1997 AW4 transmission swap into a 1998...electrical question
 

I have a 1998 4.0, AW4...The shift solenoids went out last weekend. I had an AW4 out of a 1997 in my garage so instead of spending the cash on a new solenoid, I just swapped trannys. I figured they were the same, but the more I've read, I think I might have mad this harder on myself than I wanted to. Evidently the '97 used a unique harness for the tranny and had a different TCU than any other year. I went ahead and bolted the new tranny up and figured I'd deal with the electrical issues afterward. All the sensors and plugs matched up to those on my '98 except one - one that goes into the wiring harness. So my question now is, what to do? Can I simply cut it off and splice in the old connector from my '98? And get a TCU from a '97 to avoid a CEL? Or can I swap the NSS and other sensors/electrical stuff from my '98 and put it on the '97 tranny? Or am I up a creek without a paddle here?

Here's a pic of the different connectors. The female end under my thumb has 7 wires and goes into my wiring harness. The male end by my finger has 5 wires and goes to the tranny.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...bd03662a8a.png

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Replacing a transmission instead of replacing a solenoid is like swapping an engine over a worn spark plug. Replace the plug. In this case, replace the solenoid. Its a lot less work. Or is the transmission itself toast? You didnt say.

As far as the connections go, the 98-01 AW4 used two speed sensors, one input and one output. The 97 only used one speed sensor. Output. It is not machined for the other. So even if you got the connector to work, youre still mising a sensor. That its not machined for. I believe the boss is there? But its not drilled or tapped. I have no clue what size it needs to be, nor do i know of anyone thats done it. And yes, the TCM are different from 97-01. IIRC, its 97, 98, 99, and 00-01. I know for sure 97 and 98 are different.

Maybe this will help.
https://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1053970