russouno
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- gilbert, az
Hi everyone, my name is Joe and I own a 94' Cherokee Sport with the HO 4.0L. I will try to keep this short and to the point
I have searched throughout all of this forumn but can't really see a solution. AW4 probs seem tricky for some reason.
Ok, my Cherokee was a 2wd version. I bought a AW4 from Craig's list for $100 that was a 4wd version (1999). The transmission didn't work at all... no engagement whatsoever. I pulled it out and tore it down to remove the rear housing and shaft. I tore apart my perfectly good 2wd tranny and replaced the rear shaft w/housing. (bought a rebuild kit -gaskets and o-rings only) Put it all back together per the 1994 FSM. It worked 'ok' no slipping but would shift really late from 1st to 2nd.. and then after being warm.. would sometimes not go into OD or 1st. My solendoids checked out ok per the FSM. I manually tested them while they were in the tranny still in the truck... heard them click. (tested from the connector in the engine bay) I thought maybe the solenoids went bad for some reason..? maybe... changed them out with others that checked out ok with a test and VM readings... Same problem with the shifting. SOOOOO.... I said forget this rebuild stuff and the Phoenix 108' days working on this in the sun. I went to a junkyard and bought a tranny from a 2001 XJ. 20,000 miles on it and it came with the torque converter. $275. Warranted for 4 months. I put it in and did everything according to specs. The only thing I did was change the fluid and filter and transfered over my wiring to it so it would connect to my harnesses. I test drove it, it works flawlessly! BUT !!!!! BUT BUT BUT!!! once the temperture comes up to normal, circa 200-210, the transmission starts to shift later and later from 1st to 2nd and sometimes will not shift into first or OD. When at full 210', the transmission will not shift until about 4,500 rpm! I have also checked the power to the TCM, fuse and all. Everything good on voltage. I am assuming it is an electrical problem since it happens once the temps come up to normal operating levels. I am not a novice with electronics but can't seem to figure this out for the life of me !! I have replaced the TCU with another from a 94 XJ, no change. I have replaced the very rear speedometer sensor... no change. I have changed the TPS with a new one, no change. I have adjusted the throttle position cable, no change. The ONLY thing I have not changed is the ?TSS? a little blue sensor that is an inductor and senses the rotor inside the 4wd adapter housing. I HAVE tested that by pulling it and passing a magnet over it and it does show voltage occuring when i do this. (VM) Since this is also a 2001 tranny, it did have the 4 pole rotor within the 4wd adapter housing. I replaced that with the 2 ended metal one that looks like a bow-tie from the 4wd tranny I bought from Craig's list. (It was the same as the one in my 2wd tranny) I have checked all of the solenoids & their wiring. All good. I have rebuilt the NSS and the NSS works perfectly. Is it possible the my main computer ?ECM? could be faulty? Does the transmission solely work from its own TCM or in tandem with the main computer also??/ CAN ANYONE GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT ON TO WHY THIS TRANNY HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING AFTER THE ENGINE COMES UP TO RUNNING TEMPS???? PLEASE ! THIS IS KILLING ME!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE !
Thank you for listening to my rant. I have turned my perfect running XJ into a basket case because of this transmission problem/swap.

Ok, my Cherokee was a 2wd version. I bought a AW4 from Craig's list for $100 that was a 4wd version (1999). The transmission didn't work at all... no engagement whatsoever. I pulled it out and tore it down to remove the rear housing and shaft. I tore apart my perfectly good 2wd tranny and replaced the rear shaft w/housing. (bought a rebuild kit -gaskets and o-rings only) Put it all back together per the 1994 FSM. It worked 'ok' no slipping but would shift really late from 1st to 2nd.. and then after being warm.. would sometimes not go into OD or 1st. My solendoids checked out ok per the FSM. I manually tested them while they were in the tranny still in the truck... heard them click. (tested from the connector in the engine bay) I thought maybe the solenoids went bad for some reason..? maybe... changed them out with others that checked out ok with a test and VM readings... Same problem with the shifting. SOOOOO.... I said forget this rebuild stuff and the Phoenix 108' days working on this in the sun. I went to a junkyard and bought a tranny from a 2001 XJ. 20,000 miles on it and it came with the torque converter. $275. Warranted for 4 months. I put it in and did everything according to specs. The only thing I did was change the fluid and filter and transfered over my wiring to it so it would connect to my harnesses. I test drove it, it works flawlessly! BUT !!!!! BUT BUT BUT!!! once the temperture comes up to normal, circa 200-210, the transmission starts to shift later and later from 1st to 2nd and sometimes will not shift into first or OD. When at full 210', the transmission will not shift until about 4,500 rpm! I have also checked the power to the TCM, fuse and all. Everything good on voltage. I am assuming it is an electrical problem since it happens once the temps come up to normal operating levels. I am not a novice with electronics but can't seem to figure this out for the life of me !! I have replaced the TCU with another from a 94 XJ, no change. I have replaced the very rear speedometer sensor... no change. I have changed the TPS with a new one, no change. I have adjusted the throttle position cable, no change. The ONLY thing I have not changed is the ?TSS? a little blue sensor that is an inductor and senses the rotor inside the 4wd adapter housing. I HAVE tested that by pulling it and passing a magnet over it and it does show voltage occuring when i do this. (VM) Since this is also a 2001 tranny, it did have the 4 pole rotor within the 4wd adapter housing. I replaced that with the 2 ended metal one that looks like a bow-tie from the 4wd tranny I bought from Craig's list. (It was the same as the one in my 2wd tranny) I have checked all of the solenoids & their wiring. All good. I have rebuilt the NSS and the NSS works perfectly. Is it possible the my main computer ?ECM? could be faulty? Does the transmission solely work from its own TCM or in tandem with the main computer also??/ CAN ANYONE GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT ON TO WHY THIS TRANNY HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING AFTER THE ENGINE COMES UP TO RUNNING TEMPS???? PLEASE ! THIS IS KILLING ME!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE !
Thank you for listening to my rant. I have turned my perfect running XJ into a basket case because of this transmission problem/swap.

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