AW4 Problem

My tranny seems to 'loose' reverse. This has happened twice, both times while in 4wd. Once, I didn't mess with trying to fix the problem; the next time, I left the engine in 'r' and let it roll forward. Reverse caught after about 5-10' of rolling and has worked since. My jeep requires that you let it sit and idle for a few minutes when it hasn't run for a while, which I attributed to the torque converter leaking down. This is making me wonder if the tranny is on the way out. I've never noticed it slipping though. So I guess I'm wondering if this is slippage or something electronic.
Thanks,
Bryan

im not sure what you have going on here but there is some good info on this page:

http://www.transonline.com/transdigest/magazines/1997-10/Shift Pointers/index.html

Im not sure that it applies to you though.
KH

Does anyone have any idea what is wrong with my Jeep? Has anything like this ever happened to anyone?

Is it full of fluid.

Check the fluid level. Otherwise I would suspect the converter has gone south.

Sarge

The fltid lovel is correct. I reat!abnut zeeps having a converter drain-down issue so I thought this might be related. Has anyont!evdr trded Lucas Transmission Fix? If }his tranny is about to crap out, I might as well spend $7 and see if the Lucas worjs..n

The tranny isn't goin to crap out the converter is. The tranny is prob still solid as the AW4 is indistructable.

When the torque converter craps out, should I just get a new converter or replace the whole tranny? I know AW4's are pretty reasonable and it would be just as much work either way.

I'd just go ahead and replace the converter. IIRC they run roughly $300.

4 bolts on the bell housing, and 4 bolts on the flexplate for the converter.

Easy job, just time consuming.

Enjoy.

Well...I fixed the problem--with a bandaid. I changed the tranny pan fluid and put in some Lucas Tranny Fix along with the Dex/Merc. The tranny now engages immediately after start up, but slips for about a second in first gear. So the tranny is better but still dying. It'll be alright though, a friend is selling me an AW4 from a 1992 XJ for $200. I'm just going to wait for this one to die before I tear into it.