AW-4 "average" lifespan?

[redeye202]

My son had a 89 cherokee with the AW4 and he beat the living hell out of it,killed the body and the motor,but just could not kill the AW4.

You will break/destroy just about everything on a Jeep before you kill the AW4.

 

[tdkask]

How can you tell the Up Country kit? Is it clearly marked on them, or is it a designator in the VIN?

 

[uRabbit]

Hey, seaman. ;P Fellow servicemember here (Army; Hooah!).

I asked this same question before my bought my '90 with the same tranny. There's a reason this tranny was used for so long: it's a tank! And funny thing is, it's virtually a Toyota tranny. ;P

A guy told me on jeepforums.com that his had 450k miles before they decided to do a fluid change. And still runs smooth.

Mine runs very smooth as well. There is a knock, but I can't figure out if it's the tranny or the u-joint.

Edit: also, I've wheeled this thing a couple times (with silly 225 tires) and got stuck in a half foot of mud and water. I rocked that thing HARD between reverse and 1-2, while in 4LO. Only took my foot off the gas when I shifted. There was absolutely no lag in power delivery.

 

[n1ywb]

My old XJ had 230k on the tranny, it still ran fine. My new XJ has 200k on the tranny, it still runs fine.

IMO the only important mod is the 1st gear lockout. It's a super easy electrical mod, pretty much a switch and a diode. I used a cheap pull switch from the parts store rack and mounted it next to my shift lever. I wanted to mount it ON my shift lever but I couldn't find a reasonably priced switch for that and I was too lazy to make some kind of bracket.

 

[uRabbit]

That would be a mighty useful mod. Does it bypass first for all tranny modes?

Would definitely be useful for when you're stuck and in snow.

 

[DieselSJ]

Jeepspeed guys abuse the heck out of those things and they don't die. I had 180K on mine when I sold it and last I heard it was over 250K and still going.

 

[90 waggy]

last one i pulled apart had 260k on it and i dont think the fluid was ever changed. it looked like old motor oil. turns out one of the shift solenoids had crapped out. new torque converter and all new solenoids along with a healthy dose of trick shift non synthetic and she is still going strong. its been 5 years and its on a DD dont know the mileage....damn near bulletproof.