A442F Issues

[PGBC]

I searched and found some threads with similar issues, but not quite like what I am having, so here goes:

I had my HDJ81 out this weekend and I was coming down a steep section of gravel road that was quite rough with potholes. I slowed down and put it into LOW gear while the transfer case was in 4H. It went in gear and stayed in for a few seconds then it popped out into drive. There is no mechanical clunking or anything that sounded bad. The green L light flickered on and off a bit, then it went out and vehicle was in drive. Does this sound like a solenoid issue?

I had the vehicle in 4L earlier on in the day going up/down some particularly rough sections and it definitely was in low gear.

A side questions: when the transfer case is in 4L, is switching the gears into 2 or L supposed to do anything?

Thanks in advance.

Thomas

 

[Douglas S]

What year? 90-91 don't have solenoids. Are you saying the gear selector physically moved from L to D?


Putting the gear selector in L won't let the transmission shift above first.
Putting the gear selector in 2 will only let the transmission use second (it will not start out in 1st).

 

[Malleus]

Your truck has two transmissions. The transfer case is a two speed transmission, the one you probably think of when you think "transmission" has four forward speeds (Drive, 2nd, Low and the overdrive gear) and one reverse gear. So, when you put both together it's like a ten speed bike. You have the full four forward gear range in two output speeds, high and low.

EDIT:
Romer has a collection of interesting articles in the FAQ section, including a very good description of the drivetrain design. It's worthwhile reading.

 

[wardharris]

Your truck has two transmissions. The transfer case is a two speed transmission, the one you probably think of when you think "transmission" has four forward speeds (Drive, 2nd, Low and the overdrive gear) and one reverse gear. So, when you put both together it's like a ten speed bike. You have the full four forward gear range in two output speeds, high and low.

Excellent point - two transmissions, 8 speeds forward.....

There are two ways to handle this - modified valve body plus torque converter lock up kit for your 440 tranny as here https://automatictransmission.com.a...s Turbo Diesel from 08/1992 with 4 Speed Auto

Or swap in a 750 transmission from 100/200/etc. adding uprated valve body and TC lock up kit as here https://automatictransmission.com.a...ser=100 Series Turbo Diesel with 5 Speed Auto

You can also go full Tip-Tronic, making your auto a manual shift rig. See this article and call/PM Georg Esterer at Valley Hybrids @orangefj45 about modding the A440/442/750. He can also advise on crawler low range gears and OD/UD gears for the H2FA transfer case and variants.

He is my partner at CruiserBrothers.com

Good luck!

 

[PGBC]

Douglas S:

The gear selector (handle) stayed on L, but the light on my dash would not light up. The transmission was not staying in 1st gear. It went into L for about 5 seconds before it felt like a gear change and slipped into D.

The truck is a 1993.

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

If the transmission selector was manually moved to L or 1st gear and it operated in L momentarily and then upshifted you have a valve body issue. When you physically put the transmission in L you're mechanically shifting the transmission, no solenoid unless the Torque Converter lockup solenoid engaged for some reason or another. If your transmission can't hold 1st gear when manually shifted into 1st gear you could potentially have a valve body issue. Depending on your speed at the time and force, you may have damaged something.