland NSW

[@raystein5418]

Good Stuff Guys!. Love the way you articulate your thoughts around causes and solutions. I can appreciate your trans cooler recommendations through your informative video. Great work. Cheers.

[@rossevans1774]

Well explained and educational for Ranger and BT-50 owners with and without transmission problems.

[@vincentcarmine8731]

As a ranger owner in NZ I very much appreciated the vid , I used an Auckland based auto Trans specialist guy to sort out the shudder in the gear box and he correctly identified the valve body as the problem , Inhave suggested he get in touch with you guys and sends over valve bodies for rebuilds , the cooler thermostat was an eye opener , might get him To replace the existing one with your kit in order to get the system To run cooler and thus save the valve body wear much appreciated

[@truetierra]

What an awesome video. Thanks gents. Love these tear down type vids. Triton, Hilux, Navara boxes etc would be awesome to see broken down.

[@mrdoodle8748]

I'm impressed with the amount of engineering that goes into these boxes, & also impressed with your mechanical skills & knowledge. Love these videos.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thank you very much!

[@GrantHawkey]

Awesome walkthrough. Thanks heaps lads. 👌

[@art-is-lazy4509]

Absolutely loved it boys, and I'm a manual guy. Please follow-up with eps on all of the mainstream 4wd autos, love ur work.

[@gerardmccarthy2432]

Great breakdown and analysis. I would add that the ongoing mindset of using the torque converter clutch strategy of allowing slip instead of on-off full lockup ( to compensate for these smaller engines to move a big mass) adds miniscule converter clutch material floating through the valve block wearing like an abrasive and in some cases ruins and locks the pump bushing to the converter after blowing out the pump seal. Now add the magical lifetime fluid, and inadequate trans fluid cooling leads to failure imo.

[@stevo3644]

So good to see a tear down of one of these auto’s and glad the internals are generally reliable. I have already fitted one of your coolers and a thermo bypass valve to my PXII Ranger and also a B & M filler tube/dip stick so I can the fluid regularly.

[@todddunning6325]

Within a few weeks of picking up my ranger I spoke to several transmission specialist including you guys to get some advice as I wasn't fully convinced by ford telling me i didn't need to get my trans serviced until 150 000 and got a cooler fitted and the thermal bypass valve changed and it gets serviced every 20000 it's nice to know that most of the issues are to do with valve body

[@iainhetherington4608]

Thanks guys great description of the failures Cheers

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it Lian

[@richardharker2775]

As a young lad looking to buy his first car I questioned why there was a $2K premium for an auto. Now I can see why. Thanks for making this video, showing the faults and recommendations.

[@brianroberts3575]

Great video Rocket, love these informative sessions, keep them coming.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thanks, will do!

[@Nashic12]

Cheers guys for putting up a 6R80 tear down, do plenty of valve body replacements across the 6 Speed and 10 Speed Ford boxes.

[@michaeleldridge9794]

Great video. I had a PK and took it back to Ford 3 times during the warranty period due to intermittent faults. After the warranty expired it got worse, Ford said " you have metal in your transmission". I got it fixed and sold it and bought a manual.

[@livingtotour]

Thank you for the very informative video gentlemen. As someone who has the 3.2l Ford auto I am heard of the gremlins and its great to see 99% of the issues are an easy-ish fix when they do start. Always a pleasure watching the in-depth videos you guys do 👍👍

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Our pleasure!

[@any4wd]

love seeing the breakdown videos

[@paulturner7357]

Well done lads, very interesting TA

[@bradnorden8447]

Worked/Trained with Trev at Swinburne Uni on Stud Rd... His a good egg... Cool video guys... Top Notch 👍👍👌👌

[@MattysWorkshop]

Gday, I throughly enjoy these videos and good to see another member of the team, I always enjoy learning something new and your videos are really informative, thanks for taking the time to educate us all, cheers

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Awesome, thank you!

[@bj4explore]

Loved the video, its has given us knowledge on what to look for. You provide a great service and product.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Our pleasure!

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Our pleasure!

[@Le-Prawn]

Love technical videos like this. Keep it up! I think having more lighting in these hands on, working with smaller parts videos would be beneficial. I'm squinting in curiosity to try and see the smaller parts but am unable to make them out!

