the money pit strikes again.

[movieguy73]

94 4x4 auto/auto. 4dr.
i dont think the ex was going in to OD for one thing.
and when it was cold it wouldnt shift in to 2nd till 4000 rpm.
only like the first time it shifted.
then out on the mail route it was slipping and i was leaving a fog behind me.
finally it died.
i looked under it and black tranny fluid was running down the engine pan.
i was so black i thought it was oil till i smelled it.
i had to work all week so i havent even had a chance to look at it.
what years will work with it?
how can i tell if a loose tranny is the right model are there numbers?
im hopping that the tranny is also keeping it from starting.
as it wont turn over with the key.
i shorted out the solenoid and it started.
it still runs great and i was just starting to get better MPG after all the work ive done to it. 16mpg here and there.
btw will it ruin the tranny if i used 1qt motor oil to get it to move off the road?
ill be checking it out sun to see whats up with it.
thanks again.

 

[nexis]

for the A4LD there are a few quick ways to tell if you have the right one, first step is the trans pan, here is a picture of gasket

this site has a lot of good info about the transmissions, and other trans's your likley to find around the explorers in the junk yard

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/AutoTrans.html

If i remember right the ID tag on the rear right side will say A4LD on it.

 

[movieguy73]

thanks thats a start.
ive only had chevys for the last 20 yrs.

 

[nexis]

If you can, try to find one still attached to the donor vehicle. The A4LD changed mid run, i think it was 90 or 91 a number of internals changed. Your best bet is going to be to pull one from a donor ex at the junk yard, Because while they look almost 100% the same on all of them, you will have problems, the Ex had a different bell housing and tail shaft, the 4x4 had a different output shaft that you cant change over without a full rebuild as far as motor oil in the trans to get it off of the road, as long as you did not drive it too far, and you drain it out and then flush it out, you sould be ok on that one.

Is there a chance that when you were out on the mail route, you busted one of the cooler lines? has it been acting up for a while? Because its rare that the a4ld dies in one day unless your put pushing it hard doing some crazy stuff in mohab.

 

[movieguy73]

thats what one of the farmers out there was thinking too.
i been working 12's all week.
so i still aint even looked at it.
ya i was thinking ill have to flush it any ways as the fluid is black.
i dont drive it that hard.
no towing just started the mail rt.
its been rebuild already too. 20k miles on the rebuild.
the only reason i didnt think it was just a cooling line leaking was cus the fluid was black.
ill know more mon. i think its suppost to cool down then.
so if i stick to a 94 donor i should be ok?
damn internet.

 

[movieguy73]

huh

.

 

[movieguy73]

.

 

[movieguy73]

stupid internet kept going down.
i just put it in the shop.
looks like it needs rebuilt again.
he will know more when he pulls the trans out.
thanks again.

 

[nexis]

If you rebuild, make sure he uses Mercon, not type F, not CJ, not H, try to avoid Mercon V and Mercon SP as well. You may have a problem finding straight Mercon so you could use Mercon V, but Mercon is perfered if you can dig it up.

 

[movieguy73]

the dip stick says dex III. maybe even dex II.

 

[nexis]

Its Dex III, AKA Dextron III/Mercon III

 

[movieguy73]

they why you suggest he use Mercon V, ?