SpruceJedi

I just crawled under my 2000 Jeep Cherokee and come to find out I have an Aisin 30-43LE transmission. Is this fairly standard? From what I have been seeing this is not a model that a lot of guys have. I am considering going through a rebuild on it but wanted to get some info first. Has anyone spent any time working on one of these? Are they worth it? Do they have any inherent flaws? I have 200k on this one and its just now starting to show its age, but I still drive it every day. Just curious. THanks.

tjwalker

All 2000 Xjs from the factory have the AW4 transmission from Asin Warner. It is the ONLY transmission equipped on your vintage.

There can be some confusion because of that tag that you have found I think.....

But unless your vehicle has undergone some radical swap, it's definitely the AW4.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tra...ication-12618/

SpruceJedi

After further research, it appears you are correct. Same trans, just a diff label it seems. So. It needs to be serviced, the fluid is pretty dirty looking, and to be honest I am not sure when the last time it was done. I am not positive that its the trans giving me an issue. When I am rolling down the highway at 70 or so every now and then i get a little stutter. It doesn't feel like a trans slip or anything and it doesnt even have to be under power. It also does not feel like the motor missing. I would love to avoid digging into this if I didnt have to but If I plan to do any type of off road driving, which I do. I need to make sure the trans is reliable. Let me know what you guys suggest.

Is the AW4 a pretty decent specimen? They pretty reliable. I am pretty happy getting 200k out of mine so far.

tjwalker

The AW4 is a very robust transmission, but like any other transmission, will fail earlier if fresh fluid is not on its diet.

Use Dex/Merc III compatible fluid. Do NOT use ATF+4, no matter what they might tell you. A while back, Chrysler OK'd the use of ATF+4 for the AW4 through a technical bulletin. IMHO and in many others as well, that has more to do with logistics and profit margin of their parts dept. than for what is best for this transmission. Some transmissions do okay with it, but some experience slippage, which mysteriously goes away when they switch back to Dex/Merc. Why take the chance? Stick with the fluid that the MFG specd and that is Dex/Merc which will give you a VERY long service life.

I'd recommend dropping what is in the pan and replacing it (3-4 quarts), then drive for a few hundred miles. Repeat the process until the fluid stays RED and does not smell BURNT.

If you've never dropped the pan and either replaced or cleaned the filter (basically a screen), that is also recommended at least once.

I recommend replacing the fluid in the transmission pan every 30k.

SpruceJedi

That sounds like a good plan. I'd just have to get a few pan gaskets and go for it. It can't hurt and has to be cheaper than rebuilding or replacing.

DieselD

Before you go thru all that work check your plugs. I had the same issue on the highway I'd be cruising 65-70 MPH and every so often I get a speratic slip I thought it was the trans but when I did a tune up it never returned. The plugs were super corroded. That's on a 91 so I did cap rotor and wires too but I'd at least check your plugs.

SpruceJedi

Thats a good idea. I will go through all that at the same time. Either way, I think the trans fluid needs some attention.

DieselD

Yea it needs changed too for sure.

cruiser54

You don't need a pan gasket to change the fluid. It has a drain plug with a washer that should be replaced.

DieselD

There's supposed to be a washer there? When I did my 91 the was just a plug bolt. No leak though.

cruiser54

Might have been stuck to the flanged bolt. Lucky it didn't leak.

DieselD

Definitely could've been. I can't recall exactly. I remember having hell with the dipstick tube until I found out it came apart... by having it fall on me.

cruiser54

Did that somehow distract you?

BTW, I've never changed a filter on an AW4. Only drain and fill. Shhhh.

DieselD

It didn't distract me, its just been like a year since I've done it so I don't remember everything. Been many repairs since then.

cruiser54

I meant when it happened.