Transmission Identification

[kazzx]

I am racking my brain trying to figure out what transmission my newly acquired 88 MJ has in it.  I bought it knowing the transmission was out of it.  The guy I bought it from said the transmission in the bed is what was in it but he purchased it like that.  BUT the transmission in the back is a Aisin 30-40LE  Toyota Tranny.  And although they came in some Jeeps, I am being told only behind the 4.0 Renix and I have the 2.5L 4cyl 2WD.  All the interweb does is confuse me when I try to research it.  SO....

 

1.  Does anyone know the direct replacement? (Just so i can at least get it rolling while i source 4wd conversion parts)

2.  Does anyone know what 4wd transmission would bolt up where I can add a transfer case?  Yes I said 4wd transmission.  Found out the spline is different between a 2wd transmissions and 4wd.

 

 

Thanks.

[fiatslug87]

The 2.5L came with either an AX4, AX5 (4 speed or 5 speed) or AW4 (automatic) transmissions.

 

 

[kazzx]

Stealership ran the VIN and said it was built with a 4 speed automatic so I am guessing AW4.

[FrankTheDog]

AW4 with GM 60 degree V6, AMC 2.5 bell housing.

Should have flats on the bell not round like 4.0 bell.

Also if it was equipped with the 2.5 and AW4 you should have a 4.56 geared axle.

[ComancheKid45]

The AW4 was just the term used for the 30-40LE in the Jeep applications I believe...

[jpnjim]

Like Frank The Dog said,

4cyl AW4 XJ & MJ's got the rare and exclusive Factory 4.56 gears as well,

 so if you have the original axles still, pop those covers and look :yes:

 

21 spline NP231's would fit these early AW4s,

the change to 23 spline outputs came in 1991 (some say mid year 1991)

[Jeep Driver]

AW4s did come behind the 2.5 but are extremely rare, this would be the 3rd that I have become aware of in the last 7 years. 

 

OP should post a pic, that would be helpful. 

 

At a glance he should be able to tell if the trans belongs behind the 2.5, bells are very different, no mistaking those.

[kazzx]

Thanks for the replies.  Ill get a pic this afternoon.

[FrankTheDog]

4.0 has a round housing, 2.5 has a housing with three straight edges on the top half the top edge will be horizontal with the sides at approximately 45 degree to it.

[dasbulliwagen]

Just FYI... 1986 MJ auto was the 3 speed Chrysler A904 with an NP207 or NP228. Also, again, extremely rare.

[NHMJXJ]

First question ... what transmission came in my '88?  4.0 Pioneer 4X4 auto column shifter w/OD.  Pretty sure it's the original.

 

Second (multi-part) question … Could a ground or electrical problem cause it to; search between OD and 3 at ~45MPH?  Could the same problem

cause it to "find neutral" after rolling to a stop, or coasting for a period before accelerating? 

 

The "searching thing" has become chronic.  Finding neutral is not as frequent, but decidedly inconvenient. If I slow to 5PMH and downshift to low and

then manually upshift I can proceed.  I was driving in a downpour recently and it did the neutral thing.  Wondering if the water made it worse.

  

[Big Dan]

4 hours ago, NHMJXJ said:

First question ... what transmission came in my '88?  4.0 Pioneer 4X4 auto column shifter w/OD.  Pretty sure it's the original.

 

  

 

If its original, the AW4

[HOrnbrod]

4 hours ago, NHMJXJ said:

First question ... what transmission came in my '88?  4.0 Pioneer 4X4 auto column shifter w/OD.  Pretty sure it's the original.

 

Second (multi-part) question … Could a ground or electrical problem cause it to; search between OD and 3 at ~45MPH?  Could the same problem

cause it to "find neutral" after rolling to a stop, or coasting for a period before accelerating? 

 

The "searching thing" has become chronic.  Finding neutral is not as frequent, but decidedly inconvenient. If I slow to 5PMH and downshift to low and

then manually upshift I can proceed.  I was driving in a downpour recently and it did the neutral thing.  Wondering if the water made it worse. 

 

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Transmission_and_Transfer_Case/Transmission_Throttle_Cable_Replacement.htm

 

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Transmission_and_Transfer_Case/Transmission_Automatic_Shifter_Adjustments.htm

[NHMJXJ]

Thanks guys.  The repair is beyond me, but I'm going to point to this for my shop.  Thus far they haven't fixed it.

 

[HOrnbrod]

2 minutes ago, NHMJXJ said:

Thanks guys.  The repair is beyond me, but I'm going to point to this for my shop.  Thus far they haven't fixed it.

 

You can do this - easy. Might be all you need.

 

[NHMJXJ]

Holy crap.        Yeah, I could probably manage that.  

 

As to the links ... when it comes to dropping transmission pans unsupervised I'd likely do more harm than good.

[HOrnbrod]

35 minutes ago, NHMJXJ said:

As to the links ... when it comes to dropping transmission pans unsupervised I'd likely do more harm than good.

 

Just do the external cable adjustments. Steel cables stretch over time and need to be adjusted periodically to take out the slack.

[cruiser54]

This^^ and refresh the grounds at the engine dipstick tube. that's where multiple circuits for the transmission control unit ground. also do Tip 10 on my website.