[@hanshonstatzky961]

Nice work thanks for the info

[@lindsayrixon7402]

🤦🏻‍♂️ I’m old skool, so manual gearboxes are what I’m happy with, but this just does my head in so I won’t be playing with one of these any time soon. Great job thanks 👍🏿

[@user-tv8mo9lk3c]

I heard about the rangers automatic transmission failed alot & going into alot of mechanic workshops alot but your video is absolutely awesome looks like you guys have done hundreds of ford ranger transmissions keep up the good work guys 👍

[@juliantaylor9585]

Thankyou very much, very informative. Would love you to explain further as to how the gearbox works. I was expecting something closer to a manual gearbox with selectors. I can’t fathom how this works.

[@HoodyR6]

An absolutely "CLASS" episode guys!!! 👌 Love what you have done here, and how you've done it as well. Exceptionally informative, and downright detailed. I own & drive an '18 model 3.2 Wildtrak, back here in South Africa, and honestly don't know of anyone who could and/or would be able to do such a high end re-build of this nature. If ever (touch wood it doesn't) my box "goes" I might actually consider getting a fully refurbished, and cooled, unit in from you guys. BTW, my car currently has 57k kms on the odo, as I also own & use other vehicles as well as a motorcycle or two, on a "rotational" basis.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thanks HoodyR6 and greatly appreciated.

[@matk4731]

I really like the teardown videos. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻🙃🙃

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you like them Mat!

[@chasp_0784]

Great video, more of this guys!

[@shaneberry3183]

Top video. Your trans cooler and bypass valve getting fitted tomorrow. 320,000 on my BT50. Most of those towing.

[@intersepter100]

Hey great video again. Would you mind explaining sometime how the valves work? You mentioned how the landings were an issue, can you show more please? Cheers

[@michaelcameron8904]

Thanks for the video. I found it so informative. Amazing. Thankyou. Bravo from Victoria Australia

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hayes3003]

You blokes are gold walking. Please stay in business be ause your knowledge and expertise is worth every cent. I will be ordering a cooler for my everest.

[@janboeilerehauge3335]

Wow! I love the way you even got me a carpenter to understand how automatic transmission works..... I myshelf am looking for a nice T6 platform-based 3,2 Ford Ranger Wildtrek with automatic transmission, and wasn't it because I live in Poland in Europe you live on the other side of our planet in Melbourne I would get my truck serviced at your place... Keep up the great videos.....Cheers mate!

[@cytuber]

Great video. Most of it's over my head but I get the basic idea. Cheers.

[@user-hr6bj8dt1i]

Had my PX2 ranger valve body replaced with the nomand.. nice sharp gear changes.. after watching this video I know I need the billet torque converter to make the ranger spot on. Great videos

[@rogerpearson9081]

Good video thanks. Its a very specialized job and your experience makes all the difference. I would enjoy the satisfaction of rebuilding and adding a few upgrades to make a better box than the factory. Much as I would love to give it a go, this is a job for the pros with the experience and the skill and the tools. I personally would avoid Rangers like the plague but the epicyclic gearset was impressively heavy duty. and the gearbox as a whole looks up to the job of handling heavy duty without too much strain. I agree 100% about the oil temp killing the oil and then the lifetime is finished. My Commodore had an external oil cooler and the oil never got dark even when I was a bit naughty and didn't change the fluid as regularly as I should. Manufacturers try all sorts of things to eke out a bit of extra fuel economy with thinner oils being one of their tools even if it is not the best for a long happy life. In the end just keeping fluid temps down and changing the oil occasionally is a no brainer vs the $$ of trans failure On the subject of the solenoid calibration, I am pretty sure that electronic diesel injectors are calibrated and when replaced, the correction has to be put in the ECU for pretty much the same reason. I also noticed the valve body didn't have lots of ball check valves like the older designs where it was critical to put them all back in exactly the right place or the transmission would malfunction requiring another teardown. Maybe something has got "simpler"? The flexplate design has obviously been "improved" for cheaper production rather than improved engineering.

[@andrewberg2361]

Interesting to see behind the scene of a valve body upgrade and trans internals , you guys did mine last week and a cooler and very happy . Isuzu .

