New guy needs transmission help.

[fierocdsp]

Hi, it's always fun to be a new member of a community, even if it is by necessity. I look forward to everyone's input in what is sure to be a long list of problems for my sister's vehicle.

Anyway, my sister bought someone else's problem, a '93 4.0L 4x4 auto Explorer, and after a few months of driving, the transmission decided to no longer cooperate (on Thanksgiving, no less).

Engine runs fine, idles solid, but when you put it into gear, it stalls. If you give it a little gas when you drop it, it'll lunge before the stall. To me, it feels like trying to put a 4speed manual in motion while in 4th. There's a little slippage and then it stalls. It coasts okay, and I was even able to push it up a short hill, so I don't think it's the rear Diff seized up. The 4-wheel hasn't worked since she bought it, so I'm not believing that the front Diff or 4X is the problem, though it is certainly possible the transfer case could be the cause.

I'm doing the work myself to keep it on the cheap, so I'm just looking for possible things that could be wrong and what to look for. She said there was a little slippage in and out of gear in the proceeding week, so I'm wondering if it could be a bad torque converter, but I'm leaning more towards a bad tranny.
-If the tranny is the problem, is there any problem swapping a '94 in place of the '93? there is a shortage of affordable '93 tranny's in my area, but plenty of '94's.
-Could it be a bad transfer case?

Sorry to make such a long initial post, but as you can see, I have my work cut out for me. I figured going to the backyard experts is the way to go for real answers, as my only extensive auto knowledge is on Fieros. Everything else is basics and jiggling things, though I did swap a Ranger transmission once.

 

[john steinman]

if the engine stalls as soon as you put it into any gear it sounds like the torque convertor clutch is locked up, either mechanically or electrically(tcc solenoid or ecm. or the convertor has exploded inside and locked up physically

 

[fierocdsp]

if the engine stalls as soon as you put it into any gear it sounds like the torque convertor clutch is locked up, either mechanically or electrically(tcc solenoid or ecm. or the convertor has exploded inside and locked up physically

Thanks for answering so quickly. I'm not sure it's the TCC, as the ODB-1 supposedly has a TCC circuit-fail code, and it's not showing up on my reader, unless code 133 is it. I can't find any reference to 133 anywhere, though I suppose the beeps could represent "33" twice. I get a 3-3 first, a long pause, then 1-3-3, with the same short pause between all three beep sets.

For reference, is the TCC solenoid accessible from the bottom of the trans pan, or is it a "tear the whole thing apart" thing?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the transmission section. Replace the fluid & filter. The A4LD in this vehicle requires dropping the valve body to replace the solenoids. Swapping a newer transmission into it might be a good idea, but don't make extra work & expense for yourself when it's not necessary. Automatic transmissions require clean fluid to function properly. A blocked filter screen could cause shift engagement issues.

 

[fierocdsp]

**UPDATE***

I pulled the valve body, convinced that it was a broken TCC something-or-other spring (take your pick). No broken springs, but the TCC solenoid is not doing anything when I give it twelve volts, so it's either the problem or a symptom. It's getting replaced obviously, and I'm going to install a Transgo kit and a Sonnax boost valve. I might replace the 3-4 solenoid while I'm there, but it's not an absolute necessity.

Thanks to Glacier991 for his VB thread. I ended up picking up a manual for the transmission, but his real photos are certainly a help to the illustrations.

 

[fierocdsp]

Update

Another UPDATE

It's buttoned up and I took it for a few spins around the block. Seems to be running fine, though with the cold temps, the vaseline in the 2-3 shift piston seemed to take forever to thaw and start shifting. Everything else seemed to be fine. I'm going to hit the highway tomorrow and hope the TCC doesn't stay locked after engaging.

 

[fierocdsp]

Final Update!!!

Well, it works. I got it all bolted back together and filled, then cycled it a few dozen times with the back up on the stands. Once the vaseline thawed and freed up the valves, it started working.

I waited for a nice day (40degrees!!!) and did the highway test for the TCC. It's got a firm shift into second, but a silky smooth shift into third, so much so that I wasn't sure it was happening. The TCC locks in tight and disengaged when I tapped the brakes at highway speed.

I guess I can chalk this one up as a success so far. We'll see how it goes in the long-term.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update!