Ranger Overload !!!

[KYRangerDude]

I've been going thru the forums looking for specifics and haven't found anything, except....I'm learning I have the infamous A4LD tranny. Just my luck Anyhows, since I"m new to this site and posted in the introduction section initially, I think I have found the correct forum to post my tranny questions.

I just bought this 92 2.9L 4x4 Ranger 4 days ago. Not good body wise as it came from up north and has major rust issues. It has around 180K miles on it. But I'm not hung up on looks, except for my women, but rather being mechanically sound is most important to me. My hunting buddy has a 92 4.0L 4x4 and has had a lot of tranny issues. Both have the A4LD and now it seems BOTH have tranny issues...lol

Here's my problem(s):

1. I go to back out of my drive and when I put it in reverse, there's a jerk. I'm wondering if it's u-joints? or tranny?
2. When I put it in drive the jerk isn't so noticeable but there all the same.
3. When the tranny shifts from first to 2nd it jerks, sometimes moderately but definately noticeable.
4. I checked the tranny fluid cold (sat for 2 days) and it showed 1 to 1-1/2 inches above the checkered area on dipstick. Was very dark fluid, like used motor oil color.
5. I just done a 20 mile round trip to warm up the tranny and checked fluid level again. It was the same, 1 to 1 1/2 inches above the checkered area on dipstick and very dark. I attempted to smell for the "burnt smell" but I don't know what good fluid smells like. I'm just going by color.

I did crawl under and looking around didn't see any leaks, but...there may be as the valve cover gaskets are leaking and running down the motor and some is blowing I"m sure on the bell housing making it hard to tell any tranny leaks. But if it was leaking, there wouldn't be excessive fluid on the dipstick would there?

So, my thoughts are: drain the tranny completely, replace filter and refill with proper type and amount and see what happens. But, I don't know how. Are there any "how to's" either on this site or elsewhere that I can go to and find how to do this procedure? I'm wanting to do a full and complete drain and flush including torque and cooler I"m thinking anyways....why do just a partial drain and flush? Someone told me that I could put diesel fuel in it and keep doing that until nothing but diesel came out...but I'm not sure about that. Do they make a tranny flush?

I'm also wanting to check fluid level in the transfer, I saw a bottom plug, but didn't see one high enough to check level or to put fluid in. Any pics showing where I might find that as well?

 

[adsm08]

You fluid level is properly check on level ground, at temp, with the engine running. Don't put diesel oil in your trans. Just don't.

"Burnt" trans fluid will smell bad. It almost kinda makes you gag when you sniff it. New trans fluid smells much better. Like mineral oil. Some guys (and I've experienced this, but I think its psycho-somatic) say new fluid almost has a slight cherry smell to it. If you smell your power steering fluid, that should give you a good idea of what bad trans fluid will smell like.

There are trans flushes. They are a good service, if done with the right stuff. When shopping around for a place to have it done ask what equipment they use. Robinair's machine is junk, it's a dipstick flusher.

BG is good, it's a cooler flush, so instead of sucking fluid out the dipstick tube and pump new in the same way it hooks into a cooler line and pushes the old stuff out with new stuff.

The best one is the TTS (Total Trans Service) unit which hooks into the pan pickup and uses the trans pump to push all the old fluid out of everything.

As for your t-case fluid, if you go to General Discussion and look at the "2.9 89 4x4" (or something like that) thread, near the end of the first page is a good pic of the back of your t-case where you can see the fill plug.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well I would assume the 1.5" of extra fluid is attributed to not having the vehicle running when you checked the fluid. If it was well then thats your problem.

Unless your trans fluid is red I would change it.

Oh and Welcome to TRS

 

[KYRangerDude]

Well I took the hose off my tranny cooler and pumped out excess fluid and topped off to fill to proper level. That worked on the jerking when shifting from 1st into 2nd. I'm just worried if the overfill hurt the tranny. And it still looks like used motor oil. I don't smell a burnt smell, but that can be objective I guess. I'm thinking about dropping the pan and changing it anyways. My only issue is what's left in the tc and lines. I can't afford to take it somewhere and have it pumped out. Thought about letting the tranny pump it out, but not sure how quick it would take to ruin the pump. Or...just let it go? Of all the things I pick to worry about....LOL

 

[KYRangerDude]

I did the tranny filter change a couple days ago...glad I did! When I took the filter off and looked, the screen had torn. It was useless. I'm guessing, but I'd say it's never been changed. I checked the pan and didn't see very much, but with the filter torn, probably wouldn't have. I do have a question...I'd heard there was a magnet in the pan...I didn't see one at all. And didn't see where one had been. There wasn't but very little debris in the pan...and no big metal pieces, but again...with the filter being torn. I thought about putting a drain plug in the pan for future changes, what do you guys think? I replaced fluid with high mileage and a bottle of lucas. I've not noticed any differences....perhaps a lessening of the "bump" between 1st and 2nd...and it may shift a little smoother. Someone told me to change the modulator valve and it would stop the bump between 1st and 2nd. Any thoughts?

 

[strvger]

i wouldn't do the drain plug. you should change the filter every time you change the fluid anyway. that also gives you a chance to check for metal particles in the fluid and filter. don't know about any magnets in there. if this gets to be a routine problem for you and your buddy, i'd be thinking of swapping it out for a 5 speed manual. but that's just me.

 

[KYRangerDude]

You're correct...change filter every time! This was my first time and went about as expected. The only problem I had was those damn clips on the passenger side that attached to the pan itself. Liked to never got them off, and even worse time getting them back on. They were attached to the heat shield next to the cat. PITA for sure!