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1987 Ranger 2.9 A4LD replacement


bankscs5

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Vehicle Year
1987,1992
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9,2.3
Transmission
Automatic
I have a 1987 Ranger 2.9 with a 2-wire A4LD transmission that needs replaced. I have a 3-wire A4DL transmission from a 1990 Ranger 4.0 readily available. Are these A4LD's interchangeable?
 


RonD

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1994
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yes, assuming both are 2WD or both 4WD, but.............

The 3rd wire will be to shift trans from 3rd into 4th(OD) and then back into 3rd

You can install a manual switch on the dash for that since your computer won't know how to do that, or get a newer 2.9l computer that has that software.

The 2 wire will have a 12volt wire that has power when key is on.
The other wire is a Ground wire that goes to the computer, when computer Grounds that wire the TCC(torque converter control) solenoid in the trans locks the torque converter for better MPG and power, when you are slowing down to stop computer unGrounds that wire so engine doesn't stall.

The 3rd wire was added for 3-4 shift control, it also would run to the computer, the 3-4 solenoid in the trans uses the same 12volt wire as the TCC solenoid, computer grounds that 3rd wire to activate OD, unGrounds it to go back to 3rd.

Most of the Rangers had an OD button to manually activate or deactivate 3-4 shift.
And it is just a Ground, so only 1 wire would be needed into the cab switch
 
Last edited:

bankscs5

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Vehicle Year
1987,1992
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9,2.3
Transmission
Automatic
Thank you Ron,
I have been looking at the schematics trying to figure it out and that's what I thought could be done. I just couldn't find any info on the changeover. I just pulled the 3-wire A4LD today so it looks like I will be doing some wiring work in the next few days.
 

RonD

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TRS Technical Advisor
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Messages
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Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
Last edited:

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