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98 Tracker Transmission Problem
#1
98 Tracker 4 dr 1.6L 4x4 4spd

 Good morning. First off thank you to the person who created this website, it has been very helpful getting my sidekicks and trackers running properly. 

When I purchased this vehicle the transmission seemed like it was shifting late and very hard. Not to bad going into reverse, but into drive was very aggressive.
After checking the fluid, I found it was black sludge. Not just a bit, similar to tar. So I changed the fluid and filter. Last night I was driving to my friends shop to 
finish the body work it needs and I noticed it wouldn't shift from 2nd to 3rd. 1st to 2nd and reverse out of my driveway seemed okay. About 5km down the road is 
when it got really interesting. The transmission started slipping, however the road I was on I couldn't pull over so I drove another 1/2 km. In that last stretch, there was a horrible whining noise followed by what sounded like shrapnel. I end up pushing it to the next pull over then getting it towed to my friends shop. Now its unable to drive obviously, one thing I noticed is it seems like the motor has more drag on it when its in park or neutral. Normal condition id think the opposite to be true. Im just wondering before I buy a new transmission is there suggestions from anyone?

Thanks alot!
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#2
(10-15-2020, 02:21 AM)Behringer Wrote: 98 Tracker 4 dr 1.6L 4x4 4spd

 Good morning. First off thank you to the person who created this website, it has been very helpful getting my sidekicks and trackers running properly. 

When I purchased this vehicle the transmission seemed like it was shifting late and very hard. Not to bad going into reverse, but into drive was very aggressive.
After checking the fluid, I found it was black sludge. Not just a bit, similar to tar. So I changed the fluid and filter. Last night I was driving to my friends shop to 
finish the body work it needs and I noticed it wouldn't shift from 2nd to 3rd. 1st to 2nd and reverse out of my driveway seemed okay. About 5km down the road is 
when it got really interesting. The transmission started slipping, however the road I was on I couldn't pull over so I drove another 1/2 km. In that last stretch, there was a horrible whining noise followed by what sounded like shrapnel. I end up pushing it to the next pull over then getting it towed to my friends shop. Now its unable to drive obviously, one thing I noticed is it seems like the motor has more drag on it when its in park or neutral. Normal condition id think the opposite to be true. Im just wondering before I buy a new transmission is there suggestions from anyone?

Thanks alot!
how long owned,
Electronic TCM shifted tranny.  
others owned it put in that nasty tranny additive that makes it shift better if slipping (tar like additives are not good and sold over the counter)
sounds like just bad clutch they can blowup  inside and so bad cant crank and start engine, the drag is so bad.

in park the transmission is fully locked up. (only oil pump spins in tranny)
 
seems bad clutch to me.  The TCC torque converter clutch must slip in part.
http://www.fixkick.com
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#3
Ive owned it for almost a year. However the motor was blown (bad head gasket then found bad crank and cracked block) so I rebuilt it. So it was towed to my place and then only driven the 5km until it was dead. Is there anyway to tell for sure its the TCC and not the trans?
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#4
(10-15-2020, 07:41 AM)Behringer Wrote: Ive owned it for almost a year. However the motor was blown (bad head gasket then found bad crank and cracked block) so I rebuilt it. So it was towed to my place and then only driven the 5km until it was dead. Is there anyway to tell for sure its the TCC and not the trans?
the mech, will check the TC first and if a wreck ask you what to do.
try just new TC only.
or TC and inspect transmission inside , lots of labor
or a rebuilt box, and TC,
bench testing the box is not easy. some shops can, (hot wired solenoids, and power drive of some kind) rare that this is, some transmission shops can.
they do that before selling rebuilts, doing so (selling) blind is very costly for all.

good luck to you ,
http://www.fixkick.com
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#5
One last question, I have access to a complete swap to a 5 spd. Since the brain for the trans is in the Ecu, will it be possible to get it to run correctly? I assume it will throw codes which is okay for where I live. My concern is if it'll somehow throw the engine into limp mode. Thanks for your time and advice
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#6
that is a hard question on any 4speed ECU, how to fool it , if at all, real hard and worse by 6 years of evolution there, 92-98.

why not test this your self,
the test is in the service manual how to disable the TCM, on most you just unplug the TCM box. and the shifter lever is now manual trans, sure will get codes
for that but limphome , id not expect but the test is easy. no need to guess.

https://fixkick.cohttps://fixkick.com/slush-pump#manualm/slush-pump#manual

the problem is the last years, they moved (97-98) the TCM inside the ECU and renamed it PCM and how to that mode working IDK.
G16, most J18s have external TCm.
http://www.fixkick.com
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#7
98 tracker, IDK where TCM is, but that is the most key fact to learn.
first thing to fail is park lockout, defeated.
now a foot clutch
no more shiftbox console, no PRNDL switch, ECU will not like that. on most cars.
sure the CEL glows forever.
but limphome effects on the engine, I dont think so but who am I? never had a 98 me.

the ECU may go to limphome as soon as you break the VSS sensor in the 4speedbox.

the FSM on 96 shows list of limp mode causes (i have never confirmed the VSS1 and down below)

MAF = P0102/103
IAT = P0112/113
ECT = P0117/118
TPS = P112/123
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VSS1 = P0500 ( speedo vss) Vehicle Speed sensor = VSS
TR = P0705 (A/T Range shifter output in conflict)
VSS2 = P0720 ( 4sp Vss tail speed sensor dead)
SS#1 = P0753 (shift solenoid 1 bad)
SS#2 = P0758 (shift solenoid 2 bad)
TCC = P0743 (torque converter clutch malf)
http://www.fixkick.com
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#8
the manual test is putting the TCM in to limp mode (only some gears work and shift's lever runs solenoids direct)
the ECU has engine limp too,.

if the transmission is dead (4sp) the ECU can not calculate engine loads correctly what it does then IDK.
Load is part of calculations for fuel ratios and spark advance. (and performance)
http://www.fixkick.com
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