After almost 2 years I'm finally getting another XJ in the next week. I have one sitting in my yard I'm about to buy from a buddy, it's a 97 Sport 4x4. I know the trans is messed up and needs to be replaced. My question is what year transmission would be best for it, also which years will fit. How hard is it to swap the trans compared to lets say a 92 Ford F150? I have friends who can help, I can pretty much do anything on Jeeps as i've tore them down from age 18 to now with the help of mechanic school, and youtube videos. The F150 was the only trans I swapped that's why I ask.

 

What's in there now, an automatic I presume? If so, it's an AW4 and that's what you should replace it with. What's wrong with the current one?

 

Don't shift right, in a couple of the gears. Just drives like ****. So how do you tell if its an AW4 trans? Is there markings on it? I just am getting one out of another jeep on Craigslist so they usually just say the year, I think there are 98-2000 trans on there, each still in the jeeps, like 2 are 4x4. There are some earlier years as well. Do I need to stick with my year? and it has to be 4x4 correct?

 

The 4.0L was only offered with the AW4 automatic.

Has to be 4x4 yes, there is a certain year range to stay within for TCU compatibility (not sure what that is, I think 97+ AW4s are the same, but don't quote me on that).

So you've already changed the fluid, tested your TPS, and adjusted the TV cable?

 

^^ +1

Most AW4 problems aren't transmission problems at all, they're electronic control problems. Sensors, TCU, Solenoids, Wiring. Check the stuff listed above if you haven't already.

 

I'll get it running tomorrow and take a video of what it's doing. The guy i'm getting it from is a mechanic, but an Aviation one, feel like he would of known, he just said the trans was messing up. I've rode in it just can't really remember. He's wanting 1000$ but I was gonna offer him 800, I figured I could find a used trans for 200-300$. It has brand new tires too which were nearly 600$ so think I'm getting a good deal. Would the sensors/tcu/solenoids/wiring be cheaper then replacing the trans? Or could it be more work then I'm thinking. Like I said I'll get to work on looking at it tomorrow more, Just had a dead battery and haven't messed with it, been sitting here for a month now. Would you be able to tell with a video of its the trans or best to just try replacing those first. Can you test each thing or is it just hit or miss replacing? I do believe its 97+ are the same.

 

Well, if they're bad and you replace the trans, it still won't work right. It's an electronically controlled transmission, particularly sensitive to the TPS on the throttle body.
Can you describe exactly what it's doing wrong? Shift points wrong? Not shifting at all? Slipping?

One way to sort it out is to temporarily unplug the TCU (transmission control unit) and shift gears by hand. 1-2, 3, D. That should give you first, third and fourth as you move the shift lever. If it shifts OK by hand, it's an electronics problem.