Merry Christmas All......
93, 3.0, A4LD, about 120,000 mi. I have had a problem with 2nd to 3rd soft upshifts for a while, but today, it feels like when I take off it is only in drive. Took it on the road and sure enough, it was in drive because it only had one speed the whole time, did not upshift, and it was slow getting started. Put it in 1st gear and the van would shutter fairly hard upon acceleration and not move forward, but only in first. If I was moving slow and dropped it down to 1st, it was like I was applying the brakes. 2nd seem to move it forward, but not as well as I think it should have. Reverse works fine. I changed the modulator and filter and did a full flush in January, maybe 10,000 mi ago. Oil is up to level but brown like engine oil. No evidence of oil in the vacuum line at the manifold "T". It was not brown a month ago, so I think something may have finally gave up in the trans.
Any Suggestions?

 

the brown part has me concerned. does it smell sorta like burned almonds? If so that means the tranny has got hot and burned the clutch rings and its slipping instead of up shifting.solution = tranny overhaul

 

BROWN FLUID?????????? sounds like a HEAT problem... i have one question....... have you used any tansmission additives??????? maybe we can add it to the list of snake oil additives... did you or anybody that drives or services your van mistakenly add (MOTOR OIL) to the tranny???.... i think before you attempt to fix your trany you MUST get to the bottem of what is braking down your fluid....... i am not a transmission expert but i belive your fluid pluged the feed/bleed pressure regulater port in the valve assembly causing your bands to CHATTER................. i would drop the pan and pull the valve body and install a TRANS-GO A4LD UPGRADE KIT/re-install your CLEAN valve body & tranny fliter,, do a soft flush.... adjust your bands and take it for a drive............................................. ..................................... if this dosen`t work then you need to drop the tranny and install new bands/servos and clutch plates......... this is just my opinion.......... like i said ((i am no expert)) but i have been doing a lot of reading... soon to be installing a total A4LD high preformance upgrade this spring......... i hate working in cool weather.... lol

 

I did a full change and flush in January, oil only and no additives. I checked it monthly since and it was not brown on Thanksgiving weekend. I will replace the modulator today since I have time. I have received bad modulators before, maybe I will get lucky, but that doesn't explain the dirty trans fluid. I will report back after mod swap.

 

Brown fluid indicates that the tranny has gotten hotter than a bandits pistol and scorched the fluid among other things. I'm pretty confident that at this point you are looking at a tranny rebuild.

You can actually upgrade the tranny as you rebuild it to make it stronger and more reliable.
http://www.transmissioncenter.org/a4ld.htm

 

Sounds like I need a Master Rebuild kit. I don't want to drop a trans and do a rebuild unless I have everything I need. Are there any other parts that do not come in the master rebuild kit that I may need?

 

Hello,
From what you have indicated, it sounds as if you boiled the trans. Visit our website, we can provide you with all the upgraded performance parts to rebuild your trans yourself, or we can sell you one of our Bullet Proof Transmissions, and Billet torque converters. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to call.

Mike
Level 10 Tech
973-827-1000
http://www.levelten.com/

 

Lv2race.......... i didnt need a total rebuild.. i only wanted to beaf up my tranny so i wouldn thave future problems.... so placed separate orders on sonax pressure boost valve/heavy duty servos/and trans-go shift kit... the kit doesnt include a tranny filter... you may want to call the people at raptor 1-800-877-1008 and find out what you will need........... i belive the COMBO KIT $250 will have all the gaskits and seals you need to succesfuly beaf up and overhaul your tranny........................... my order took about 4 days to arive........ good luck.... i am sure you will injoy every shift your new monster tranny delevers.... lol : )