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Well-Known Member
The only a4ld I have ever owned is sitting in my back yard with a for sale sign on it, it worked when we drove it in here but I dislike auto's, my preference. I read an article sometime back about the a4ld and it listed the major problem as being a misalignment problem between the center line of the engine crankshaft and the transmission pump. In other words the torque converter is offset in some way, this has been the problem with all a4ld's no matter what they are attached to. The misalignment knocks out the front seal prematurely and in some cases the pump. We are only talking a miss alignment of a few thousands, Ford apparently never saw fit to address the issue. Every time I read anything about people having a problem with their a4ld, I wonder if that is part of the problem.
As for the C-4 or 5, I have had both in past years, all were behind 4 cylinders and had had as much beefing up as could be done, they worked OK if you like auto's, but seemed to lack a low enough first gear unless you were in low range. Other than that complaint, they worked for many thousands of miles.
My best suggestion when you put any auto in, keep the fluid as cool as possible, a transmission cooler that does not route the oil threw the radiator and is at least twice the size of what is recommended will do that. The transmission may be sluggish shifting when the temps go down, but will keep the heat down when the temps go up. A shift kit is also a good investment, as it takes the overlap out of the shifting which also helps keep the oil temp down. Heat is the major killer of automatic transmissions.
Teach your wife to drive a stick, for the couple of clutches it will take, you will be time and money ahead in the end.
Good luck with whatever you do.
Ray
As for the C-4 or 5, I have had both in past years, all were behind 4 cylinders and had had as much beefing up as could be done, they worked OK if you like auto's, but seemed to lack a low enough first gear unless you were in low range. Other than that complaint, they worked for many thousands of miles.
My best suggestion when you put any auto in, keep the fluid as cool as possible, a transmission cooler that does not route the oil threw the radiator and is at least twice the size of what is recommended will do that. The transmission may be sluggish shifting when the temps go down, but will keep the heat down when the temps go up. A shift kit is also a good investment, as it takes the overlap out of the shifting which also helps keep the oil temp down. Heat is the major killer of automatic transmissions.
Teach your wife to drive a stick, for the couple of clutches it will take, you will be time and money ahead in the end.
Good luck with whatever you do.
Ray
