I posted this in the transmission forum also, but I wanted to see if any of you regulars in the Ranger forum would have any advice;

"""Hello all ... I am new to the transmission forum ... I usually hang out in the RANGER forum. But, I have a serious problem with my Ranger tranny, NEED HELP NOW!! It is a 1985 2.8 V6 2WD with A4LD tranny. I wrote a letter to a friend, but I would like to get some input from a few experts in this forum also. The letter is as follows;

Hey Rob,
Do you remember me?? I'm amp17757 from the Ranger FTE forum. You and I communicated about a year ago about the A4LD. I am in a desperate situation, and was hoping to be able to "PICK YOUR BRAIN ONE AGAIN"! PLEASE REPLY ROB!!!
As you know, these things have a lock-up torque converter. As I understand it, the lock-up mechanism is not activated unless and until the transmission shifts into 4th gear. My tranny has been defective from the get-go (bought it in Dec 1999, no 4th gear, no lock-up). But the first 3 gears have worked fine all this time. Now, all of a sudden, out of the blue, my torque converter has decided to lock up, but it won't unlock! I was driving home from work last night, and it locked up, and as I came to a stop, it wouldn't unlock. It stalled the engine. It was a miracle I made it home. This morning, I drove it to work, because I pretty much had no other choice. It was STILL LOCKED UP THIS MORNING! I managed to get it going, since I live on a hill ... I was able to drift a little before shifting into gear. I drive 15 minutes to get to work. I was praying passionately to The Lord that I would not have to stop anywhere, or I might not get going again. My prayers were answered, I didn't have to stop anywhere. As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed that the TQ had finally UNLOCKED! I was able to park my truck in a space on an incline, so that in case it does this again, I can coast out of the space before shifting into gear.
I desperately need to know TWO THINGS;
FIRST - I know that there is an electrical connector that triggers the lock-up mechanism ... PLEASE TELL ME EXACTLY WHERE THIS CONNECTOR IS, SO THAT I CAN DISCONNECT IT!!
SECOND - Is there any remote possibility that this thing locked up due to a MECHANICAL failure, rather than an electrical or electronic failure?? Is it possible for it to lock and unlock arbitrarily even with the connector removed??
I am in a desperate situation Rob. Any light you could shed on the subject would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE BUD!!
SINCERELY,
Mike"""

What do yall think??? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

 

Yes, I know, this is a long post ... sorry 'bout that. But please help.

 

Haven't had to deal with an A4LD problem. I did see a Buick FWD get unplugged re lock-up torq. and all it had after that was 2nd gear. That was good enough to get the car in the shop.
In short, bite the bullet and take your truck in.

 

I'm not too good at auto xmsns, but if you start disconnecting plugs and trying it (one at a time!) you might be able to isolate the solenoid. Here's the troublshooting guide for a converter clutch that won't release:
1. If the torque converter clutch solenoid valve does not exhaust, check the torque converter solenoid valve.
2. If the converter clutch valve is stuck in apply position, check the control valve assembly.
3. If there is a missing screen that allows foreign material to stick the torque converter clutch solenoid ON, check the torque converter clutch screen and replace as necessary.
4. If there is no unlock signal, the bypass solenoid is damaged or inoperative, or the bulkhead connector wires are damaged; check the electronic engine control or transaxle electrical system.

After reading all that (It's Greek to me too), try one plug at a time. There can't be more than 3 or 4 (Boy I'm being optimistic here). Good luck and keep us posted! I would think that a solenoid would be mounted externally, but really can't promise that it is.

