Topic: tran on its way out?

[stan98tj]

my 98 has around 111k on the clock. previous owner wasnt too nice to her-killed the engine at around 85k, so the tranny prob took some abuse as well. shes now starting to act up on me. shifts are odd-just doesnt feel like she's in the right gear when she needs to be...there is a nice lag between 1st and 2nd. Recently shes started to whine when starting cold, and it takes a few pumps of the gas to get her moving-reverse is the worst when cold. fluid is full, and ive been told for a truck with over 100k, flushing the tranny is not a good idea. i figure the tranny is on its way out and with the cold weather upon us the issues may be accelerated.
id like to know if anything (temporarily) can be done..im not really sure how much more she has in her before i have to swap for a new one. i have an auto and id like to keep it that way and ive been lookin around for prices online..to be honest id like to keep it under $700. i found one here http://info.automotix.net/transmissions/search.html?make=jeep&model=wrangler&year=1998 but the transmission is a 904, or A904 and i looked it up and a site said that was for CJs..not sure if that's the transmission im looking for. One more thing, in 2003 the autos had an overdrive..would i be able to fit that in my 98 with minimal or no modifications? Anyone know of places that sell a good tranny at a good price..theres quite a few out there sellin the 3spd at over $1000 thats a bit out of my range.

[oldjeep]

Do a band adjustment on the trans before ripping into it.

[stan98tj]

im not familiar with the band adjustment. im assuming it sets the gears back in place at their correct shift points?? might have to look around to see if i can find someone to do this for me.

[FourbangerYJ]

im not familiar with the band adjustment. im assuming it sets the gears back in place at their correct shift points?? might have to look around to see if i can find someone to do this for me.

With loose bands the tranny will slip since the bands are loose. Any tranny shop should be able to do this. It can be done with the tranny in the Jeep.

[stan98tj]

With loose bands the tranny will slip since the bands are loose. Any tranny shop should be able to do this. It can be done with the tranny in the Jeep.

loose bands would create the whine im hearing, slipping conditions and the hesitation (when cold) to engage and move while throttle is being applied for a few seconds? ill check into getting it done, prob cheaper than a tranny swap. speaking of which, would it be possible to throw in the 03 auto in my 98...for the overdrive gear?

[drunkencityworker]

How does fluid look...if clear and thin you might need a fluid filter change. the viscocity thins after a good while . Best case scenario.  Eventually I found a good used one from someone doing4.0swap for 275 including extra tcase

[oldjeep]

loose bands would create the whine im hearing, slipping conditions and the hesitation (when cold) to engage and move while throttle is being applied for a few seconds? ill check into getting it done, prob cheaper than a tranny swap. speaking of which, would it be possible to throw in the 03 auto in my 98...for the overdrive gear?

Anything is possible, but there will be more to it than just bolting it into the jeep. 

Band adjustment shouldn't cost more than $100 or so, but have either the dealer or a real trans shop do it.  The adjustment torque specs are different for some years.  Worst part of it is having to remove the skid to get to the adjuster bolts.

[stan98tj]

How does fluid look...if clear and thin you might need a fluid filter change. the viscocity thins after a good while . Best case scenario.  Eventually I found a good used one from someone doing4.0swap for 275 including extra tcase

i had asked about getting it flushed and refiltered, but pretty much all the shops told me they wouldnt do it to a tranny with over 100k because it often leaves it pretty much undrivable....so ill go for a band adjustment and see from there.

anyone know if the A904 tranny is the 3spd auto for a 98? according to the first site i visited, it is....but other sites list it as a CJ tranny....

[oldjeep]

i had asked about getting it flushed and refiltered, but pretty much all the shops told me they wouldnt do it to a tranny with over 100k because it often leaves it pretty much undrivable....so ill go for a band adjustment and see from there.

anyone know if the A904 tranny is the 3spd auto for a 98? according to the first site i visited, it is....but other sites list it as a CJ tranny....

98 should be a 30rh.   904/998/999/30rh are all basically the same tranny with a few differences

[stan98tj]

so a 904 will bolt in directly or will it need modifications? also, will it be different in performance from the 30rh?

[oldjeep]

so a 904 will bolt in directly or will it need modifications? also, will it be different in performance from the 30rh?

904 doesn't have a lockup torque convertor.  It also may not have a spot to put the CPS.  Otherwise it would bolt on and work.

Rebuild kit and a new TC for your trans is about $180.  Good time to learn how to rebuild a tranny.  TF series trans are not very hard to rebuild.

[drunkencityworker]

guy in my club has 97. its cable linkage compared to the rod style i have in my 95 . otherwise looks same to me

[drunkencityworker]

filter and fluid will run ya bout $25 at any part store. I would try that. drop pan replace filter and add fluid till full. run it in 4lo back in forth for a bit. Might work. not a flush

[stan98tj]

904 doesn't have a lockup torque convertor.  It also may not have a spot to put the CPS.  Otherwise it would bolt on and work.

Rebuild kit and a new TC for your trans is about $180.  Good time to learn how to rebuild a tranny.  TF series trans are not very hard to rebuild.

i figure if im goin to do this im going to just swap out and im hoping to reuse my transfer case. thing shifts in and out just fine, dont see the point in spending the extra $$ to replace it. im def gonna look for a 30rh i suppose. i dont want to have to deal with things that arent there or parts that dont match up.  How about an upgrade....anyway to upgrade in the auto tranny world 

[oldjeep]

i figure if im goin to do this im going to just swap out and im hoping to reuse my transfer case. thing shifts in and out just fine, dont see the point in spending the extra $$ to replace it. im def gonna look for a 30rh i suppose. i dont want to have to deal with things that arent there or parts that dont match up.  How about an upgrade....anyway to upgrade in the auto tranny world 

Only real upgrade is an AW4, and it's not easy to put one behind a 4 cyl.