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Worst A4LD Years - Poll


What year A4LD did you have fail?

  • 1985

    Votes: 16 7.4%
  • 1986

    Votes: 16 7.4%
  • 1987

    Votes: 27 12.6%
  • 1988

    Votes: 34 15.8%
  • 1989

    Votes: 20 9.3%
  • 1990

    Votes: 18 8.4%
  • 1991

    Votes: 11 5.1%
  • 1992

    Votes: 17 7.9%
  • 1993

    Votes: 25 11.6%
  • 1994

    Votes: 31 14.4%

  • Total voters
    215

Jim Oaks

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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.....
 


177CIOfPureLove

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Oct 25, 2007
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Location
Bayville, NJ
Vehicle Year
1989
Vehicle
Ford
Engine Size
2.9L
......1988. Either way did not affect me much, I just wanted the engine bolted to it for my m5od equipped ranger...
 

fordmandan87

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Aug 22, 2008
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Location
Royston, Georgia
Vehicle Year
87/92/97/11
Vehicle
Ford×3/Freightl
Engine Size
/5.0/4.0/7.3/DD15
they all sucked i just wish ford made them with the aod instead. at least then the trans selection options would open up
 

Fordman

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Vehicle Year
1993
Vehicle
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Cant say I saw any one year worse than others. After all was said n done, most failures were from flat out neglect, leaks not getting fixed soon enough, heat (everybody wants to tow heavy). Next we get into the 'repeat' failures, from little things overlooked during overhaul. A clean valve body is an absolute must during overhaul.
 

Bruce

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Location
Southwest Missouri
Vehicle Year
2002
Vehicle
Ford
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC
What i find the in most of the failures of these transmissions is neglect( as stated by Fordman) never been serviced or fluid level never checked so unit runs low on oil. Coolant in radiators low allowing internal cooler to be exposed thus overheating the tranny..even though temp gauge doesnt show overheat but the tranny will surely overheat possibly even with an external cooler. Ive seen coolers in the radiators plug up also. When i do a rebuild my way I put more parts in them then most tranny shops. I put in new OD planets, sprag and hub..maybe even new OD drum if tabs are bad or worn. All new bands and servos, new clutches and steels and even a low reverse sprag..if its an E unit brand new pressure solenoid..replace other planets as needed..and shift kit and rebuilt converter. Some people have asked what rebuilders do well this is how i mostly do it.

By the way this is not an ad but just to kind of give people an idea..dont be afraid to ask the tranny shop what they put in there units as a normal rebuild.
 

Frank The Tank

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Location
Western Kentucky
Vehicle Year
98 70
Vehicle
Protege' F100-R
Engine Size
1. sumthing 7.3 gasoline
Mine was an 88 and it crapped on me... drove it with 1st and 3rd for a long time (you had to get rolling down a hill wind out first and kind of skip 2nd....)
it was very strange, I didn't have reverse for the last 10k miles.
And I did maintenance.... something about that 275k mile mark maybe?

Frank
 

Fordman

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1993
Vehicle
Ford
The only years I havent owned are 85, 93, and 94. Owned many of the other years. I rebuilt my a4ld in my old 89 Aerostar, it went over 150k miles after that frequently towing cars on a tow dolly, and hauling. Bought a 90 B-II new, and 145k later, it was still doing fine, never serviced, never ran low on fluid, never overheated. They will last, even in severe use.
 

calypso93

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Aug 12, 2007
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Location
NE PA
Vehicle Year
1993
Vehicle
Ranger
Engine Size
4L
My 93 killed the front seal at 104K. That was about it.
 

2manyfords

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Age
57
Location
Brandon Manitoba Canada
Vehicle Year
1992
Vehicle
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
My '87 went 170 000 miles before the front bushing went out of it... not bad for a crap A4LD.

If treated properly they actually last for awhile.
 

Fast Doc

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Feb 22, 2009
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Vehicle Year
1992
Vehicle
Ford
94,000 on an '92 and its going in the shop tomorrow for a front seal. Shifts great, but messy on the driveway.
 

doorgunner

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Oct 22, 2008
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Location
New Orleans (8' below sea level & sinking)
Vehicle Year
1936/1989
Vehicle
Ford
Engine Size
V-8...Carbed/fo-barrel
180,000 on an '89 Ranger 2.9L A4LD 2WD......the original owner did regular maintenance & replaced anything needed with FoMoCo parts.....

I just replaced a leaking after-market rubber pan gasket that I installed after the xmsn tune-up with a gold-plated FoMoCo xmsn pan gasket ($28 U.S.).....

It's good for another 180,000 before rebuild (with yearly fluid changes!!!)
 

Natedog

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Aug 7, 2007
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Location
CA
Vehicle Year
87
Vehicle
Ranger
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

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Sep 3, 2008
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Location
BERWYN, IL
Vehicle Year
1998, 2001
Vehicle
FORD, PONTIAC,
Engine Size
4.0
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

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Age
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Location
marion ohio
Vehicle Year
1993
Vehicle
ford
Engine Size
4.0/245 c.i.d.
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

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Location
Vancouver area BC Canada
Vehicle Year
91 4X4- His 92
Vehicle
Ford
Engine Size
2.9-4.0L
"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

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Location
Central coast, Cali
Vehicle Year
1985
Vehicle
Ford
Engine Size
2.8 v6
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!!!
 

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