 

Hey THANKS guys (Dealford & hreed). I was fairly sure that this was an electrical/electronic problem (lock-up signal being sent when not appropriate), BUT, after owning this thing for over 4 years and never ONCE having it lock up until now did arouse fears of another internal malfunction or failure other than electronic. With having no garage to work in, and the transmission being REALLY HOGGED UP (dirty and loaded with oil and grease!), it is a real challenge for me to do even the simplest things. I can find a way to at least check out all the electrical connections, and isolate the one that commands lock-up. But I'm still fearful that something inside will cause a lock-up, even with that connector removed. hreed, that guide is very informative. Yes, I don't FULLY understand every single detail, but I get the jist. I think that it is unrealistically optomistic to think that any of the solenoids or hydraulics are external, but if I were to make the pleasant discovery that any ARE, then at least a "Band Aid" repair would get me going again for now. A gentleman in the Transmission forum says that there COULD be a "hard" failure inside the tranny sending an erroneous hydraulic lock-up command. That was very bad news to me. I've been wanting to fix or replace this tranny (I really like this truck), but now is not a good time. So anyway, THANKS! I will indeed keep you posted.

 

hey amp17757, sounds like you have a real headache on your hands. Trans lockups can be a real night mare to diagnose, even in the best of conditions. You really need to find a garage to work in, it would make things alot easier. If i remember correctly, i've seen posts on this board from you in the past, sounds like you have one problem after another with that old Ford, good thing it isn't a GM, or it would be in the salvage yard by now. You must have a boat load of time and patience to keep that old bucket of bolts runnin down the road. You might want to consider dropping a whole new rebuilt tranny in that puppy, save you some future headaches.

 

Hey KnowItAll, yeah, you're at least MOSTLY right. If it were a GM, it WOULD be in the salvage yard. I have pretty much had no choice but to keep this old truck (and my old AMC Eagle) running, since my X has the nice new car, and all the money. I paid $500 for this truck in Dec 99 ... it was THE BEST $500 I've EVER spent on ANYTHING! Yes, I've done lots of work to it, the typical wear-out stuff [alternator, voltage regulator, water pump, U-joints, muffler & tailpipe, tires, headlights, some minor rust, etc, etc, etc], but, at least, I've been able to do all the work myself, saving a ton of bucks. Yes, I have had plans all along to replace the tranny with a fully remanufactured one, but RIGHT NOW isn't a great time to do it (money, time, a place ... ). I am going to do my homework, and get one that has ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS that were made over the years. Mine was one of the first ones built, and not very robust. The last 2 or 3 years the A4LD was made, it was very much more robust and reliable. The thing that REALLY FRUSTRATES ME, is that I'm about to move back into the house that my X WAS living in, and it has a GARAGE!! I was going to use the truck to move, but now am afraid to. One unexpected lock-up, and I'm really scr**ed. But, at least, once I'm in, I will finally have a place to do the swap. If only this thing had kept going another month or so ... DARN!!

 

well, it sounds like you are making the best of the situation. I still think you should call the wrecker, and put the ranger out of its misery. With the X out of the way, you should have plenty of time and space to work on vehicles. I say vehicles because I'm sure you are working on that eagle of yours...you must be a glutten for punishment!!! If i were in your shoes, i would push them both off a bridge, and buy a bike to get around, alot less trouble. Got any tall bridges in your area? Hope the tranny situation gets better...good luck!

 

THANKS!!

 

Hey AMP17757,

i have a question that I thought you might be able to help me with. I have a ranger myself, and i seem to be having trouble with the left front splice assembly, and was wondering if you think that it is a skiving problem, or hertzian stress??

 

You got my attention.

 

amp17757, i'm not sure I follow you, what is a Jack Dude? If you look at the schematic for the 86 ranger, there is a splice assembly in the headlight wiring harness. I was reading a post on another board where someone had a similar problem, and they thought is was a skiving problem. Have you ever had this problem with your 85 ranger? The headlight works, but is intermitent. If you have any sugesstions, please let me know.

Thanks

Phillup de Cube

 

Dear Mr. de Cube,
Since we are talking ELECTRICAL SPLICES, (as opposed to fiber optic splices), I would suspect that Hertzian stress impressions are NOT your problem. HOWEVER! I can see where SKIVE could definitely be your problem ... material gets skived up, gets lodged between the connections, causing an open circuit. Does anyone else have any wisdom to offer???