my 2001 jeep cherokee, 2wd, automatic, 4.0, recently started slipping really bad, like a manual trany when the clutch is going out. i was able to limp it home but it has been sitting for a little while now cause i have a 96 that's working fine and drive it instead.

any chance it could be solved with a fresh set of shift solenoids and new fluid, or do y'all think it's toast and i need to pull it out and either get a junkyard transmission or have it rebuilt?

i'm new to this forum, if i posted in the wrong spot, sorry, lemme know and i'll move it.

thanks very much, Eric

 

First, check the cable from the throttle body to the transmission. If that's way out of adjustment or disconnected, the trans won't build any pressure and will slip and shift poorly.

Does it seem like it's trying to start in 4th gear, versus slipping at speed? If you suspect a bad solenoid, check the wiring and measure their resistance (11-15 ohms nominal). You can also pull the fuse for the trans and shift manually with the shifter to help rule out a mechanical problem. The AW4 transmission is fairly robust and problems are usually solenoids or sensors.

 

Thanks for writing back lawsoncl !

Maybe it does seem a little like it's trying to start in fourth gear..

when i limped it home, from a dead stop at traffic lights the rpms would go up but the jeep wasn't moving much and took a while to get up to speed. even once i got to 30 or 40 mph and put my foot in it, the rpms would go up and i'd have to let off the gas some to let it hook up. it honestly felt a lot like a clutch going out in a standard transmission.if the solenoids are bad do you think that would stop it from building pressure?

i had heard the same thing, the aw4 transmissions are pretty tough.

i have reset the cable from the throttle body to the transmission but there wasn't much play in it before i reset it.

do you by any chance have a video link that shows how to check the voltage on the solenoids? i'm guessing i do that after i have dropped the pan?

thanks again very much, i really appreciate your help! eric

 

Don't need to pull the pan to test the resistance of the solenoids. You can do it at the connector to the trans computer or at the connector in the wiring harness. At the trans computer is best since it tests all the wiring too, but the connector in the harness is easier to get too. Clean the connector too while you're there.

Some more reading for you.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tes...enoids-235010/
https://www.naxja.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1137433
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tra...roblems-88637/

 

 

thanks again, i finally got around to my jeep recently and because the fluid smelled sour and burnt i did drop the pan and ohmed out the solenoids. the lock out solenoid measuresr 14 and the other two were both around 12.

it was definitely slipping all together like a bad clutch in a standard. i replaced the fluid, filter and lock out solenoid. i would have replaced the other two but the kit i got on amazon didn't work out so great. the two shift solenoids didn't fit the mounting bolts just right. i could have drilled the holes to be a little longer since they didn't fit right but opted to go with just replacing the one.

i thought since it seemed totally spent, i'd try synthetic fluid because i didn't have anything to loose at that point.

at any rate i filled it, dropped it in gear and off she went. it seems to shift hard into first and second so i adjust the cable once or twice but it still shifts hard in first and second. otherwise it is working pretty well and strong, no slipping at all.

do you think going back to dex would help any?

 

You could try loosening the adjustment a bit.

 

I came to learn the AW4 is for dex/merc, now Dex III
It's possible going to add something to the equation again if you fill it with something else

But that's what I learned here, many moons ago when I entered XJ land.