pdknz
New Member
- Joined
- February 18, 2011
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Galena Alaska
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 95 Explorer, 91 Aerostar
Hi all--
I signed onto this forum weeks ago, as I was planning this job sometime last summer. The software this time told me it was time to post something, and I need a little help and moral support anyway, so here's another intro.
My name is Phil Koontz, and I live in Galena, Alaska. We are way off the road system, between Fairbanks and Nome, on the north bank of the Yukon River. The arctic circle is about 100 miles that-a-way, the temperature this morning is about -15, and there is a foot of snow on the ground. My '91 Aerostar has an A4LD with full time four wheel drive, and the main problem seems to be the classic low-reverse servo symptoms--it will back out of the driveway, but it won't move in OD, and the forward engagement in D takes sometimes as long as 30 seconds, especially first thing in the morning. I have it up on jackstands in a heated shop, and the tranny pan and valve body are already out of it. My plan is to do a valve body job, plus everything else I can fix or mess with while the tranny is in the vehicle.
Time is more of an issue right now than money--I'm trying to get everything ordered that seems likely to help (everything has to come by mail, and it takes about a week for stuff to get here. If things go right--). I have in hand a Transgo A4LD Jr. shift kit, the two small electric shift solenoids (TCC and 3-4 shift), plus the filter and a wrong pan gasket that needs to be replaced. (wrong parts are normal, BTW--I expect to get at least 10% bad or wrong parts).
I've been through most of the relevant threads, with great interest. I have an ATSG manual for the A4LD and a Chiltons for the Aerostar. I'm a fairly competent shade-tree mechanic with no previous experience on trannies.
The vehicle in question has about 100k miles, presumably with no previous maintenance on the trans. It's incredibly dirty inside, but the crud seems to be basically wear products. The fluid was full, not burnt, but nearly black with dirt.
So, now to the first question.
What is the fix and the essential replacement parts for the Low-reverse servo? I don't see any issues with it, except for the dirt, which I have already removed.
I haven't pulled the separator plate yet, but my impression of the job is just to remove, clean and inspect each valve spool one at a time, replacing what I can, which is basically the parts I've listed above. I'm planning to order parts today, starting with a boost valve (the high ratio boost valve with O-rings, right?), another pan gasket, and a set of numbered drill bits for the shift kit. All I can seem to find for the L-R servo is a gasket and this-
A4LD 4R44E 5R55E Transmisse reverse servo D ring kit
from Transmission Parts USA. I can't seem to figure out what a D ring kit is, or if it's gonna help.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
PK
I signed onto this forum weeks ago, as I was planning this job sometime last summer. The software this time told me it was time to post something, and I need a little help and moral support anyway, so here's another intro.
My name is Phil Koontz, and I live in Galena, Alaska. We are way off the road system, between Fairbanks and Nome, on the north bank of the Yukon River. The arctic circle is about 100 miles that-a-way, the temperature this morning is about -15, and there is a foot of snow on the ground. My '91 Aerostar has an A4LD with full time four wheel drive, and the main problem seems to be the classic low-reverse servo symptoms--it will back out of the driveway, but it won't move in OD, and the forward engagement in D takes sometimes as long as 30 seconds, especially first thing in the morning. I have it up on jackstands in a heated shop, and the tranny pan and valve body are already out of it. My plan is to do a valve body job, plus everything else I can fix or mess with while the tranny is in the vehicle.
Time is more of an issue right now than money--I'm trying to get everything ordered that seems likely to help (everything has to come by mail, and it takes about a week for stuff to get here. If things go right--). I have in hand a Transgo A4LD Jr. shift kit, the two small electric shift solenoids (TCC and 3-4 shift), plus the filter and a wrong pan gasket that needs to be replaced. (wrong parts are normal, BTW--I expect to get at least 10% bad or wrong parts).
I've been through most of the relevant threads, with great interest. I have an ATSG manual for the A4LD and a Chiltons for the Aerostar. I'm a fairly competent shade-tree mechanic with no previous experience on trannies.
The vehicle in question has about 100k miles, presumably with no previous maintenance on the trans. It's incredibly dirty inside, but the crud seems to be basically wear products. The fluid was full, not burnt, but nearly black with dirt.
So, now to the first question.
What is the fix and the essential replacement parts for the Low-reverse servo? I don't see any issues with it, except for the dirt, which I have already removed.
I haven't pulled the separator plate yet, but my impression of the job is just to remove, clean and inspect each valve spool one at a time, replacing what I can, which is basically the parts I've listed above. I'm planning to order parts today, starting with a boost valve (the high ratio boost valve with O-rings, right?), another pan gasket, and a set of numbered drill bits for the shift kit. All I can seem to find for the L-R servo is a gasket and this-
A4LD 4R44E 5R55E Transmisse reverse servo D ring kit
from Transmission Parts USA. I can't seem to figure out what a D ring kit is, or if it's gonna help.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
PK