A4LD Converter Won't Unlock

[Bigboytoys]

My buddy picked up a 91 exp on the cheap. The reason is the converter won't unlock all the time when coming to a stop and stalling the motor. This is a great little truck and is going to be a trail only truck so the lock up is not needed. I have done some searches and testing and have come up with some info. We believe the solenoid is not retracting properly after power is removed from it. If we cut the purple and yellow wire in the 3 wire connector will this disable the lock up? Could we remove the solenoid? Any other options for a cheap repair?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! The valve body will have to be removed to replace the solenoids. You might as well replace both at the same time. You could clean them, and perform a "click test" by applying 12 volts to see if they are opening & closing while spraying brake cleaner or WD50 into them.

 

[Bigboytoys]

We've cleaned the solenoids 3 times already. Before that we did an oil filter change then a complete trany flush. No dice. The solenoid works for a while, then hangs up. It's only a trail truck, no hi-way use, so lock up is not required. Will it hurt the transmission to run without lock up? The more money we spend on this transmission the less perfect parts we could put into it.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Either the solenoid is bad or the spool is sticking inside of the valve body.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check this part: https://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=400-00056995A

56995A A4LD Torque converter clutch anti-shudder spring.
Description:
This spring helps prevent shudder related to the converter clutch apply.

 

[Bigboytoys]

If we cut the purple and yellow wire in the 3 wire connector
will this disable the lock up? Will it hurt the transmission to run without lock up?

 

[Willard]

Since it's a trail only truck you can just disconnnect the soleoid connector on the transmission and be good to go. Now this would take away lockup and OD, but if it's trail only you don't need that. It won't hurt anything. There are two connectors on the transmission, the one you want should only have four pins, the other has more I think. If nothing else, disconnect one of them and see if the OD and lockup stopped working. If not then disconnect the other one.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The connector for the 2 solenoids has 3 pins.

 

[Willard]

Whoops, yea your right BB. I forgot there was a common ground there.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The center pin is a common positive. The individual solenoids get activated by separate ground signals from the PCM.

 

[Bigboytoys]

Thank you very much that's the info I wanted.

 

[Bigboytoys]

Well it jammed up again! Any one got the complete write up, link or photo's on how to pull the valve body and get the spool's out and back together?

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137972

 

[Bigboytoys]

Thank you very much, I knew you guys would come through.

 

[Bigboytoys]

After much pissing around we dropped out the entire valve body and low and behold the gasket was falling apart in many places. Think that would cause that?