A4LD Meltdown- what now???

[wabbit]

First a bit of diagnosis...??
My tranny all of a sudden started whining loudly in both forward and reverse gear at idle or low speed. The noise quits as soon as I start moving +10 mph. No noise in park or neutral. The operation does not seem to be affected but something is wrong. It is a loud whine.
Any ideas what has gone wrong?
I'm hoping for less than a complete rebuild (dreaming...) even though I know this tranny has been questionable for awhile. It has overheated to boilover twice this year.
I know I need to get it fixed. I'd just like to know what exactly it is that needs fixed.
Any help would be appreciated...

 

[JWood]

A4LD

Not sure what the problem is regarding the whine you are hearing, but my troubles began with it just not wanting to shift properly (87,000 miles). Had it rebuilt for about $1,500; then at 135,000 miles it went out again ($1,200).

And then today, I had it back in there for a slow 1st to 2nd gear shift when it was cold. They replaced the vacuum modulator, but it turned out to be a valve assembly, which was reworked under warranty (probably a several hundred $$ repair).

Read all you can about the A4LD, find a reputable transmission shop and go from there.

Good luck...and hold on to your wallet....I sympathize with you...

 

[wabbit]

Thanks for the condolences. I'm hoping it is maybe just a certain part, like the torque converter???
Any other ideas???

 

[scott]

tq converters are a big problem with these...

mine took a nap at a stop sign. I let it cool for 10 minutes and got 2 miles down the road then it lost it's "grip" so I let it cool again so I could retry it. After getting tired of repeating this I called my ex-wife to pull me home. I called a shop and got very lucky, the guy specialized in Mustangs and other Fords. I told him what it did and he gave his phone diagnosis and an estimate. He also told me what I would see if I dropped the pan, so I did just that and he was exactly right. The rebuild, updates, tq converter, labor, fluid, etc... was about $1150. It's better now than it was when I bought it and I've had no problems since.

 

[RFR2212]

Ya know, call me crazy, but I hear quite a bit of peoplr having problems with their explorer trans'. I mean, are people takin them to bad shops? abusing them? Also, mine is fine except a bit slow to shift into reverse....Once I think it nearly overheated and wouldn't **** into reverse in some really brutal offroading one day...But I don't see why anyone isn't beefing them up when they go bad since everyone installs a stock rebuild. Is there that few a parts available for our trans...Also, Advance adapters has a fwe adapters or our 4.0 V-6. I know for sure there is one for the T-5 trans and I believe you can get on from summit racing for $1300 bucks...that is off the tiop of my head.... But I can't figure out why people aren't upgrading ect...Someone help me out on this idea? Complaints comments?
Thanks, I'm done rambling...Pete

 

[scott]

well...

from my experience and research the A4LD isn't the greatest in the world. I've heard of many being rebuilt before 100K mi. Mine went out at 170,000 so it served it's duty. I was told there were several updates to be done when rebuilding them so I guess Ford found several things that could've been improved.

 

[wabbit]

if a torque converter dies alone on the trail, does it make a loud whining sound???

I'm still looking for a diagnosis of my tranny.
Loud whine in forward or reverse gear, at idle.
Whine stops when vehicle starts moving +10mph.
Is there a way I can tell if the torque converter is bad?

 

[mike91]

This may not help but....

Wabbit - did you change your tranny fluid after each boilover. That tranny fluid seems as though is has taken some abuse and is no longer protecting the tranny. If you haven't changed it since the last boilover, now would be a good time.

 

[wabbit]

Matter of fact, I just changed it...

I've heard of situations where an old tranny, running along fine, gets a fluid change, and shortly after it takes a dump... (like mine)
But I'm not attributing my problem to a fluid change.
I just don't think the whole mess needs rebuilt. It still goes, just whines loud at a stop, in gear.

 

[MikeP]

Wabbit. What about changing the auto transmission fluid "slowly" by removing a couple of quarts and adding some new fluid. This would or should avoid the "shock" of a completely new fluid. Perhaps one can suck out the old fluid through the transmission dipstick tube (I have been meaning to check to see if this works - I think I saw a post on this). The Saturday radio program in the Seattle area (KVI AM) mechanics repeatedly recommend trying the Lubegard transmission additive to help sickly automatic transmissions - they say it is worth a try as it surely beats the cost of a trans rebuild. The link to Lubegard is show below
Dead Link Removed
I notice that Lubegard has a number of transmission additives.
Lastly, if someone has a recommendation of how to do this removal of the old auto transmission fluid through the dipstick tube, let us know what fluid suction pump will do this job. Good luck. Mike with 91 XLT 4x4 in Seattle

 

[jDan]

tranny fluch

My a4ld has over 150K on it and it began having trouble shifting (sometimes not shifting at all) and making some small noises I took it to the shop that i had my motor rebuilt at. For 130 bucks they did a complete flush and filter change. he said a large amount of ford trannies fry due to the valve bodies clogging up and allowing the fluid to overheat. All I can say is wow!!!! It feels like a brand new tranny. Saved me some serious bucks. hope this helps.

