a4ld confused

[kps]

need some help to figure out whats going on my 94 xlt 4x4, 109k tranny fluid changed each year, was changed couple months ago and then a few weeks later it developed the "cold no shift symptom" went reading on here and figured out the governor was sticking, so I have been manual shifting till it warmed up, after reading glacier991's a4ld diary I was going to replace the gov. but today everything changed, got in fired up put it in first and took off and it felt like I was in 2nd, and no reverse! I "hear" it going into reverse but it feels like the brakes are on... loads up but no go, matter of fact if I put the transmission in neutral I cant even push the xlt backwards, 1st also seems "loaded" or "straining", 2nd seems about what you you would expect starting out from a stop, if you hold it stopped and rev it up in first its holding at 2500rpm.

what really bothers me in trying to figure out this mess is whats going on in not being able to push it backwards in neutral... stuck in 2nd? and the torque converter locked up???

I figure the next step is to pull the pan and see if I see any metal and check the filter, but I would love to have some other ideas for things to check or look for... hehe I don't have a pull through garage so once it goes in I have to be able to at least free it up to push it back out!

Thanks for any help given!
Kevin

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! There is a servo piston in the area of the valve body called the low/reverse servo. It applies the rear band which controls low, and reverse functions. It is located inside of a cover with 4 bolts. Did you check your manual linkage? Check your Z link when you drop the pan.

 

[saxon]

part numbers for low/reverse servo seals & manual valve indexer sleeve

to add to what Brooklyn Bay mentioned, you might take a look at these two parts:

http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/A4LD_Manual_valve_index_sleeve_p/400-005694701.htm

and the

http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/A4LD_4R44E_5R55E_reverse_servo_d_ring_kit_p/230-00023256k.htm.

My A4LD would not go backwards in neutral or even reverse; thus my "always forward" title for that transmission. Haven't gutted it yet but seem likely that something inside that's supposed to slip became welded together. Uncommon problem. Yours sounds more like a loose or bent Z-link. When you had your fluid changed, did they drop the pan or do a flush? If they dropped the pan, maybe they somehow bumped or bent your Z-link (a lot).

Does it feel like it wants to go forward in park and reverse? Hopefully not. If so, you have my deepest sympathy. Take a look at: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156890

and

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157542

then go have a beer (to cry in).

Curious to see what Glacier thinks; I'm just a hack with a motorcycle background. I recently pulled apart one of my vintage GP bike bottom ends and rebuilt the transmission week before last. Worked perfectly at the last race weekend even though Honda sent the wrong shift forks (re-used the old ones).

 

[saxon]

Glacier photo spread on Z-Links

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155599

 

[kps]

pulled the pan

Thanks for the ideas guys, I jacked it up and went under this morning, mechanical linkage working fine, pulled the pan and the Z link is also fine, didn't pull the low/reverse servo because what I found in the pan said it all,
here are some pics... http://wa6fwf.ham-radio-op.net/transmission/

bottom line is a full rebuild and flushing the lines and coolers is needed, I had a needle bearing give way and its eating itself to pieces, I'm just really surprised that it wasnt grinding or making a terrible noise...

Oh well so much for hoping for a easy fix...

Thanks Again for the help
Kevin

 

[kps]

post mortem

well finally all apart, one of the 6 pinions exploded jamming the works which is why it was locked in gear and wouldnt move when it went into reverse or why I wasnt able to even push it backwards.... and the chunks of the gear were running around elsewhere causing havoc...