Is my automatic transmission junk ?

[Sylvain]

Hello,

I bought a ford ranger 89 yesterday, the owner said truck need a transmission, but he said it didnt look really into it.

The truck is not moving forward or in reverse, when I shift it does absolutely nothing, the only thing I know is that's not low on fluid.

Where should I start looking, truck is a 89 with 2.9l and a auto transmission.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Typically the condition of the fluid and the amount of particulates in the bottom of the pan will tell the story.

 

[adsm08]

The title question was answered in the original post.

It's an auto, so yes, it's junk. As for what is wrong with your particular unit, need to tear into it.

 

[adsm08]

One thought. Check the trans fluid with the engine off, then again with the engine running. If it does not drop the pump isn't working, and that will keep it from engaging any gears.

 

[wildbill23c]

The transmission would be the dreaded A4LD. Typical failures of these transmissions seem to be pumps, valve body, solenoids, and occasionally bands. Trouble is without really tearing it down, its hard to say what's wrong. If it won't move in any gear my thoughts would be valve body or the pump...If it moved in certain gears it could be solenoids, bands, etc. Like I said without tearing it down you are really just guessing. A Transmission shop would say the same, they'd have to tear it apart to see as well most likely and that's not cheap either...at that point you may as well have it rebuilt since they have to take it apart anyways. Finding a good used one is pretty hit and miss too, find a good, a really good transmission shop and have it rebuilt, or part the truck out. Unless you really want to keep it and drive it for several years, having the transmission rebuilt is going to be in the $2k range to have it done right and have it last.

As much grief people give AAMCO I had the A4LD in my 88 Bronco 2 rebuilt almost 4 years ago by AAMCO. I got very lucky found my local AAMCO has a retired Ford tech who knows the A4LD really well, all its weak points, and got it rebuilt with several updates and several upgrades to keep it alive. He says it would handle the 302 with the way its built now but I sure wouldn't trust it if a little 2.9L V6 took it out the first time...err a 2.9L V6 and a idiot previous owner who towed it behind his RV with the manual locking hubs in the lock position. When I bought it, it had no overdrive at all. It works great now, and getting things ordered to do a transmission service on it this spring. Fluid is looking kind of light brown/pink. So its time to get it done. New filter and pan gasket on the way.

Fluid color really don't matter, some people will change all the fluids in a vehicle they're selling to make it look as though its been maintained really well but just covering up the reason they're selling it, like a burned up transmission, head gaskets leaking, etc.

 

[Sylvain]

One thought. Check the trans fluid with the engine off, then again with the engine running. If it does not drop the pump isn't working, and that will keep it from engaging any gears.

I will check that, thank you for the tip

 

[Sylvain]

The transmission would be the dreaded A4LD. Typical failures of these transmissions seem to be pumps, valve body, solenoids, and occasionally bands. Trouble is without really tearing it down, its hard to say what's wrong. If it won't move in any gear my thoughts would be valve body or the pump...If it moved in certain gears it could be solenoids, bands, etc. Like I said without tearing it down you are really just guessing. A Transmission shop would say the same, they'd have to tear it apart to see as well most likely and that's not cheap either...at that point you may as well have it rebuilt since they have to take it apart anyways. Finding a good used one is pretty hit and miss too, find a good, a really good transmission shop and have it rebuilt, or part the truck out. Unless you really want to keep it and drive it for several years, having the transmission rebuilt is going to be in the $2k range to have it done right and have it last.

As much grief people give AAMCO I had the A4LD in my 88 Bronco 2 rebuilt almost 4 years ago by AAMCO. I got very lucky found my local AAMCO has a retired Ford tech who knows the A4LD really well, all its weak points, and got it rebuilt with several updates and several upgrades to keep it alive. He says it would handle the 302 with the way its built now but I sure wouldn't trust it if a little 2.9L V6 took it out the first time...err a 2.9L V6 and a idiot previous owner who towed it behind his RV with the manual locking hubs in the lock position. When I bought it, it had no overdrive at all. It works great now, and getting things ordered to do a transmission service on it this spring. Fluid is looking kind of light brown/pink. So its time to get it done. New filter and pan gasket on the way.

Fluid color really don't matter, some people will change all the fluids in a vehicle they're selling to make it look as though its been maintained really well but just covering up the reason they're selling it, like a burned up transmission, head gaskets leaking, etc.

There are also reman transmission for about $1500, I don't if it's worth it vs a rebuild. The fluid in my transmission is more brownish than pink red. I want to keep that truck, but I've never teared into a transmission..

 

[RonD]

Yes, +1 on the check fluid level engine OFF and then engine ON, that will tell you if the Pump in the transmission is working

A4LD was a good transmission, used until 2011 Rangers under the 4R and 5R model names, got a bad rap from transmission shops that had NEVER EVER seen an Overdrive transmission before, A4LD was one of the first
So the shops F*ed up rebuilds and then blamed the transmission, lol................yea right that never happens, "it was a bad design, and the dog ate my homework", some things never change

So nothing wrong with a GOOD rebuilt A4LD, even better than original because there were upgrades during its 1986-2011 life span
You can only used the 1988-1994 version because later versions have full solenoid control, which your 1989 computer can't operate
But the rotating parts inside were the same from, 1986 to 2011 with some upgrades and changes

 

[wildbill23c]

There are also reman transmission for about $1500, I don't if it's worth it vs a rebuild. The fluid in my transmission is more brownish than pink red. I want to keep that truck, but I've never teared into a transmission..

