looking at a new x but trans only shifts into reverse

[THE PARTS MAN]

ok guys i went and look at a 92 xlt explorer the guy wants 200 for it SOLD this think is in better shape then my eddie bower. It has 2 problems, First it shifts fine into reverse no problem but when shifted into drive it does nothing. He tells me he was driving home and a trans line broke off the the cooler. he had it towed home, he "patched" the line and put fluid in it. he also stated when he got it the 4wd lights would not come on when pushed. The gurage told him it was the 4wd module. where is that at. so what does every one think rebuild the trans or is there something that may fix this issue ie~ sticking valve

thanks so much for the help any one can give me

ED

 

[wood1]

Hey Ed,

there could be many possible problems that would cause your no/delayed forward engagement (reverse OK).

Improper fluid level, manual linkage misadjusted or damaged, internal pressure leakage, burnt/damaged forward clutch assembly, loose or too tight valve body bolts, sticking valves in valve body, plugged filter, damaged pump.

I would buy it expecting to rebuild the transmission, hoping to get away with a valve body rebuild (but probably knowing better).

The lack of 4 wheel drive is normally caused by a very easily repairable problem with the transfer case shift motor. Here is the thread that will guide you through the repair.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123542

Either way, I'd pay $200 for a solid 92 XLT, even if it was just for parts.

Good luck.

 

[THE PARTS MAN]

ok lets say it is a rebuild and i want to do it the right way how much aprox. will i spend in parts
and i am doing this all out side no garage can it be done

 

[wood1]

I wouldn't try it outdoors, cleanliness is extremely important with rebuilding transmissions, engines too for that matter...

I'm ball-parking but to do it right it would cost you $500-$700 with a new torque converter, bell housing bushing, manuals a few speacial tools can be made/borrowed/improvised...

Check http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/, and http://www.bulkpart.com/.

E-Bay has a few vendors that sell rebuild kits as well.

You would do well to read Glacier's rebuild diary on the A4LD, it and Frankentranny are very informative.

Glacier loans his tools if you give him a deposit.

C.

 

[THE PARTS MAN]

sorry i said that wrong i will be rebuilding in in my shack shed lol. i was a tec for firestone for a few years so pulling this i am not to worried about. Its the fact that when we did a trans job it was pull it and put the new one in. I have never rebuild one. i am going to get glaciers rebuild diary on it. I also seen the frankentranny post. Question is does that make the a4ld a "better" transmission, if it does thats the way i am going.

 

[wood1]

Brain's Frankentranny thread certainly will make it a much better transmission than it came with, only you will probably spend more.

A fresh rebuild with new hard parts and using all the upgrades in later models is the way to build a good A4LD, it doesn't normally take to just replacing clutches, bands and servos. My transmission lasted 290,000+ kms before it needed anything.

 

[THE PARTS MAN]

and by needing anything you mean like a band adjustment, also is there any parts supplyers that i should stay away from when i look at buying what i need. I dont want to get a "good deal" only to drive it once and blow something because of a poorly made part

 

[Glen4X4]

Heck yeah, for parts that price is worth it if its in good shape

 

[THE PARTS MAN]

Dude it has no rust at all. None I looked at the fenders, under the running boards, the rocker pannels, no rust. The interior looks brand new seats dont even look warn at all. So yea it was a great deal imo. Just need to get it to move front. The bad news, last night in my eddie bower, I went to stop for traffic but only had to slow when I hit the gas again the trans acted like it was in neutral then shifted into first spinning the tires on the wet ground. So i am unsure what that was about, i looked at the fluid, it was good and red not burnt and level was at the full mark just must be my luck i guess

but back to the post i printed all the info out on the two trans rebuilds i did not see a parts list. I assume there is no kit that will give me everything I need. Is there a place i can find this list or did i miss it somewere. thanks for everones help i will be pulling this trans i hope in the next month if i can get a warmer day over 27 degrees once i do i will post what i find.

 

[Glen4X4]

Yeah really sounds like a good deal worth shooting for, and bout the eddie, possible the torque converter going out? Or trans filter is getting clogged up? I'm not expert at the auto's so just my guess. Sounds like you should get that and maybe if your tranny just needs a converter or needs a filter change that maybe you should swap the tranny out of that into the other explorer and have yourself a nice one.

