More AW4 Questions (Hey Gsmikie?)

[Snakeyes_Tx]

I've been asking around and the majority of folks are telling me the same thing, that this transmission has an electrical problem. The fluid is clean and smells good, and it *is* just a little over-filled.

I've been told that there are electronic solenids in this transmission, how many and what they look like, I don't know. I guess it's safe to assume that one of these is the problem.

How can I test them and also can I just get those to fix the problem? Anyone ever done something like this? I assume I drop the pan (somehow working that cooler line that's on the side of the pan out of the way or something) and take the filter off to see these solenids?

One last question, if this tranny is a write-off and throw away, then are all AW4's behind 4.0 liter's the same? Bolt-patterns and such? Any idea what one weighs cause I might have to get one from Scotty across about 6 states! ;)

[Michael]

Hmmmm.... did not know these could have electrical issues. What is it doing snake???? I did not think they were electrically drivin....except for the neutral safety switch.

[Snakeyes_Tx]

Oh, the AW4 isn't in my Wag, we've got either 727's or 904's in post 80's. I'm working on my other half's 87 XJ Cherokee smile.gif

[Snakeyes_Tx]

Anyone else familiar with these little monsters?

[gsmikie]

i ran into this problem when i swapped a 2 wheel with std to 4x4 with auto i used the aw4 because you cant hurt the trans it is elec and there is a solinoid pack in the pan behind the glove box is a box that is the control box for the trans the solinoid pack will freeze up if the trans has been sitting for a while also dont run any other trans fulid in the aw4 other than aft+3 or 7126 spec if you do it wont shift overdrive wont work and it will roll out of 3rd into 2 you can find a replacement solinoid pac on the net they run about $100.00 also you can have the dealer flash the computer for resets and updates which seemed to make a diff the solinoid pack and the box are hooked to the ecm and get all readings from it if the car is low on fluid / hot/stuck all sensors tell the solinoid pack what gear to go to even netral basicly you cant hurt the trans other than breaking the case

[Snakeyes_Tx]

WOW! That's exactly what I needed to hear! I noticed the fluid smelled and looked fine! That would definitely confirm my belief that it's not a mechanical issue!

Question, when it loses gears like that, I found that if I put it in neutral and then re-start the monster and put it back in drive, it'll shift back into OD. Also, when it does work "okay" it'll shift very indecisively and sometimes pretty hard with a jarring shift. Could it be possible that the people who did the tranny service just threw in Dexron III or something similar to make it behave this way?

Thanks for the 411 on computer locations too!

[War Wagon]

Been through this with my 87 XJ. The most common problem is the TPS going bad. The 87's have two pots on the TPS, one for the computer and one for the trans. If they get wet they will die and the trans won't shift right or not at all. I also had the filter clogg up and it would not go into gear. Changed the filter and everthing works great. Note: I had just put a 3 row GDI raidator in and I think the crap that clogged the filter came from the new radiator as I had just changed the filter and fluid 3 months ago. I have pulled a 21' Lund boat for years through the mountians with no problem from the trans. The AW-4 is a very good trans. 208,655 miles

Try these links:

http://www.transonline.com/transdigest/magazines/1997-10/Shift%20Pointers/index.html

http://www.galore.com/sites/yts/tps.pdf


Hope this helps,
Jim Willett

[JEEPGUZZZI]

Not knowing how controlled this tranny is, I will just say that since somebody worked on it, it might be in "limp mode". It could be that it needs to be retrained or have the mode reset.

Anyways, snake, ole' dude, if you do have to get that tranny from IN. to Texas, UPS will take it, if you pack it up right. If we assume it weighs 120 lbs. it should be around 55 to 60 bucks to ship it. ;)

[gsmikie]

sounds like a fluid change will problly fix your problem as for the tps they change in 89 and the ecm controls the trans also a bad ground wire will also do the same thing toy might want to change the fluid and have the dealer flash the trans ecm

[LRRH]

this ever get solved Snake???

I saw a trans/t-case on eBay not too far from you.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1829110235

not TOO expensive..........