why cant my a4ld get rebuilt correctly?

[tac0meat]

ok, i just had my auto rebuilt again (picked it up yesterday) and with 100miles on it its acting up again! its been rebuilt 6 times in the past 45,000 miles

1st@302k miles rebuilt by cottman transmissions
2nd@311k miles rebuilt by cottman transmissions under warranty
3rd@311k (10 miles later) rebuilt again by cottman transmissions under warranty
4th@330k miles at A+ transmission specialists
5th@338k miles at A+ transmission specialists under warranty
6th@345k miles at A+ transmission specialists no longer under warranty

and now, 100miles later its slipping (fluid is fine) and feels liek its trying to start in 2nd or 3rd gear. when its cold it wont shift into second unless you get up to about 4k rpm. anyone else had troubles gettin a decent rebuild done?

 

[TheRookie]

Yikes, though with that kind of mileage I would replace the thing. Be sure you are also getting a new torque converter every time. Perhaps the pump is bad?

 

[RFR2212]

wow 302k till it first went out... quite a bit of miles... Here's my Q. Is your tranny actually rebuilt? Typically from what I've seen around the Chicagoland area, when you get a tranny done, they swap in a fully rebuilt trans and your old one is sent out to be rebuilt to go into someone elses vehicle.... Are they specifically rebuilding the same trans? If so how long does it take them to rebuild yer trans?

 

[SteveVB]

Whats going wrong each time- the same stuff or different things each time.
I had mine rebuilt by a "pro" - highly recommmended by more than a few. When it started spewing fluid after 25k miles I pulled it and tore it down. What did I find? Old parts that should have been replaced, parts that I asked to be replaced and were not, out of date seals used etc .

After looking at the trans and tons of research I think that these trans need to be replaced - NEW unit or ALL of the internals replaced- the pump, the govenor bore needs to be resized, or sleeved, new clutches, new sprags, new drums, center support. ALL the hard parts.

I dont think that the techs who do the work on these care for the most part- they play the warranty game, the thinking goes like this:
If I replace the seals and soft parts the trans will last long enough to get through the warranty period, and then after that I get another shot at resealing it and making more coin.

Chains like Cottman, Ammco etc are most likely guilty of this more than others- their big selling point is the warranty. I would avoid them at all costs- I believe the best bet is a small shop that you can hold the owner accountable- though this may not be ideal, but you have a better shot at getting a good job.

With 300k + miles the case and valve body may need replaced etc. Hard parts are a must with that many miles.

 

[tac0meat]

this shop is one of the small places, recommended by our family mechanic of 25 yrs, my mechanic doesnt do transmission work so he contracts out with this place. the last place he contracted out with (astro transmission) he fired because they jerked my mom around on a rebuild on her minivan. hopefully these guys at A+ will stand by there product to at least avoid losing there contract with my mechanic. the problem i have been having the most is the transmission locking up completely after sitting for awhile. it happened with cotman (which i will never use again) and happened a few days ago after being rebuilt by A+.

after being parked overnight the transmission will not move. i put it into gear and i can feel/hear it go into gear but it will not move, it also will not go into neutral. if i give it some gas (and i mean alot of gas) it will grind and clunk and move a few inches. needless to say, when that has happened it had to be towed in. im gonna drop it off with them tommorrow, so hopefully by friday ill know whats up with it.

edit: ya i have had the torque converter replaced each time, or at least for the past 3 or 4 times

 

[Premier]

I would make them renew the warranty everytime you take it in and have it done. Make them stand by their work, not get out of it after it breaks three times on you and then say "warranty is up on the original replacement..." Maybe it is time for a manual swap?

 

[SteveVB]

Hey, does the vehicle move in 1 or 2. Maybe that the overdrive sprag is bad.

Did the previous rebuilds replace the sprags-one way clutches? The pump should have been replaced-not rebuilt. All of the thrust washers and bearings too. Ask for the bad parts back- even if you dont know what they are. With that many miles they should replace things rather than reuse them.

BTW- I have a brand new in the box FORD pump for the a4ld -100 bucks= shipping.

 

[tac0meat]

supposedly they replaced the pump and the overdrive stuff. if i move it into 1 or 2 it will go into the correct gear. but if i start off in drive or overdrive, it will start in 2nd or 3rd if i get on it. if i ease onto the gas real slow it wont act up (unless cold of course). im gonna have the transmission shop make this one last. at least until i do the manual swap (which i desperatly want)

 

[SteveVB]

Well if it moves in 1 or 2 and not in drive the info I have says to check

the manual linkage, rear one way clutch, or the overdrive one way clutch.

I would make sure they REPLACE the overdrive sprag and the rear one way clutch. ASK them about them, ASK for the old ones back.

In my update manual they attribute this condition to an incorrectly installed overdrive clutch, or a broken overdrive clutch - Im betting you find a problem in this area.

Also for the 91 you can get an update kit from the trans houses that will upgrade the center support to accept bearings rather than thrust washers - look into it. Ask the tech about it. You will need a drum also, but the parts are available from most trans parts houses. If they dont replace the center support ask them about the luberication modification for the #4 thrust washer. See how much they know about the trans.

Also on the 91s they used a double wrap band that is adjusted differently than other years - ask them if they are aware of this.

ASK for the parts replaced be returned to you for inspection, and to make sure they took them out. HAve them replace the sprags and clutches even if they "look" OK.

Hope that helps a little, good luck.

 

[410Fortune]

use later model 454re or whatever it is guts. I have heard this can be done and is agood upgrade.

the A4LD needs to be rebuilt using only the best possible materials, no cutting corners, and the workmanship on these things must be done right, The Ford auto's have tighter tolerences then any other auto tranny, so find somebody who works on these ALOT.....

warranty is no good if you are in/out the shop for the whole duration

 

[tac0meat]

dropped it off with them this afternoon, there gonna let me know tommorrow mornin what the deal is. this is the shop that finally figured out what was wrong with my moms minivan after 4 failed rebuilds, hopefully theyll get there act together and get mine fixed