Hello all and anyone,

Hope someone knows a little about the XJ 42re. I am almost positive that this is the transmission. Anyway, I have been dealing with shifting issues recently. It started of with the following. Driving down the road the tranny will not shift until I let off the accelerator and then it would shift. This seemed to be the case for all shifts from 1st to 3rd. However this would not really work for OD. This would cause "power issues" while driving. Could not get up a damn hill without struggling.
Now, this problem got worse... all gears were having issues shifting.
Got into the tranny to check the solenoids. When the solenoids are hooked to power then removed they will click. Well, this happens to all but one of the three. And really it only seems to happen when all solenoids are hooked to one of the three connector coming from the transmission (wiring harness). I am at a loss here, maybe someone has an answer. That would be most incredible.
NOTE: THe jeep did belong to someone else so not sure of how old the tranny fluid was but it dod not look great.

 

Your shifting patterns sound like the throttle position sensor is not functioning correctly. that is why it shifts when you let off the gas

 

Thank you 4.3L XJ.
So I am not getting this code and I do believe that the TPS was replaced. The letting off the gas does not work anymore. It really is a weird issue to try and explain. I do know that out of the three solenoids, the lock up solenoid does not actuate "click" when testing on battery. Just confusing... maybe a lost cause.

 

At this point, I think you should sharpen up your testing skills. Learn to use an ohm meter to test the coils on the solenoids. Put the selector on ohms and touch the contacts with the probes. If current from the tester passes through the coil, then the solenoid is assumed good.

 

That the problem is affected by throttle position, implies a bad TPS. Test the TPS. The solenoids control the shifting, but the computer determines when to activate them based on output rpm and throttle position sensor. The quality of new chinese sourced TPS sensors is pretty bad, and getting a bad one straight out of the box is not uncommon. Resistance of the solenoids should be between 11-16 ohms, btw.

 

When did an XJ have a 42RE?

 

My thought exactly. Did they ever?

 

No.

 

Agreed! I already ordered a new multimeter as the one that I have is junk. Thanks!

 

Correction!
30-43LE, does this sound more in line.
I have been told the other by many, who apparently have also been misinformed.
Thanks though for the heads up.

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

Yes. More commonly called an AW4.

Even the cheap harbor freight meters is good enough for auto work. I still have a box of the cheap ones that I got for $2 each. I have on ein each car, and I give them away whenever someone wants to borrow one of my expensive ones.

 

Years ago, I had a 90 xj, that had very similar issues, and was having the same concerns about the trans. Took it to the transmission shop, and the manager happened to be an old high school friend. I told him what it was doing and that I wanted them to check out the trans, this was in about 2006, he told me right then that it doesnt sound like the trans. They had it for a couple of days, as i didnt have to have it right away. I got a call to come pick it up, went to the shop, and was told its not the trans, its shifting exactly when its told to, as a matter of fact he told me he had been working with the xj's for years and had never personally seen one go bad. I know, I know. He suggested getting a TPS, I did, and never looked back. Sorry... short story, long