 

[wabbit]

a little late for a fluid change to help...

The time has come to have it worked on.
Just wish I knew what exactly has crapped out.

I'm still looking for a diagnosis of my tranny.
Loud whine in forward or reverse gear, at idle.
Whine stops when vehicle starts moving +10mph.

Of all the A4LD trannys that have given up out there, has anyone had symptoms similar to mine????

 

[CHH777]

Wabbit,

Are you sure it's your tranny making the wining sound? Sounds like it may be your power steering pump. Have you checked it?

 

[wabbit]

my ps pump is noisy too...

but.... this is VERY LOUD and only when in gear (forward or reverse) and stopped. No noise in P or N.

 

[MikeP]

Wabbit. What is the RPM reading on your Tach when this loud whine occurs? When my 91 XLT 4x4 was new, there seemed to be an auto trans growl-rumble periodically - and I could feel the "growl" vibrations by placing my right hand on the trans hump while driving. I think it is difficult to identify the noises - presently it seems I have a power steering pump "whine" (primarily at the 1800-1900 RPM range on the Tach) and a higher pitched whine from "somewhere" periodically (perhaps this is the alternator???). What is the frequency of your loud whine (i.e. high pitch or low tone)? As you know, to get a sound we can hear, one needs to get a fairly high frequency vibration of "something" (when you scratch your fingers on a chalkboard, it is your fingernails which vibrate) - so the question is "What is vibrating to give this loud whining in your auto trans?". Keep us informed.
Mike in Seattle.

 

[wabbit]

to solve for "loud whine", use the following equation:

1 large tomcat outside your bedroom window at 3:00am
Step firmly on his tale to multiply octave X 2
converted through electronic amplification
to a db level that is > (greater than) my ability to hear myself think.

Wish I could post a .wav file...

Honestly, I am not driving it. Something is broken.
Re; RPM-It happens while stopped, at idle. It does flucuate when RPM increases when stopped, but not a sound while moving along. I know this because when it started this, I did drive it home with no problems other than the noise.

I have been searching and the best diagnosis I have found is the torque converter sprag, which I'm told is kinda like a clutch assy in the torque converter.
If that is the problem that is causing the whine, I could go for just getting a new torque converter but I'm sure a rebuild wouldn't hurt either.




[Edited by wabbit on 09-19-2000 at 08:13 AM]

 

[Scott B.]

Wabbit,

What's the latest on your tranny?

 

[Chav]

what if u coast in neutral at 10mph...does it still make the noise? I'm saying this because it could be a rubbing brake or a wheel baring. Just a thought.

-Chav

 

[Nic]

Can't help with your problem, but definately know who can tell you what the reason for the lousy transmission. I had a brief encounter with the most reputable and honest tranny guy in my area. I had a modulator problem that he diagnosed and during the time we were hunting down the problem he explained that the tranny is made by a country that used some garbage parts. Instead of reengineering a quality part they made it bigger, which does nothing more that cost you extra when rebuilding. You can reach him for more info at 914 564 4299. His name is Joe.

 

[wabbit]

my dearly departed tranny... is reborn!!!

I will update that I now have a rebuilt tranny and it is working fine. Well... a few bugs to be ironed out with the shift firmness but I'm still in testing mode so I'm not yet willing to conclude the episode.
One thing I noticed is my new (rebuilt) tranny has a thumb dial adjustment where the vacuum line comes in. Kinda like the B&M cheesmo shift kit for the A4LD, an adjustable leak.
I'm still not sure if I like the idea of having it on there or not, but I do intend on messing around with it.
When, I got my Explorer back, it shifted way too firm between 2 and D and there was a noticeable "clunk". I took it back and they made an external adjustment, which had to be the thumbscrew thingie. That's all there is to adjust on the outside that I know of?? Now, it shifts really smooth, like, too smooth... The clunk is not nearly as prominent but I still have to wonder if it is a real problem that is now masked by the super squishy shifts...??? I'm looking for something in between on the shift firmness.
Anyway, I'm hoping for the best but still bracing for the worst when it comes to the whole tranny rebuild. It's all too mysterious, and costly, for me to endure without becoming precautious...
I'm writing up a TOP TEN THINGS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT TRANNY REBUILDS and hope to post it in the next few days. It's nothing of specific technical detail, more of a "gotta laugh to keep from crying" kinda thing.
Warren