my 4.0 trany

[93explorer4life]

ok, my trany is starting to slipp in my 93 4.0 explorer, first off what trany is i it? it prety much slips when entering into and going through second, then finaly slowly grabs.....im frustrated about it, but cnat do anything to it, cause fer one no money, two it is my d/d truck. i had a friend say that i just need to tighten a band er something like that, he says it aint to hard, soooo, any input on that? ohh nad im wanting to put a manual in it some time, any ideas on that one aswell?

TJ

 

[westcovinajoe]

Take it to Midas to get a free diagnosis and then see if your friend can repair whatever Midas says is wrong.

Either that or pour some Lucas Tranny Fix in. I did it in mine and it has improved about 50%.

Good luck!

 

[93explorer4life]

wes, do i have to take any trany fluid out to pour that into it? csaue i have like 3 quarts of trany fluid, not nerly enough to fully drain it. but, how much was the stuff?

 

[Glacier991]

You have the A4LD and a band adjustment of the intermediate band might well help you.

How is the fluid ?

 

[93explorer4life]

the fluid seems fine, it looks like it is full, when it first started i thought it has to be low....really low lol....so i went and bought a few quarts, but when i checked it was ful.l.....sooo i dont know, now that band adjustment i think is what my friend was talking about, can i do that on my own, or do i need to take it some palce else?

 

[Glacier991]

"How is the fluid" ?

When I asked how is it, I really meant how is the color, smell etc ? But level is critically important if it is low.

Trans Fluid plays a vital role in the shift feel and slippage. Old worn out fluid canbe a contributor to problems.... which is why folks with tranny problems who change fluid sometimes notice an improvement... sometimes that is all that is needed, but more often there are other problems that are still there, just much better with a fluid change.

I am imagining you have a high mileage unit. Probably the best you can do cheaply is to adjust the intermediate band and do a complete fluid/filter change.

I have often wondered about using the friction modifier sold to convert Mercon III to V is these situations. Make ya a deal. You get the fluid changed, add a new filter and have the intermediate band adjusted.... see if that helps. If there is a lingering problem I will SEND you a bottle of the friction modifier to be my guinea pig. FREE.

Band adjustment is covered in the Rebuild Diary, but think you may be better off having it done.... I doubt you have the tools, but that's just a guess.

 

[loco offroad]

Its an A4LD and i personally have gone through 4 tranny's in the last year, if you are gonna get a new or rebuilt one do your self a favor and go manual. Oh ya get the warentee!!!!

 

[Glacier991]

A4LD's are not a heavy duty transmission. Period. End of story. If you lay them out side by side against say the 4R70W that ws behind the V-8 explorers it is like the 97 lb weakling next to Charles Atlas. Still.... they are often bad mouthed for the wrong reasons.

They CAN be built pretty strong.... but need more attention and more parts replaced in a rebuild than they usually get. I'll go so far as to say that the typical trannie shop does not really KNOW how to properly rebuild the A4LD to last.Also the A4ld NEEDS serious HELP with external cooling when used offroad - like a real BIG cooler with a dedicated fan on it and a tranny temp gauge to monitor it.

People will run junkyard crap into the ground or burn it up and blame the trannie.

When I hear of folks with bad experiences, I usually find that they a) got a cheapie rebuild, or worse b) threw in a junkyard trannie, and in all cases had no auxilliary cooling to speak of...

4 in one year ? Wow. You ought to do a "how to" on the removal and replacement of the A4LD ! (seriously)

 

[93explorer4life]

yea if i need a new trany i am deff. going manual. and the fluid still has some pink in it, when i get my check this week im going to go and get about 4 more quarts of trany fluid and the price a trany filter, and get to it. i have three in the reuck, but i know for a fact that that aint going to cover it, thanks for all the input you guys are giving me, i apretiate it all.

 

[loco offroad]

4 in one year ? Wow. You ought to do a "how to" on the removal and replacement of the A4LD ! (seriously)

Ya not fun, first one took me a week now i can have one in and out in less than 3 hours. If you guys want and think there really needs to be a good write up i will do it. I have learned my tricks and a few tools that saves hours and hours of yelling stuff and gettin mad lol.
Mine were good rebuilds but its one of those trannys that its good from the factory but you just cant rebuild them and expect the same life out of your original. It doesnt help to me on 35s and locked either, well last time my tranny went out i had to wait for it to get rebuilt and thats when i went from 33's and open to 35's and locked, so it still cost me a pretty penny when the trans went out but the actually tranny didnt cost me a dime. Mine is actually starting to go again, I still got some good life left though, then its V8 and c5 mmmmmm.

Like i said i can do a write up on it with my tricks and techniques. Lets just say wobble socket adaptes and a gear wrench will be your best friend.


Oh ya now i have a spare one sitting on the side just so when one of my friends goes out and i know they will i have one ready to use. sad huh

 

[BrooklynBay]

You mentioned that you upgraded the tire size, but did you also replace your VSS's gear to compensate? Maybe this is why you are having shifting problems.

 

[gotmud?94]

hey i have a 94 4WD XLT and im just wondering if you have had other problems with the trans.

 

[westcovinajoe]

wes, do i have to take any trany fluid out to pour that into it? csaue i have like 3 quarts of trany fluid, not nerly enough to fully drain it. but, how much was the stuff?

Well it says you can put about half a bottle in when full with no problems, and I found this to be true as well. But there are those who don't like this stuff, but I like it and so do many others.

I got mine at Autozone for about $8.

Don't discount the Midas option. Those dudes WILL tell you what is wrong and how much to fix it etc. Then you can get it fixed on your own for less, or suck it up and pay them.

Good luck.

 

[loco offroad]

You mentioned that you upgraded the tire size. but did you also replace your VSS's gear to compensate? Maybe this is why you are having shifting problems.

nope i got deeper gears in it tho to make up for it.

 

[93explorer4life]

hey i was wanting to put a manual in my truck but my buddy mark says that the manual trannys are crap, is this true? or not? cuase i really want a manual lol

 

[loco offroad]

hey i was wanting to put a manual in my truck but my buddy mark says that the manual trannys are crap, is this true? or not? cuase i really want a manual lol

they are good trany's I would so much rather a manual then the auto in the explorer. I would still do it despite what he says they are good.

 

[93explorer4life]

yea. he said that they are from mazda and are junk, but i really dont see y they would be, cause its a manual, they are all usually built stronger than the autos

 

[Glacier991]

Write up on the R&R Process for the A4LD

Ya not fun, first one took me a week now i can have one in and out in less than 3 hours. If you guys want and think there really needs to be a good write up i will do it. I have learned my tricks and a few tools that saves hours and hours of yelling stuff and gettin mad lol.

Like i said i can do a write up on it with my tricks and techniques. Lets just say wobble socket adaptes and a gear wrench will be your best friend.

I'd really appreciate you sharing your technicque and knowledge here!

 

[loco offroad]

I will see what all i can get done on it today.