Severe transmission issues, 94 XLT automatic

[SQLThump]

I have developed some severe issues with my 94 XLT, and the latest is the transmission. I have had some issues for some time now, pretty bad slipping, not engaging, and lately things have gone from bad to worse.

When I set off to work today, my truck felt like there was zero power at all in first gear, and when it reached second, it began to pull just fine. Upon arriving to work, I put a pint of fluid in because it was pretty low, and has been leaking it for some time now. Upon driving it, it behaved the same at first, then all seemed normal.

I went to a freinds house and stayed there for about an hour and a half, and when I set off, everything still seemed normal, but first gear really felt strong. I stopped at a gas station for about 10 minutes, got back in, and then my transmission wouldn't shift out of first when placed in OD. I tried dropping it into first and shifting manually, and it smoothly clicked into second. (well as smooth as my beat up old heap will ever shift). When I went to go into 3rd, the transmission slammed back into first which scared the hell out of me...

So basically, my Exploder cannot shift itself at all, can only use first and second when placed in that gear, downshifts when placed in drive, and cannot use drive or overdrive at all..

My brother says it may be a simple fix or an electronic bug, although the vehicle has had some pretty bad electrical problems happen, I'm hesitant to believe this. The main electrical issues I have had is my brake lights suddenly stopping working (bad switch), and the headlights acting screwy as hell...

I think my transmission may be toast, and with the huge laundry list of problems I have had with this car, am hesitant to throw any more of what little time and money I have left to give to this car....

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Curtis

 

[Masterd]

Bad 1-2 shift when its cold could be the governor, but if its doing it when its hot, it could be a bad vacuum modulator, or a broken/misadjusted band. Gears 1-3 are non electric shifts...totally hydraulic....3-4, and TC lockup are commanded by the computer....youve definitely got some type of mechanical fault.

What color is the fluid....if its dark brown or black, thats a good indication thats shes had it.

 

[SQLThump]

The transmission fluid is definitly nasty looking, but not brown or black...., definitly has some nasty looking dirty stuff though....

Are these parts the vaccuum modulator, the governor, or band easily accessible, or are these something internal on the transmission?

Just for the record, yesterday wasthe first really cold day this year here in colorado, if that has something to do with it.....

 

[MrQ]

Cold temperatures do adversely affect the A4LD. When it was colder it felt like my trans was stuck in first and I would have to go to 4000 rpm to get it to upshift. In the summer I have had almost zero problems with it. The tranny has 158,000 on the clock.

 

[SQLThump]

I still had slipping issues the whole summer, and the problems are waaay worse than they were last winter, things weren't great, but I could safely drive the vehicle over 35 mph.

This is really painful, because I have to commute 75 miles one way per day, and I will lose my job if I do not get my ride fixed by tuesday.....

 

[james t]

Mine's doing the same thing, and its a broken band. Bad news first- it needs a rebuild. Good news- you can keep driving it. Hell, ive been driving mine this way over a year. :

To get it to shift- take off briskly in first and let it rev up just past 3000rpms, and take your foot off the throttle. Count to one Mississippi and GENTLY get back on it. It should shift... it may take you a while to figure out the combination.

Welcome to the world of the A4LD.

 

[SQLThump]

I'm confused..... I don't think the same thing is happening because I can shift between first and second just fine, its third and forth thay are completely unusable right now..

Its a lot warmer today, so I thought that might help, but to no avail. The vehicle cannot do anything as far as moving at more than 35 without running the engine at overly high engine blowing rpms

If there is some way to make it work I'm all ears, but considering I drive mostly on the freeway, I'm probably not going to have too much luck with that being limeted to 35 mph....

 

[Masterd]

I'm confused..... I don't think the same thing is happening because I can shift between first and second just fine, its third and forth thay are completely unusable right now..

Its a lot warmer today, so I thought that might help, but to no avail. The vehicle cannot do anything as far as moving at more than 35 without running the engine at overly high engine blowing rpms

If there is some way to make it work I'm all ears, but considering I drive mostly on the freeway, I'm probably not going to have too much luck with that being limeted to 35 mph....

Go do a quick test....

Put it in manual 1 and get it up to 3000 rpms and let off the gas...do the rpms hang like its engine braking or does it just fall down to idle...then do the same with manual 2.

 

[james t]

I'm confused..... I don't think the same thing is happening because I can shift between first and second just fine, its third and forth thay are completely unusable right now..

Its a lot warmer today, so I thought that might help, but to no avail. The vehicle cannot do anything as far as moving at more than 35 without running the engine at overly high engine blowing rpms

If there is some way to make it work I'm all ears, but considering I drive mostly on the freeway, I'm probably not going to have too much luck with that being limeted to 35 mph....

Ah, okay sorry i misread your 1st post.

Do a search for A4LD band adjustment and give that a try. Its a pretty easy job, and worth a shot.

 

[SQLThump]

I finally limped it home.... very long and cold trip....

The transmission does seem to have a braking effect when the throttle is let off....

Could the vacuum modulator be the issue at hand here? We have tried flushing the tranny which was an absolute waste of time, and at this point is the only lead we have.

Could this or clogged lines or something to that effect be the reason that 3rd or 4th wont engage??

The transmission fluid was a pretty nasty reddish brown with a layer of black nastiness coating the inside of the pan...

 

[Masterd]

That black nastiness is burned off friction material from the clutches.....Id say shes done.

 

[SQLThump]

Thats what I figured from day one, what you confirmed, and the guys at Aamco also confirmed. Problem is my brother is not so easily convinced, and wont let it rest until I waste every extra minute and dollar trying to fix every single little thing that isn't the whole transmission. After all that stuff is done and I am flat broke and lose my job from wasting so much time working on this heap he will believe that transmission is shot....

 

[Masterd]

Start pulling the tranny apart and throwing the pieces at him, he'll be convinced in no time :