Worst A4LD Years - Poll

[Natedog]

I thought I would throw this poll out there to see if there was a year range of A4LD's that had more problems than others. May be random. Something may stand out. We'll see.....

Three 1987 4x2 trannies and one 1988 4x4 tranny. I voted 1987 since I could only choose one.

 

[FO44RD]

Is there a different name for them after 1994? Or was 1995 the year of great improvement? When I worked for a fleet the 4 speed auto in 2000 and older Rangers, I believe were still a4ld and in 2001 when it became a 5 speed auto it changed its name?

 

[racsan]

ive not really known of a RBV automatic that was worth a damn. in fact most auto's after they started offering O/D expecally with electronic controls seem to fail alot more than the old-school 3 speed units. and thats all manufactures, G.M. may be the worst. bring back the conventional 3 speed! ( if you must have a automatic at all)

 

[Angie]

"What i find the in most of the failures of these transmissions is neglect" << I don't know I guess I got a truck taht was built on a wednesday. trany has 450K Km's on it and I abused this thing, from brand new 91 off the lot. I can testify that I only changed the oil and filter ONCE in all those kilometers.... the truck died before the tranny did....

 

[Caliray]

My 85 ranger takes a beating

I have an 85 ranger 2.8v6 and I beat the crap out of it at pismo beach mostly. I recently blew out my first trans and just recently replaced it so I'm just happy to have my truck back on the road! So far this junkyard tranny is holdin up pretty good. Mobbin it!!!

 

[kastoo]

My 88 2wd tranny went out 2 weeks ago. I'm waiting to buy a decent tranny.

 

[Chester]

Question? Will a 90 A4LD bolt up to an 88 ???

 

[Propane]

Just sold a 1994 4x4 Ranger SC with 217,000 on all original transmission,always kept serviced at 10,000-15,000 mile intervals,was a loaded Ranger w/ Off Road package/tow package/3.73 LS. Hard/delayed reverse but never got any worse and only happened when warm.I was impressed considering all the bad things I heard about these transmissions.

 

[pillen140]

never had one in a ranger, but growing up we had aerostars, 3 of them. '88 '89 '94, they all went bad at about 120,000. i have a parts truck, 94 ranger with one, and its perfect with 130'000 on it.

 

[ZMan]

was any year really any worse than others? I killed one in my moms '90 Aerostar doing burnouts, and my buddy killed a rebuilt one in his '92 Ranger towing heavy and doing burnouts (the truck became mine afterwards and I put a 5-spd in it). I have a '86 Bronco II in the backyard with a bum tranny, dunno why, I bought it that way.

 

[The_Dealer]

all of them

most crap out at 100k+, and rebuilds crap out between 10k-50k

 

[pzilla]

94 a4lds go great

i killed my 1st a4ld when i was 16 in my 88 b2... replaced it with a 5speed. it reluctantly had problems from the beginnin with the u auto. i have a 94 explorer now with its 2nd tranny. replaced the 1st at 120k. i actuall used my girlfreinds tranny out of her 94 explorer that only had a bad converter. the total mileage of the a4ld in my truck now is 240k easily. shifts great and no issues so far. keep your fluid clean and dont overheat it! i tow 5k lbs several times a year and a light trailer quite frequently. i like standards but i will buy an auto. afterall they shift quicker haha

 

[dave2575]

88

 

[BrucesBlack]

Well I have Owned 3 Year A4ld , 91 92 and Current 88-89?? , I was told it was a 89 from a 2.9 , but All I have Is R 123 , No Overdrive , I cannot Make the Tcc Function , I have tried the P/Y and Red to the 2 Wires of my Single Solenoid and it Did not work , I Switched the Wires thinking it was Polarity sensitive but Still did not work , When I get more $$ and A Garage to work in I think I will try my hand at Rebuilding my 92 Trans I have Sitting That Lasted 2000 Miles .

 

[Scott B.]

Late to this thread, but...

I had 320,000 miles on my '93 A4LD before I pulled it for the V8 swap.

At about 318,000 miles (and I was in California - about 2,000 miles from home) it started slipping. Not a lot, but noticeable, and the temperature rose - and stayed up. Along about Oklahoma, I added 6 quarts of fluid. Apparently, a seal started leaking. I made it home under my own power.

Didn't drive it much during the next several months - then, it got pulled.

Apparently, this long of a life is the exception.

For the record, I changed the fluid and filter every 15,000 miles.