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A4LD sounds like a 5 speed...


junkfixr

junkfixr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2010
Messages
82
City
Virginia
Vehicle Year
1987
Transmission
Automatic
The Ranger is an '87, 4x4, manual T-case - 2.9 with A4LD.

My questions are

1. Is shifting completely controlled by vacuum to the modulator ?

2. What is the function of the VSS in these trucks ?

3. Why does experimenting with different Throttle Position Sensors (TPS) and EEC units seem to change my shift points, and also cause eratic shifts in and out of OD ?

The truck runs great, but seems to have a flat spot about half way through the 3rd gear range that sounds like it's shifting an extra gear. The TPS seems to have improved this, but after changing EEC units my shift points changed, and it sometimes goes into OD too early and sometimes drops out of OD around 50 mph. EEC IV is out of an identical Ranger and I swapped them for the sake of experimenting.

I don't understand what controls shift points in this year vehicle, and am assuming it's not electronically controlled ? Can someone give me the lowdown on how it all works? Curious about the electronic torque converter lock up also. Thanks in advance,

Kevin
 
1 vac. mod senses engine speed for shifting, some are ajustable.
2 just for the TCC lockup, speedo and or R-ABS
3 its not the sensor fully, there is only 1 solenoid in your trans, and thats for TC lockup (the small sub shifts your feeling)

there are a few things you need to check.

reajust your kick down linkage, engine off gas pedal to the floor and have some one hold it,under the hood at the firewall there is a D shaped button with a cable comming out of it, push the button and remove the slack out of the cable.

be shure there is no trans fluid in the vac. line for the vac. mod. fluid means its blown.

change the fluid and the filter if it smells burnt or is black.
 
Great Info ! ! !

Thanks for responding - I always wondered what the VSS did, as the speedo is gear driven off the T-Case but this is where the VSS is located also. The kickdown cable crossed my mind and I'm due for a fluid/filter change. I didn't find any fluid in the vac line so that's a good sign.

The timing was retarded a couple of degrees and after adjusting that it seems to have cured a host of little gremlins. The little sub-shift I was feeling I do believe is the Torque Converter locking up. It happens mid way through 3rd gear (between 30-45 mph) and around 45-50 it shifts into OD.

I'm curious as to when and at what speed the TC should normally lock up ?

Thanks again,

Kevin
 
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