80 Series Transmission Woes- Solenoid stuck or worse?

[ZigZagZero]

Not all positions were used.

Ok I should’ve rephrased. I’ve tried that, I don’t have a TT pin.

 

[Malleus]

Well, crap. That's what I get for trusting my memory (and having both a '94 and '95). My '95 has only (6) six terminals:
E1
TE1
+B

AB
Tc
Ts

& Wa-Wb tied by the jumper.

According to the service manual, if you have a solenoid fault, or valve body spool passage blockage related to the solenoid, you'll get a check engine (MIL) light and the O/D light will blink. You still have to get the codes because the integrated ECM/TCM doesn't have a connection to the DLC1 anymore. I know I've done this on my '94 (because the A442F is notorious for eating solenoids), but I honestly can't remember doing it on a A343F in an 80 (I have in the 100, but that has TechStream support).

Maybe someone here has used TechStream for an 80 A343F and they'll chime in. My '95 is apart for 300k maintenance, or I'd check it for you.

At any rate, I don't think your problem is related to the solenoid. It really sounds like worn clutches.

 

[ZigZagZero]

Well, crap. That's what I get for trusting my memory (and having both a '94 and '95). My '95 has only (6) six terminals:
E1
TE1
+B

AB
Tc
Ts

& Wa-Wb tied by the jumper.

According to the service manual, if you have a solenoid fault, or valve body spool passage blockage related to the solenoid, you'll get a check engine (MIL) light and the O/D light will blink. You still have to get the codes because the integrated ECM/TCM doesn't have a connection to the DLC1 anymore. I know I've done this on my '94 (because the A442F is notorious for eating solenoids), but I honestly can't remember doing it on a A343F in an 80 (I have in the 100, but that has TechStream support).

Maybe someone here has used TechStream for an 80 A343F and they'll chime in. My '95 is apart for 300k maintenance, or I'd check it for you.

At any rate, I don't think your problem is related to the solenoid. It really sounds like worn clutches.

Well I talked to someone at Valley Hybrids and added another thing to the checklist: the filter gasket. If that’s cracked it can apparently suck air and cause some issues but he wasn’t too confident that’s it and said at 288k miles this transmission is probably on its last leg. He also didn’t seem to fret about the use of Idemitsu ATF.

 

[Kernal]

Agree that a problem with the filter gasket could potentially cause an issue, but IME the A343F transmission can go much longer than 288,000 miles, many of us have gone well beyond that.

Are you still having the issue?
Swapped out your ATF yet?

 

[ZigZagZero]

Agree that a problem with the filter gasket could potentially cause an issue, but IME the A343F transmission can go much longer than 288,000 miles, many of us have gone well beyond that.

Are you still having the issue?
Swapped out your ATF yet?

I’m back to work so haven’t had a chance to get back into it yet. It’s parked at the moment, until I can get back to it this weekend.

 

[Tyland Cruiser]

I’m prepared to replace all 4 solenoids but I’d like to hear if any experts think it’s something worse?

IIRC, there only only 3 solenoids in the A343 transmission.

 

[ZigZagZero]

I lied about when I’d get the fluid done….

Went well, fluid smelled very very burnt. Put in the recommended ATF here, used 20 quarts of new fluid to get most of the old stuff out and…. Still slips. Actually doesn’t even feel like I have first at all. Did a little worse leaving the house where it would slip-catch-slip-catch going up my hill.

All other checks were fine. Fluid level is within the lines hot and idling. Think I’ll need to track down a new transmission.