A4LD troubles

[awurst]

Ok I have a 94 Ranger 4X4 with the 4.0 six and the A4LD tranny. The transmission has had a problem with 1 to 2 and the 2 to 3 shifts. To get it to shift from 1 to 2 and 3 I would almost have to drive it like a manual and rev up to 3 to 4 grand and lift the throttle. The 3 to 4 or 4 to 3 shifts worked just fine. None of the gears felt like they slipped and I have been driving around this problem for almost 2 years.

After researching this problem (on this fine site) and finding fluid leaking out of modulator I decided to replace the modulator. I purchased the modulator and was going to put it on myself but needed some other work done and had my mechanic friend replace it. This was a bad idea as when he replaced the modulator he didn't put the pin back in. When I picked up the truck the transmission felt like it was slipping badly and was un-driveable. I determined that it was actually starting out in 3rd gear and once I got it up to speed worked fine between 3 and 4.

So I got a replacement modulator pin, pulled the modulator and put the pin back. This did not solve the problem and in fact behaved the same with or without the pin. I then pulled the modulator and verified that it was working with a vacuum pump. I have observed that the hole that the modulator pin goes in has no give and in fact when I put the modulator in it pops out a bit as the pin is compressing the diagram in the modulator. Is this normal??

This is all very frustrating as I could at least drive the truck before all this started. After reading these forums I think something is hung up in the valve body but am not sure hence my post.

Any and all help would be appreciated!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Pull the spool in front of the pin, lubricate it, then replace it.

 

[awurst]

BrooklynBay thanks for the response! This spool you are referencing is it serviceable from outside of the transmission or do I have to take the valve body out? Forgive me if this is a dumb question as I am a newbie to automatic transmission repairs.

 

[BrooklynBay]

It could be done from outside of the transmission. Here is a picture from Glacier991's photo gallery:

 

[awurst]

Ok now for dumb question number 2. How does one get this spool out? Can you hook it with something? The reason I ask is I can't really see this part of the transmission because the cat is right up against this part of the transmission. The y pipe and cat flange bolts are in pretty bad shape and I fear if I have to remove the cat I may be replacing one or both parts.

Thanks for being so helpful!!

 

[BrooklynBay]

You could grab it with locking forcepts (hemostat tool).

 

[awurst]

Well I just pulled the spool (came right out with the hemostat just like you said BrooklynBay!) cleaned it up (actually it was pretty clean when I took it out) lubricated it and put it back in. During this I actually found the original pin sitting on the lip of the transmission!! So i reinstalled it and the modulator but to no avail...:-(

During my drive I observed the following.

Shifting the selector to 1st produces very little forward motion.
Putting the selector in 2nd produces forward motion but it feels sluggish.
Putting the selector in 3rd produces the same forward motion as 2nd but oddly I feel no shifting from start up to 50 MPH. Once over 35 to 40 MPH transmissions response feels pretty normal however I can not get it to down shift.
Putting the selector in OD from start feels more sluggish than having the selector in 2 or 3 but it does feel like it is shifting from 3 to 4 at highway speeds.

I don't know what any of this means but I am about to listen to my wife and take the damn thing to the local transmission shop and pay the $1500 to have it rebuilt.

Any and all suggestion are welcome!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did you adjust the kick down cable, and the bands?