 

[THE PARTS MAN]

i am not sure i have not had the time to really look at it but i got a bad feeling it is something in the trans but i never thought of the torque converter u got me thinking though.......

 

[Glen4X4]

Well a way to kinda check that is, when it does that again put it in neutral and then pull it back into Drive and see if it goes in gear.

 

[wood1]

and by needing anything you mean like a band adjustment, also is there any parts supplyers that i should stay away from when i look at buying what i need. I dont want to get a "good deal" only to drive it once and blow something because of a poorly made part

I just rebuilt the valve body, installed every upgrade in it I could find, adjusted the bands, added another cooler and an aux filter. I also pulled the governor and added a spring and changed the weight.

My trans was not shifting into OD, the torque converter wasn't locking and when cold it didn't like to shift into 2nd gear.

Most likely you will get ideas from where to buy from the rebuild threads. If you are living close to a transmission shop that might be a place to start, some aren't DIY friendly though.

Also, Josh just rebuilt his transmission, he has a parts list http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1807145#post1807145

 

[THE PARTS MAN]

Well i pick up my new x next week but as my luck would have it. my trans in my eddie bower is giving me big issues. I had to go to my mother in laws last night to drop of my kid. 45 min trip up hills about half way there i smelled trans fluid burning. at this point i pulled over to let it cool. trans lines were very hot to the touch. no leak though. after about 5 min sitting the smell went away so i figure its getting late lets get there now when i drive it she does not want to shift out of 2 i am doing almost 40 till i am in 3rd. so i figure i am screwd i was planing to take my time with this project now with this issue i am looking at what to do this is my only auto i have any ideas or should i just give up now. any and all that can help thank you

 

[Glen4X4]

Damn...that sucks for it to just start up on ya. I don't know auto tranny's.....your sure it didn't leak any fluid? Maybe you were working it to hard, I know the first time I did any work with the 96 explorer (its auto) I guess I worked it to hard cause it smelled (I now know to use my 92 for hard work) so I put it in neutral when I went down over a hill and let it coast for awhile then it was fine, so I'm pretty sure my issue was over working it, thats why I ask if you over worked yours.

 

[wood1]

That sucks...

I've seen suggestions that if you're working your trans hard to not use OD, so I basicly don't use it unless I am at highway speed and not climbing a steep hill. I don't tow, I think I'd rather risk burning the snot out of the wife's Breeze if I had to and it has that weezy Neon 4 banger in it.

I would change the fluid and filter, check the modulator for a bad diaphram, and adjust the kickdown cable and the bands.

Is the engine coolant at the correct level? If the engine gets hot the trans fluid gets hot too.

Hope for the best. You may have hurt something if it was working fine until it got hot. It might be obvious if you have a look in the base pan.

Good luck dude.

 

[THE PARTS MAN]

Ok alot of people are telling me to replace my modulator valve.<thanks wood1> So thats the plan. I started at auto zone that have a oe type for like 12.99. i did some more research and found that some members here like transmission parts usa. Now they have 2 types first one is a 23901 A4LD transmission adjustable vacuum modulator. and the second one is a 23901M A4LD Vacuum modulator (with Adj. wheel) first thing i see here is that they are adjustable. WHY? the auto zone was not is trans parts usa better for that reason. second is the last one has a adjustable wheel. so i figure that one is easy to adjust brings me back to my first question. if having an adjustable is the way to go then i figure i will go with that one. UNLESS any one knows a better one to go with.

 

[Josh]

Below is my write up. I did not follow glaciers diary to the T, but used it as a guide. I did read it guite a bit though. If you can pul it, you can rebuild it.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202391

 

[THE PARTS MAN]

its been some time since i was on here. make a long storie short i did not get that x i went to give the guy money. and wanted to look at it again in the day time boy am i glad i did. the craddle was rusted out bad. the drive shaft was bent. and the motor was cracked with oil driping off of it. so to sum it up never look at a car in the dark. i am going to rebuild a trans for mine though. going to look after we get our tax refund also going to get me a set of hid's for her and new head lamps. so to all that helped me thanks and its no over yet i am going to post pictures of the rebuild as well as when i do the hid kit so stay posted

 

[Glen4X4]

Alright, I wouldn't have gone for it either. Good luck with the trans rebuild