So I bought a 93 cherokee with a 97 front clip, custom stinger front bumper, custom 6.5" long arm lift, 32's, and a rebuilt engine today for $700. I thought it was such a good deal, I towed it back to my house about 360 miles round trip. Anyways, the problem is that it doesn't want to go forward or backwards. I already checked linkage and that's fine, and then found a torn up seal on the tranny oil pan. My question is should I still try to get this transmission running or should I just scrap it and start with a JY tranny. I was told it didn't grind and he just came home and it started slipping and wouldn't go forward. I personally think that the torque converter just didn't get enough fluid and now it's not engaging, but I was curious if this is a common problem with these jeeps or not. I've worked on Jag's my whole life, so I know their common problems, but I'm still getting acquainted with jeeps.

 

Common AW4 problems are sticky or failed shift solenoids and puking fluid when they get too hot.
Other than that they're pretty tough transmissions. They can lose hard parts if they're severely beaten or overheated, but more commonly much of what "goes wrong" with them is electrical... bad data from bad sensors, TPS being a big offender, or bad solenoids or harness, bad power or ground, low battery voltage.

I'm not entirely clear...is it low on fluid now, or did you fill it? If it's low, it's worth refilling. May well work again.

 

I wonder how many times that trans got run low on fluid.

 

Did you tow this thing with only the transmission in neutral and the rear tires on the ground?

 

I towed it with all the tires off the ground. I wanted to at least give the transmission a chance to live! haha. I did a drain and refill yesterday and still no dice. The fluid was so black, but it didn't smell burnt which was weird. It was just black. I'm going to go out there today, drop the pan, and replace the filter which I believe may be clogged which is prohibiting the flow of the tranny pump. I hope that works, otherwise I will test all the electronics and will eventually probably need to replace the transmission.

 

I think you fried it when you towed it. You can't tow an automatic with the drive wheels on the ground, even in neutral. If you placed the transfercase in neutral you would have been ok. The transmission needs to have the pump circulate fluid to lube and cool the internal bearings, thrust washers, and other things. Towing the Jeep, even in neutral, will fry the tranny because the output shaft is still spinning, but without any kind of lube or cooling.

 

"I towed it with all the tires off the ground." I didn't have any of the wheels on the ground while towing it, so I don't think I could have done anything to the transmission. I changed out the transmission filter just to see if that was clogged and if by some miracle my transmission would be any better, and no dice.. Still not wanting to go forward. I think the fluid pump is out actually because nothing has been cycling around through the tranny. I'm not going to screw with it, and I'm just going to get a used tranny and throw it in

 

$700 is not too bad for an XJ that only goes backwards?! The only problem is the neck and shoulder strain on long commutes...

 

haha it doesn't go forwards OR backwards. It only moves on a trailer! haha

 

Are you sure you have the transfercase in 2wd and not neutral? just a thought.

 

I know it's not in 2wd because if I try to push the car in park, it will not move illustrating that there is a positive connection between the transfer case and the transmission. Is it possible for a transmission front pump to go out and cause these same symptoms? I put the car in neutral to let the new fluid get into the tranny and I put in exactly how much was removed and the tranny reads that it is way overfilled, yet I only put in 6 quarts which is exactly how much I took out. To me this shows that the front pump isn't getting fluid to the torque converter and because of this lack of flow, everything overheated thus the brown tranny fluid. Is this an accurate diagnosis, or is there still something simple that I am overlooking?

 

My '00 only takes 4 quarts for drain and fill. May be it is really overfilled.

 

I think your trans is toast.

 

cruiser, I just wanted the reassurance that I'm not going to pull the tranny and overlook a small sensor that could have been causing this problem. I'm going to be replacing it soon. Getting the prep work done today.