Chrysler Repair: 94 Jeep 42re transmission, jeep grand cherokee laredo, jeep grand cherokee

Question
QUESTION: Hi Roland, I am asking a follow up question but do not have the original answer you gave:-

I have a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 six Cyl 42RE all time 4wd. There are no codes ever. I changed the fluid (only with a pan drop did not remove the valve body) I changed the output shaft speed sensor as we discussed. After doing this it was bucking hard in third but not if it was only in 2 on the shifter. Pressing the OD Off switch did nothing sometimes the light flickered on and went off instantly, sometimes it did not come on all. By holding the button in hard the bucking went away and I was able to drive, after a while of driving the light came on and stayed on, still no codes. Thinking the sensor I installed was worse than it's predecessor, I installed the old one and it did the same thing. Upon removing the sensor the first time maybe 1.5 -2 qts of fluid gushed out which I replaced, upon removing the sensor a second time a much smaller amount of fluid came out in a lack-luster dribble after being driven for about 25 minutes. I also noticed a ticking noise emanating from under the steering column to the left of it (I assume this is the TCM) a black box with a large orange and blue multi plug going into it was the source of the ticking i unplugged this box to see what would happen. The Jeep seemed to drive okay but struggled to move from a standstill. When I plugged the box back in the OD light was flashing in time with the ticking and hold the button did not alter it, I 'wiggled' the plug and managed to return it to the earlier state of broken. do you have ANY idea what I am up against or is it gasoline and a match (or at least a new 42RE) time? I hope you can help as you have been extremely helpful to me in the past. Thank you

ANSWER: Hi Paul,
I don't have manuals for the 90's Jeep line, so have to infer about them from the similar year Chrysler vehicles. Along that line, becuase this is a '94 it may be that there are two places to try for fault codes: one that is under the hood for the engine fault codes and one that is in/benind/under the dash which is for the transmission fault code readout. That is how things were going in the early/mid-90's Chrysler vehicles. So I wonder which socket you are trying to get codes from and what type of reader are you using to do that If just the ignition key/check engine light approach then you have no chance of getting a code from the trans control module. So I would begin by sorting out that issue. The codes would be 2-digit and have overlapping numbers between the trans and the engine code series, so you have to differentiate that based upon where the socket is located. The trans socket is typically blue and has 6 pins in a rectangular array, 3 on a side. These sockets are designed to couple with the Chrysler DRB II reader or a similar era Snap-on reader.
The codes are the key to diagnosing what is wrong and what might be a repair short of a complete re-build.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am using a Snap-On Solus with the chry-2 adapter at the 6 pin connector under the drivers side dashboard just behind the center console, i am alos using the Chrysler/dodge/jeep self diag on-off-on-off-on blink blink(the engine codes are read from the check engine light blinking and the tranny codes are read from the o/d light blinking) both read 55 or no codes stored

Answer
If your Snap-on is set up for the jeep trans codes then I am at a loss as to what to recommend at this point. Did you verify that it is so-equipped? Some times these need an accessory data card/disc.
The only clicking I can relate to would be the transmission relay which is controlled by the tcm. It is what provides power to the solenoid pack. When that is disconnected by the tcm or loses its fused power source the trans will only run in 2nd gear (limp mode).
I don't know the history of your trans, but it it hasn't been rebuilt in the 16-year since new and it has significant miles on it, then you may have just run out its trouble-free life at this point. Rarely do they go beyond 150k miles.

Roland