15k Old Transmission Lost All Gears

[natedawg191]

My 92 Exploder has exploded. Car has 120k and 15k on a remanufactured transmission. That is a 1992 Explorer Eddie Bauer 4x4 which i belive is an A4LD?

After leaving a stop sign I heard a lound clunk! and the trunk lost all forward gears and reverse. Boom like that! Here are some Facts;

*Car shifts into park
*U joints appear intact as well as drive shaft.
*Can feel "shift positions" on shifter
*15k old trans. fluid is clean and red and doesn't smell burnt
*Fulid Pan is clear of debris
*Fluid pump is verifyed via coolant line.
*Speedo worked durring the tow home.
*4x4 Idiot light comes on as well as shift motor is heard when shifted into 4x4
*The "rear anti-lock" idiot light is on and has been for quite awhile.
*Cruise Control has never worked.
*Car did not have -or- never shifted into 4th / OD gear
*Even on jackstands give it all the gas in the world and there is no tire spin!



I don't like auto tranny's especially ford trannys. Im not looking forward to a 3rd trans. Ive been searching the forum all night.

I want someone to tell me that a sudden failiur of a brand new tranny is unlikly and it is problably something like a torque converter or a sensor somewhere.

If anyone has any bright ideas and knows this car well please give me an idea to help diagnose this problem. Help solve a headache!

Thanks

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Check the pressure with a 0-300 PSI test gauge.

 

[natedawg191]

I have a fuel pressure gauge would that serfice? and pressure of fluid off the cooler line while running? Ill have to check tomorrow after work. but in the mean time i disconnected the cooler line and ran out about 1/2 quart in 30 seconds. seems adequate?

 

[BrooklynBay]

A fuel pressure gauge doesn't go high enough to test the transmission. They might only go up to 75 or 100 PSI the most. You will need a 0-300 PSI gauge.

 

[shaggymane]

man, that really bites. Warranty?

What ever it is you're gonna have to pull it to find out.

Stupit story: A kid rebuilt a C-6 at Votec. By weeks end after I intsalled it, things were not well. What ya gonna do but pull it, crack it and have a look see?
Between him and his shop buddy, neither one torqued the pump bolts.

Is that a mechanical or electronic tranny? *they say* that if you don't set of the over drive linkage right, the mech trannies will burn up. Brooklyn would know. Myth or truth?

 

[natedawg191]

I had a few mechanic buddies direct me in the way of a bad torque converter. One said Give the Torque Converter Clutch Selonoid 12v while running and in drive (with tires off the ground and a long wire) and the TC should lock up and engage the driveline.

Ive had two tranny shops tell me that usually a trans. would die a slow slippery death. usually not suddenly without warning. The remanufartured trans came from a reputable 4x4 shop.

Am i just trying to convince myself here?

Brooklyn; What pressure should it be at? shouldn't a heavy flow indicate that a pump is plenty funtional?

 

[BrooklynBay]

# 10 in my list of useful threads has links on how to check the pressure with a test gauge. These transmissions have some electrical parts, but are not "electronic" compared to the newer 4R55E or 5R55E. Those transmissions don't use kickdown cables or vacuum modulators, but instead use shift solenoids, EPC & TCC solenoids. The A4LD uses a 3-4 shift & TCC solenoid that only turns on when it receives a ground (-) from the PCM. The 3 prong connector has + 12 volts.

 

[natedawg191]

Ahh Neg. So now that i think about it, manually locking the TC would prove only that a selonoid is bad or that the rear abs sensor is causing problems. unless there were no effect in which case it would prove that it is still either a trans. or TC.

Or is this diagnostic test not gonna do anything for me?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Start with checking the pressure. A loss of all gears wouldn't be related to an electrical issue on this type of transmission. It could be electrical on the newer electronically controlled transmissions. A loss of overdrive or converter lock up on the highway could be electrical.