'88 Cherokee 4.6, AW4, NP231 all rebuilt approx. only 40 miles ago.
Start with what happened leading up to the issue:
Got exhaust put on new motor at shop, drove the jeep around town a little bit and to orielly's and back. Used reverse several times, no issues. Drive it home a few days later, no issues on the drive except for turning up my driveway. As I'm going up my steep driveway the tranny feels like it slipped or something. I had to stop and then get on it again and it was fine.
Got in it the next day, warmed it up went to move it and no reverse. Doesn't even try to shift. Acts like neutral. Has all forward gears.
I know it is not the shift linkage, I checked it and made absolutely sure.
I know it is not the fluid level. Checked it several times, (before the exhaust shop, @ exhaust shop, @ oriellys, on the way home, and at home.) Never had an issue with the fluid level.
When I pulled the pan I found these two metal fluid transfer lines.

They were both dropped down about 1/4" like the one on the left. I pushed the one on the right up before I snapped the picture to show the difference. Could this be the cause? EDIT: PICTURE IS UPSIDE DOWN. THE ONE ON LEFT IS THE ONE I PUSHED INTO PLACE.
Regardless, how do I get those lines to make sure they don't drop again?
Next, how do I test my solenoids for ohms, what readings should I be looking for, and which one is for reverse?
Thanks in advance,
Brandon

 

your solenoids have 2 wires, just ohm them out to make sure the coil is still intact. then apply 12V to them, you will hear a "click" if they are working. only remove 1 solenoid at a time to avoid mixing them up.

 

that just tests if they are closing, not holding pressure. youll need a special tool to test if they hold pressure.

 

Did that, solenoids are all good. All click, all correct ohm readings, and not mixed up. Also found out solenoids only control forward gears and reverse is powered by hydraulic/pressure. Solenoids are canceled out as the issue.

 

UPDATE:

So, all solenoids are good and can't be the issue for reverse regardless. I'm thinking maybe my oil pump could have gone bad. I will search for some write up's on testing oil pump pressure in the transmission and replacing the oil pump. Other than that I think the only other real cause could be a lose band? No metal in the oil.

 

Any transmission pros on here? I was thinking since the reverse is powered by pressure it could be a bad trans oil pump, but I'm second guessing that because all forward gears function fine. What could be messed up in my valve body?
Any body ever go in depth into their AW4 with a write up or video?

 

I'm about to take my ASE for auto trans but sadly don't have any experience with the AW4 I can look up some stuff on ALLDATA at work tomorrow for what to test. what is your VIN?

 

I assume you have already seen post #9 in this thread?
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=950978

 

Yea

 

Lower Reverse Clutch Pack somehow wore out or broke. Taking it in to the guy who rebuilt it next week. Found this handy manual on tearing apart the entire aw4 trannsmission, very handy. You can view it for free but have to pay to download it.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/97292423/A...mission#scribd

 

Our pumps are rotary vein, are they not?

If your pump was bad you would have no gears period.