Nate_LapT

I recently bought a 92 Cherokee which was poorly taken care of.
has over 214k miles, engine was swapped somewhere around 160k
random damage everywhere but fun to fix.

I currently came into issues with the tranny acting funny,
Just got extremely cold recently (michigan) and while sitting at lights the jeep would jerk forward like I punched the gas n let off.
which I checked the fluid to find it extremely low. I dont get paid til friday
What fluid is recommended for this tranny? and would it do any harm to put marcoV ATF for ford in? I only have 1/4 of a quart of it.
Figuring something is better than the almost nothing.

89Laredo

DO NOT USE ATF+4 or you will be buying a new trans...
DexII was used from the factory/recommened. Your drain plug should be stamped DII. That is no longer around, so use Dexron III.
This question is asked alot....

Abovetimberline

It takes dextron 3,I would not be mixing fluids,also it will take a quart or more probably to get it back to normal,so a 1/4 quart is not going to help much anyway.
Driving it like that is not good either.

CRoading

Drain your current transmission fluid properly and replace it Dexron III...
Also be cautious on the level of fluid and measure it well...

Nate_LapT

eh, vBulletin didnt tell me you guys posted until just now. Didnt notice when I last looked either.

So why is ATF-4 so bad that it'll kill the tranny?
The people at autozone told me it took ATF-4 so I bought a quart to put at least something in it.

if ATF-4 is so bad for it, I'll drain the quart out friday when I get paid and fill it with dexIII

As for the sudden jerks while idle could that be due to no fluid, or does it sound like something is going and it's only time until its done for.

89Laredo

wow, just another example of Autozone people not knowing what theyre talking about.
The AW4 IS NOT a chrysler transmission, it is used mostly in Toyotas. Therefore, it does NOT use ATF4, which Chrysler formulated. They actually told the dealerships to use ATF4, then for some reason transmissions started failing after scheduled maintenance/trans work.. After a year or two, Chrysler Removed this change from the books and told the Dealerships to use DEXIII (though some places still use atf4 and kill transmissions...).
ATF4 is bad for the AW4 because it is synthetic and actually is too "small" of a molecule and too slippery, It slips past seals and valves in the transmission and ends up burning up clutches and causing other damage. Especially in older transmissions.
If you have the time and money, I would drop the pan, change the filter, and add (I think its 3 qts?) of Proper DexIII fluid. After that, you should be set for a while.

You may find this persons experience with ATF4 helpful...
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/war...atf-bad-28347/

As for the jerking, Are the revs going up and down or is it just the trans? If the revs are going up and down you may just have a sensor out of adjustment...

Nate_LapT

I think its slipage, it'll be idling fine, then jerk like I shifted from N to D.
Im assuming it has some damage already from driving on it for a while now. and who knows how long the previous owner ran it LOW.

Would mixing dexIII with the ATF-4 be bad? I plan to drop the pan and change/clean the filter come spring. its too cold right now, and I dont have a garage.
or say drain plug and fill with dexIII.

being snow on the ground I never got under the jeep to fully check the tranny, so I never saw the plug.

89Laredo

How much fluid do you think until the trans is full?
If less than a quart, I would drain the pan and add new fluid. Just to be on the safe side...
Im not a trans expert, but I wonder if your clutches are worn from low fluid and are slipping...

csmart30

If you drop pan+change filter it takes 4 quarts Dex III, just did it 2 weeks ago. And make sure you have your car in idle when you check otherwise it will read low

McRay

Check fluid for burn smell and very dark color and trash build up in pan. Also filter dirty.

Nate_LapT

well im trying to get by the laziest way I can right now and be alright.
along with I've always heard never flush/drain the tranny unless you have enough cash to buy a new one which I dont.

I would rather top it off, then flush it come spring when its warmer and I dont have to lay in the snow.

BlueXJ

Dex when mixed with ATF+ fluid will turn to jello or so I've been told.

preacherjeeper

One quart of the wrong fluid (atf+4) wont kill the tranny, but dex III is the correct fluid for the aw-4 tranny. The chrysler transmission uses atf+4.

Nate_LapT

I will be draining and filling either tonight, or most likely tomorrow when I have off so I can put all my attention on it or if it brakes.

Nate_LapT

Just finished my fluid change. drained out what atf-4 that was in it, then loaded up some DexIII. also put a new muffler/tail pipe on. damn it sounds/feels better now.

Drove it 10 miles and didnt jerk at all and had great power.