Aerostar A4LD solenoid questions.

[ZZZRSC]

I don't know much about transmissions, just what I have read here, I am an electrician, not a mechanic, so here's my questions:
I have a Ford Aerostar 1992 4.0 L and a A4LD transmission, I think. One of the solenoids is drawing 83 amps, until the link melts. Can it be changed without dropping the pan? Is it always a bad coil that causes this, or can the armature get stuck in the extended position which causes high amperage, such as on other types of solenoids?
I think one solenoid is for overdrive and one is for 4th gear. Will one work without the other, if I choose to disconnect it, and will it still drive okay? Any guesses as to what it will cost to have replaced at a shop?
Thanks

 

[MrShorty]

Is it always a bad coil that causes this,

Not always. In fact, most of the time when I see this condition, it is because one of the wires gets grounded to the valve body/case (in other words, $1 worth of shrink wrap might fix it).

I think one solenoid is for overdrive and one is for 4th gear.

Technically 4th gear and overdrive are the same thing. What you are looking for is one solenoid controls the 3-4 shift and one controls the torque converter lockup clutch.

Will one work without the other, if I choose to disconnect it, and will it still drive okay?

Because both circuits go through the same connector on the case, and share a common power supply, you probably won't get one to work with the other unplugged. You can unplug the case connector and drive the truck just fine. With these unplugged, the transmission will behave like a traditional 3 speed automatic, but it will drive.

 

[joedirt12345]

Technically 4th gear and overdrive are the same thing. What you are looking for is one solenoid controls the 3-4 shift and one controls the torque converter lockup clutch.

ok if the torque converter lockup clutch solenoid got stuck in the engaged position would it cause the trans to always be in a forward gear?

my 92 X has the a4ld trans and no matter what gear its in it will move forward except reverse when the shifter is in R it acts like its trying to go forward and back at the same time

 

[MrShorty]

ok if the torque converter lockup clutch solenoid got stuck in the engaged position would it cause the trans to always be in a forward gear?

No. I don't remember what it is that makes it always feel in gear (forward clutch????), but it wouldn't be the solenoid.