[@philjeanetteball4410]

Very informative, thank you

[@iainhetherington4608]

Glad you guys know what your doing, looks like a thousand piece whit jigsaw to me Cheers

[@martintokau7326]

Thank you for the informative video guys, much appreciated.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Our pleasure!

[@leannegray9369]

This was so good and thorough how a transmission is actually broken down. I haveba 2010 pk and at transmission shop, get new torque converter. 2nd to 3rd gear revs and thumps....

[@Mattandtracyj]

❤gents, fantastic video, I don’t have a ranger but have many customers who do abs that video will really help me advise my customers and when needed, send them your way. Cheers, Matt @ HPF.

[@johnbodnar3720]

Thanks for information

[@shanefrisby1903]

Wow, so complicated. You guys are geniuses.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you liked it Shane

[@jimnaumann24]

Awesome information guys 🍻

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulmerriman5222]

This is why u guys are at top of the tree great video guys

[@juniorwest5706]

Transmissions are scary to me , thank God for men like you guys to get us chickens back on the trail... 😎👍

[@SwampySi]

Great video, well done.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thank you very much!

[@raybourne5781]

Great video and explanation guy’s

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thanks! 👍

[@kuttabull3735]

Great info guys keep them coming.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thanks! Will do!

[@jemty9564]

Mate riveting stuff to watch guys. Pretty impressed with your knowledge on this transmission. We got a px mk2 at home....transmission cooler n bypass now on the mod list. Love these vids keep them coming Cheers from 2 West Aussies in Saudi.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Great to hear!

[@stevemurnane1892]

But what was NOT very riveting, was the plate on the front of the torque converter. See what I did there..........

[@michaelconnors5339]

Awesome video, so much knowledge shared, can you do an A750 based transmission next, it's popular used in Prado, LandCruiser, Pajero, Dmax etc

[@croydonq135]

Great video, informative and interesting. Thanks

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bennettbennett681]

Cheers guys. Good video.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@garywinkworth3380]

im glad you know what your doing . i wouldnt have a clue. great video thanks.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thanks for watching Gary!

[@andrewschuetze498]

Awesome video guys thank you very comprehensive and helpful. Could I ask I have a 2013 Ranger which is making a metallic/ ringing noise in reverse and drive. Could this potentially be the separation of the flex plate to the converter issue?

[@rob4334]

Great video looks like a happy workplace. Would put a cooler on my new bt50 isuzu engine but if anything went wrong then no warranty

[@michaelb7071]

Excellent video. I reckon vaccuum test is performed dry (valve body and valve cleaned and degreased)? I tore down a handful of 30yr old ZF 4HP18 transmissions and I am intending to rebuild them as a beginner.

[@jetstreams2986]

Recently my Ford XLT150 had undergone that Operation 😅 started with jerking and Chocking of the Transmission gear between 3 and 4 knowingly the process was just amazing to know Engineering was something to Respect

[@adamads7004]

Another great vid. You just don't see this level of detail in many places. Really good to see the valve body. I have the nomad valve body in one of my vehicles and can recommend them if you tow anything. Keep up the great work. Audio a bit low. Cheers.

[@robd2096]

What was the cost?

[@blendon1463]

Great vid, good work

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@damienshelley6936]

Got a 2015 ranger, just starting to have a few issues at 170+ that was an awesome tutorial. Not found anyone in Seq, who is keen to play

[@stuartlock2255]

Very interesting to watch I have a 2007 ford ranger and has served me well but as we soon need a new vehicle for towing a 20ft van but would like to get another Ranger but I have been watching all the problems the next gen are having I thought they would be a good touring vehicle

[@scottdonna2690]

my ute px2 random slip and missed gear changes , i fitted nomad and cooler 2 years ago perfect ever since ... now just waiting for lock up kit to be available so i can do converter rearmain and lock up all at once. would love to see a video of the pontiac th350 i send down last week

[@scottryan5369]

Thanks for sharing, I've got a 2007 BT-50 auto with no reverse!

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Doesn't sond good at all Scott but give Trev a call on 03-97628004 to discuss.

[@brylyn23]

Well done Rocket and Trev,you will save a lot of money for the Ranger and BT50 family's out there, and save a few from getting ripped off.

