Park, reverse, 1st, 2nd not engaging

[chulew]

My automatic transmission on 94 4x4 is suddenly having major issues.

The symptoms are:
Parking gear no longer engages to hold the vehicle, reverse, 1st and 2nd all sound like gear teeth are just barely touching, not engaging. Drive works but I can hear the trans revving up and down at times while driving but it doesn't seem to affect power. Trans fluid looks and smells good and isn't low.

Is these classic symptoms? Will any other first gen automatic transmission fit and work?

There is a used transmission attached to a blown motor someone has locally for $100. Can I just drop and swap using a Trans jack? Is there a good guide/youtube instructional recommended?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rick]

IMO it sounds like classic symptoms of a blown transmission. Since it is not engaging park I would check to make sure the linkage is operating properly before going any farther.

Check this thread for A4LD removal info:

How to remove A4LD? Help me here

Are there any step by step or photo how to's to removing the A4LD? I m inthe middle of it and am unsure about exactly how to take it out. I know it seems simple but then again nothing in auto work is how it seems. Please help, i tried searchin and came up blank. Help me out i miss my truck!!!!!

www.explorerforum.com

 

[Turdle]

Be sure to replace lines and cooler, so pieces of old transmission don't get mixed into the new ones

 

[chulew]

IMO it sounds like classic symptoms of a blown transmission. Since it is not engaging park I would check to make sure the linkage is operating properly before going any farther.

Check this thread for A4LD removal info:

How to remove A4LD? Help me here

Are there any step by step or photo how to's to removing the A4LD? I m inthe middle of it and am unsure about exactly how to take it out. I know it seems simple but then again nothing in auto work is how it seems. Please help, i tried searchin and came up blank. Help me out i miss my truck!!!!!

www.explorerforum.com

Ah, I will look into it. Sounds like a legit culprit.

 

[chulew]

Be sure to replace lines and cooler, so pieces of old transmission don't get mixed into the new ones

Appreciate the advice, I wouldn't have thought of it.

 

[410Fortune]

I use a product called kooler kleen to clean out the coolers and lines so they can be re used with new transmission

Finding a good 93-95 a4ld can be tricky anymore they are all getting so old in age
However they can be remanufactured and the trans shops have gotten better at rebuilding them, there are even several internal upgrades that can be done

Reman can be $1500-2500

First check your fluid level, shift
Linkage adjustment, vacuum modulator line and feed, and wiring connections

 

[410Fortune]

I use a product called kooler kleen to clean out the coolers and lines so they can be re used with new transmission

Finding a good 93-95 a4ld can be tricky anymore they are all getting so old in age
However they can be remanufactured and the trans shops have gotten better at rebuilding them, there are even several internal upgrades that can be done

Reman can be $1500-2500

First check your fluid level, shift
Linkage adjustment, kick down cable adjustment, and vacuum modulator line and feed

 

[chulew]

I use a product called kooler kleen to clean out the coolers and lines so they can be re used with new transmission

Finding a good 93-95 a4ld can be tricky anymore they are all getting so old in age
However they can be remanufactured and the trans shops have gotten better at rebuilding them, there are even several internal upgrades that can be done

Reman can be $1500-2500

First check your fluid level, shift
Linkage adjustment, vacuum modulator line and feed, and wiring connections

I'm really suspecting that the linkage is the issue here although it doesn't really explain what I thought was reving at low highway speed. The transmission has been working perfectly until now, no hard shifts, fluid smells and looks good, lots of power when needed.

The 4x4 HAS been on the blink. It worked fine last winter after I put in a new used shift motor and replaced fiddled with the computer (well, twice it wouldn't come out of 4-low so we only used 4-hi all winter). 4x4 quit again after an oil change this summer when the shop checked transfer case level (I'm ashamed to admit I took one of my vehicles in for oil but I was busy), I got it to work again recently by "resetting?" the 4x4 computer after removing the shift motor and manually engaging/disengaging 4x4. With the engine off and the key on, I hit the reset button on the computer and then hit the 4x4 button and boom, it worked. But it quit again just before some new unknown front axle/drivetrain noise started - I forgot to mention this.

Somehow, I think all this is related, but the tranny felt so good up until now that I have a hard time believing that's what broke overnight while all these other transfer/drivetrain issues have popped up.

@410Fortune, I'm here in 7B. If I do decide to pass the work on to the pros (either for a trans swap or for simple troubleshooting), where would you recommend I take it?

Thanks!

 

[C420sailor]

Sounds like the transfer case is letting go

 

[chulew]

Sounds like the transfer case is letting go

I suspected something related to 4x4 but I didn't think that the transfer case would affect some gears and not others like that. But I just removed the shift motor and found the selector turned just past 4H toward 4L. All good now and I'm relieved. I'll be replacing (or testing) the shift motor next.

Anyone know how many amps that motor requires to shift between the 3 modes?

 

[410Fortune]

Your shift motor
Likely needs to be adjusted, the lid for the stator is adjustable
I can try to adjust it in the truck so the t case shifts properly or I can rebuild it on the bench
I have rebuilt many many of them

I am also in 7b! I can help

 

[chulew]

I did see that the lid has a few degrees of rotational adjustment when I went looking for the busted plastic stopper. I'd love to learn how you reset or fine tune these. Does each vehicle require a calibration or is there blanket adjustment on the bench that works? I'd be happy to pay you for your time to show me since you're local.

 

[410Fortune]

so you mark the case before you take it apart, and put it back in exact same spot, test the system if it gets hung up in a gear and will not shift, loosen the screws and turn the cover slightly, 3-4 hash marks, one way, test, then the other way of it still does not shift.

basically the plastic stopper deteriorates (as you know0 and must be replaced....without it the stator simply travels too far for the metal fingers to make contact on the circuit board. this is where the adjustment comes into play. this is why they get stuck in gear and wont shift, they lose contact.

I clean everything really well, emery cloth alcohol, and electrical cleaner. I replace the stopper. I re grease all rotating assemblies, re assemble and test
I did my first one back in 1996? or so
the later model and aftermarket motors (like 05 and up?) cannot be taken apart and rebuilt any more which is lame

this ranger i built here, at the end I remaned his shift motor with pics

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I have 2 shops I work out of around here, send me a PM and we can meet up, you will likely see many of my builds around town...I have sold a few trucks up here, built some for friends and the whole family has custom ford something or others. I usually put a 410customs sticker in the back windows we are an elite group! hahahahaha