Depends on the quality of the reman transmission, most use the cheapest parts so you are stuck with garbage internals that'll maybe last till its out of warranty, or maybe not. A transmission shop that you can trust is the way to go, they'll give you the best route to take as to go with a rebuild or a reman unit. I'd get it rebuilt because you can specify upgraded components to keep the transmission operating properly for many many years. Brownish fluid typically means its contaminated, old, and has been hot. Whichever route you take on the transmission, install an auxiliary transmission cooler. These transmissions die because they get too hot, and from lack of regular fluid changes.

I had a transmission rebuilt in my 93 Ranger. It lasted about 13,000 miles and blew up again. I had a no-name shop do the rebuild, they just used whatever cheap crap rebuild kit they could find and went with it. I think it maybe went 13k and about 2 years on that transmission. After that I just sold the thing for a parts truck. Then my 88 Bronco 2 came along and this time went with a reputable transmission shop, who took the time to do things right and updated and upgraded stuff so it would actually last, plus installed an auxiliary cooler that should have been on it in the first place. In almost 5 years I've had the vehicle offroad, in snow, mud, sand, etc. Never had any issues at all with it....shifts great, shifts are a bit firm, but better than slipping into gears as transmissions tend to be setup in today's cars which causes excessive heat in trade for you can't feel it shifting LOL. I'd rather feel the shifts, and know its in gear, not slipping between gears and burning up bands and clutch packs. With proper service and cooling these transmissions aren't quite as bad as they seem. I honestly don't trust them, I would rather have the old C5 that was in my 84 Ranger or a manual transmission in my Bronco 2 but it is what it is and if it blows up again I may go down the route of a C5 swap. Granted I'd lose overdrive but I could care less I'd rather have a more reliable transmission LOL.

 

[Sylvain]

Depends on the quality of the reman transmission, most use the cheapest parts so you are stuck with garbage internals that'll maybe last till its out of warranty, or maybe not. A transmission shop that you can trust is the way to go, they'll give you the best route to take as to go with a rebuild or a reman unit. I'd get it rebuilt because you can specify upgraded components to keep the transmission operating properly for many many years. Brownish fluid typically means its contaminated, old, and has been hot. Whichever route you take on the transmission, install an auxiliary transmission cooler. These transmissions die because they get too hot, and from lack of regular fluid changes.

I had a transmission rebuilt in my 93 Ranger. It lasted about 13,000 miles and blew up again. I had a no-name shop do the rebuild, they just used whatever cheap crap rebuild kit they could find and went with it. I think it maybe went 13k and about 2 years on that transmission. After that I just sold the thing for a parts truck. Then my 88 Bronco 2 came along and this time went with a reputable transmission shop, who took the time to do things right and updated and upgraded stuff so it would actually last, plus installed an auxiliary cooler that should have been on it in the first place. In almost 5 years I've had the vehicle offroad, in snow, mud, sand, etc. Never had any issues at all with it....shifts great, shifts are a bit firm, but better than slipping into gears as transmissions tend to be setup in today's cars which causes excessive heat in trade for you can't feel it shifting LOL. I'd rather feel the shifts, and know its in gear, not slipping between gears and burning up bands and clutch packs. With proper service and cooling these transmissions aren't quite as bad as they seem. I honestly don't trust them, I would rather have the old C5 that was in my 84 Ranger or a manual transmission in my Bronco 2 but it is what it is and if it blows up again I may go down the route of a C5 swap. Granted I'd lose overdrive but I could care less I'd rather have a more reliable transmission LOL.

appreciate your input

 

[Sylvain]

I checked the fluid level today and it moves when the car is running, however its's way overfilled.

 

[Dirtman]

The level is only accurate when reading in park with the engine running. If you read the level with the engine off it will show over filled.

If it's still over filled reading with the engine running then you need to remove some fluid. Fluid level too high can aerate the fluid turning into a foam. Foam doesn't create pressure.

 

[Sylvain]

The level is only accurate when reading in park with the engine running. If you read the level with the engine off it will show over filled.

If it's still over filled reading with the engine running then you need to remove some fluid. Fluid level too high can aerate the fluid turning into a foam. Foam doesn't create pressure.

It was also way overfilled when running, I will drop the pan and see what's in there, and refill to the proper level, anything I should look for while the pan is off because I doubt this is the issue but who knows maybe it's simple as that. ?

 

[Sylvain]

I dropped the pan today, there were some shiny metal dust but that's it I guess it's normal for a 30 years old trans ?

So I have no gears at all, car roll on Park like it's neutral. Trans was ovefilled, but I doubt it was the issue because the previous owner said it was a daily driver until the transmission stopped working.

 

[8thTon]

It rolls in park?