[@johnsushchyk7933]

thank you so very interesting so much information God bless you all

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mikecharlie7721]

Great video, guys. Very informative. I own a 2007 Ford Ranger PJ with a manual gearbox, and I have an issue with 5th gear, which pops out when I I put it into 5th and I throttle on. Keep up the good work

[@jasoncurrie2597]

Have you changed the clutch to a single mass flywheel mate ? There's a kit out there that fixes this problem

[@snapcragglepop]

If or when you get this fixed get the gearbox mechanic to replace 1st gear also. I got the 5th gear upgrade on my pj, 6 months later found out that 1st is also common to pop out. It’s not as big a problem as 5th because you don’t sit in 1st very often, but it still will catch you out in traffic or low speed driving when sitting in 1st. 👍

[@turbostyler]

I just want to say thank you for going through this 6r80 gearbox tear down. I've got a 2014 bt50 that's on its 2nd auto, the first was replaced under warranty. The second box hasn't really run right for a long time, so I decided to drop the plan, replace oil and filter. I did notice small metal chunks which I reckon was from the old box as they probably reused the old converter. Regardless once I changed the oil and filter i noticed when I put oil back in the box it took 2.5L more oil than what came out! The bastards under Filled the second box which I reckon has damaged the valve body as its still shifting a bit crap, especially when cold. I used a vacuum pump to draw out the fluid which is how I know exactly how much oil came out. Anyway, I might come and visit your shop some day to see if a valve body upgrade is the way to go for what i want out of the box.

[@ampz88]

I may be wrong but there would still be fluid in the torque converter, that's where your missing 2.5L is sitting... I usually measure the oil output and refill the amount I took out. 2.5L low in fluid that gearbox would hardly be working. :)

[@drueballs90]

I've got a PX3 for a work car and notice that if I leave it sitting for a few days that it doesn't want to drive without giving it a heavy right boot! Great vid fellas

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Drue, give Trev a call on 03-97628004 and he will be able to ask all the questions and get you on track.

[@andydonagher9681]

Great video lads

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@malstarnes]

Very good Vid guys

[@andysaunders3708]

Just like the Hillman Super-Minx auto. This one was a '63 version. Lost drive, because the lugs on the back of the so-called flex-plate snapped or wore off. It was some kind of Borg-Warner trans. Unsure what I did with it. May have tried changing it to a manual, or possibly repowerd it with a 1725 manual setup, taken from a later model that got crushed when a house was demolished on top of it - it had sat, unnoticed in the garage. Anyway, hard-case to see a similar fault reappearing some 60 years later...

[@miqailmustaqim2059]

Good info

[@adambaxter9371]

i replaced my lead frame after work one night after watching how to do it on youtube, fixed the downshifting to second gear on the freeway at speed issue.

[@josedesousa5898]

Great video.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jubileeroberts118]

Loved every bit of the video and I must say I have learned alot from this... Having a gear drop on a BT50 not all the time but comes one of, did a diagnostic scan and resulted in vehicle speed sensor out of testing range and one on output shaft sensor so i think its a faulty lead frame. Cleaned all the solinodes and all work fine, but if you or anyone can give tips would be greatly appreciated thanks big fan of your channel from 🇵🇬

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it! and yes a lead frame is what you are after.

[@jimnyjaye5281]

Clunks n bangs, flairing of rpm. Black oil after 3 days and a couple of hundred km. Then fitted a reco box through Ford. I fitted the bypass and your cooler. Going to change fluid in new trans in coming weeks so it'll be interesting to see the colour after 12 months and 60k km. Guess major failure of the valve body due to heat. Always towed in 5th.

