Need automatic transmission advice

[92 Rusty Ranger]

Hello, I have a 1992 Ford Ranger with the A4LD automatic transmission. The vehicle has 238,000 miles on it. The truck is still nice looking enough to donate to a local mission. The transmission has not been operated in the past ten years except on rare occasions. At one time there was stop leak added which should not have happened. I am a long time Auto-Rx customer. My question: Would Auto-Rx clean shift solenoid screens quick enough to prevent more damage caused by erratic shifting from stop leak additives? I'm here for moral support, any and all comments welcomed. Thanks.

 

[ctechbob]

Usually transmission stop leak is just a seal conditioner. Not much you can do other than just get the fluid out of there and refill. Damage has already been done by swelling up the seals.

Its not like a head gasket stop leak that actually has particles in it that are intended to physically plug up the leak.

 

[Chris142]

The stop leak or stop slip will swell every rubber part in the transmission. Once those are swelled then leak again you need a rebuild.

A transmission guy can look at the parts and will know if stop leak or slip was added as all the rubbers will swell up once removed.

 

[92 Rusty Ranger]

Thanks for the replies. I plan on replacing the fluid/filter. Another thought:: Would the OEM transmission cooler have any effect on the line pressure being lower? Running fluid through the radiator only could help line pressure? The vehicle will be light use if kept running. Thanks.

 

[Lubener]

Would Auto-Rx clean shift solenoid screens quick enough to prevent more damage caused by erratic shifting from stop leak additives?

The A4LD transmission was not very reliable and was prone to all kinds of issues. Most likely an issue you have was not caused by the stop leak but being of weak design instead and the need for more involved repair..

The stop leak will not affect the solenoids but could affect internal hydraulic seals. The solenoids being a magnetic device will hold onto any metallic particles and an additive will not help your situation.

 

[92 Rusty Ranger]

The A4LD transmission was not very reliable and was prone to all kinds of issues. Most likely an issue you have was not caused by the stop leak but being of weak design instead and the need for more involved repair..

The solenoids being a magnetic device will hold onto any metallic particles and an additive will not help your situation.

Thank you Lubener. I did not know the shift solenoids were magnetic devices. That poses a problem~ the Ford A4LD unit has very few people that rebuild them. The main reason parts are hard to find and most A4LD transmissions are in junk yards or worse.

 

[97prizm]

Thanks for the replies. I plan on replacing the fluid/filter. Another thought:: Would the OEM transmission cooler have any effect on the line pressure being lower? Running fluid through the radiator only could help line pressure? The vehicle will be light use if kept running. Thanks.

If the fluid pressure is low then the pump is on its way out. Could be months or weeks. I had a clunk in my neon transmission. Regularly changed the atf with the correct fluid. Had new fluid and filter installed. It went bang one day and didn't want to shift. I replaced the shift solenoid which temporarily helped. It finally died on my way to play golf.

 

[Marcozi]

" It finally died on my way to play golf." It did you a favor!! /s

 

[zzyzzx]

If the fluid pressure is low then the pump is on its way out.

It's a 1992 and I suspect has a cable that controls line pressure. If so, than then cable stretch might be the real problem and if so they are usually adjustable to make the fluid pressure higher.

 

[92 Rusty Ranger]

The A4LD transmission was not very reliable and was prone to all kinds of issues. Most likely an issue you have was not caused by the stop leak but being of weak design instead and the need for more involved repair..

The stop leak will not affect the solenoids but could affect internal hydraulic seals. The solenoids being a magnetic device will hold onto any metallic particles and an additive will not help your situation.

After the initial 5 mile round-trip drive to fuel up the vehicle the transmission proved to be one quart low. That would have some effect on shift solenoids. Since the unit overheated in the short trip to the service station I will drop the pan and filter and hope for the best. There was enough heat it kinda felt like it went into the limp mode. After cooling and adding a quart ATF, it seemed to operate somewhat. I definitely have lost my fastball.

 

[meep]

Did the transmission overheat in 5 miles or the engine? There’s something very wrong internally if it’s the trans, was it slipping the whole way?

 

[92 Rusty Ranger]

Did the transmission overheat in 5 miles or the engine? There’s something very wrong internally if it’s the trans, was it slipping the whole way?

The engine is fine. The transmission over-heated on the way back. It is a vehicle seldom used and after reaching regular driving temperature showed to be a quart low on ATF. It did not slip, initial problem was there was no up shift after driving thru 1st, 2nd & 3rd gears.

 

[meep]

1 quart low should not cause an overheat. There is something else wrong with the transmission, or the sensor that is reporting it. Dragging brakes, clogged line, improper clutch engagement… something. An unloaded transmission on a normal day can take 30-45 minutes before it reaches op temp. Overheating in 5 miles is a thing. Do you know for certain that it’s overheating?

 

[Sumboodie]

After the initial 5 mile round-trip drive to fuel up the vehicle the transmission proved to be one quart low. That would have some effect on shift solenoids. Since the unit overheated in the short trip to the service station I will drop the pan and filter and hope for the best. There was enough heat it kinda felt like it went into the limp mode. After cooling and adding a quart ATF, it seemed to operate somewhat. I definitely have lost my fastball.

1 qt low isn't going to make a difference. Pan holds around 1.5 gal and transmission holds about 2.5 if I remember right. As long as the filter has enough oil to suck oil and not air, it'll work fine. probably could be 3-4 qts low before that point.

I'm of course not saying to run it that way, but something else is wrong. 230k miles and 35 years is a good run for most any auto transmission, so I wouldn't expect miracles. Not the end of the world to drop and to a quick rebuilt. Can buy soft part kits for $200-300.

 

[92 Rusty Ranger]

1 qt low isn't going to make a difference. Pan holds around 1.5 gal and transmission holds about 2.5 if I remember right. As long as the filter has enough oil to suck oil and not air, it'll work fine. probably could be 3-4 qts low before that point.

I'm of course not saying to run it that way, but something else is wrong. 230k miles and 35 years is a good run for most any auto transmission, so I wouldn't expect miracles. Not the end of the world to drop and to a quick rebuilt. Can buy soft part kits for $200-300.

Thanks, I'm not learned enough to rebuild a transmission. Wished I was. I later found out it was 1 1/2 quarts low with dirty ATF. And you were right it didn't do any internal damage. The shift solenoid (I think) may be sticking and the overdrive does not up-shift properly when slowing down. I am happy that it still runs after 33 years.