[@chrisduckworth2022]

Great video and relevant to me with a PX1 Wildtrak. I read many posts in forums rubbishing the Ranger/BT-50 gearboxes but it seems your experience and this video shows that on the whole they are not that badly constructed (aside from the parts you have mentioned). My Wildtrak is approaching 180K kms and doesn't do much towing at all but does frequent 4WD trips (High Country mostly and not seriously hard core). The only trans work that has been needed is to replace the trans fluid as it was tested and found to have a small amount of water present. Even doing that had a noticeable change in how smooth the trans operated. I was also advised that adding an aftermarket trans cooler with my use cases would not be good value for money... however I am now wondering if spending a grand on a cooler and bypass setup might fend off the need to spend a lot more later on. Ford Service told me that the slightly rough gear changes when the car is cold is due to the trans fluid not yet being up to operating temp and once it warms up it becomes smoother.. something I would agree with. If a trans cooler is fitted, does the trans fluid being used also get changed ? I only ask because I was reading somewhere that the OEM fluid is rated to operate at approx 80 degrees, which is pretty much where my engine sits under most normal conditions. Besides regularly (what is regular for this by the way ?) changing the trans oil, are there any other things that should be done to keep the Ranger transmission in good nick ?

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Chris, my advise is Nomad Valve Body that comes with the thermal bypass valve and you will end up with a fully serviced transmission including new oil filter and pan gask and the oil cooler.

[@buddyrojek9417]

@@WholesaleAutomatics after showing me that flex plate I will stick to my C6 auto

[@rogerpearson9081]

It only takes one crap part to build a bad reputation even if the rest is up to the job. Fords still have a reputation for weak front ends thanks to the original falcon even though it was quickly fixed. Still wouldn't touch a Ranger though.

[@andothemando9695]

Great video...

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnprosser2142]

Thank you so much for that! My wife and I are looking at Ford Rangers and just wanted to know what sort of kilometers is this likely to happen at and what's the likely cost of a rebuild! Thank you very much!

[@gordonbarclay6106]

Awesome video keep it up...

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thanks, will do!

[@petercocks7209]

Have you ever worked on old td5 discovery 4 speed autos and torque converters

[@Slabbert90]

Please do a ranger 10R80 transmission common problems and fixes?

[@miceinoz1181]

The GM 4L/5L boxes have a worse circlip holding the centre support. These are not too bad to remove by comparison.

[@bobkats]

Rod can you guys look at the Toyota box in the V6 Petrol 120 prado please? We tow a van, have an oil cooler, no problems as yet 391000km top to bottom engine rebuild, looking for a heads up on any future problems ours is a 2005 build.

[@fhclappen8595]

Very interesting. My 2012 3.2 4 x4 auto Wildtrak has done 296 000 km. Never had a problem with the gearbox. The gearbox oil has never been change. Ford stated the gearbox oil is a "livetime oil", no mention of how long the livetime is. Loved your video, only probleam, is the sound volume is low, a specialy when you turn your heads away from the microphone. Much easier than a gearbix to fix. Great going guys.

[@rogerpearson9081]

Lifetime oil = till the oil dies and subsequent lubrication failure kills the transmission.

[@blairknight7793]

I have a px3 2019, from new it seems to grab too hard as the revs rise when you move off, almost like a gentle thump through the body, it also grabs gears too hard sometimes if you're coasting at 50-60kph then you accelerate gently, once it literally hurt my back it grabed so hard, does it extremely rarely though. 45,000kph on the clock, 6 months of warranty left. Thinking of leaning on Ford to sort it.

[@jamesmedina2062]

I loved this video. I was not expecting it. I have a question. I have a 351C on a C-6 and I am envious of this with 10 speeds!😮 How can I run more speeds and save myself fuel? I know there is the AOD and E4OD but what is the best transmission that will retrofit with some work?

[@Metalman666xx]

Gee I hope all in bolts go back in the correct spots. Normally they breed and there's always extra ones left over at the end I find.

[@michaelbosman2512]

Thanks for the great video. I just missed the part where you remove the filter. I have experienced that the filter isn't held in very securely so I don't know how it would stay in place with your "upgraded" oil pan because it seems that the original oil pan is the only thing stopping the filter from dropping out of the valve body.

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

The deep cast pans have raised posts mouled into the pan that holds filter up into place.

[@terryiliffe1482]

one last question - how many different solenoids / variations do they run in these gearboxes. ie 5 different variations and numbered 1 to 5? How are the solenoids numbered?

[@edwardgodsell]

It was good to watch

[@WholesaleAutomatics]

Thatnks Edward!

[@ashleywells1307]

My 2016 bt50 I had a cooling system up grade and new valve body I tried the manual gear selector I now can’t select any gears manually could it be the valve body or another separate problem