[Hsmithyy]

I just recently bought a 94 Jlx auto and it doesn’t like changing gears properly so I wanted to drop trans oil but not sure on how much to fill or where to fill from, have found drain bolt. Dose it all go through dipstick hole?

[jono165]

Yes, thats correct the new fluid goes in via the dipstick tube.

I'm assuming the car in question is the one in your profile? a 1994 vitara with factory efi motor has an AW4 auto. I have here that the service volume is 2.2 litres. This is only about a third of the total fluid the auto holds. Fluid level is checked with the engine running and in park after cycling through the gears. There will be a full line for when fluid is cold and another one for operating temp.

If you're draining and replacing the fluid its probably worth taking the oil pan off and replacing the filter - the filter and gasket is pretty cheap.

What is the transmission doing for it to not be changing properly? The AW4 is generally trouble free.

[Eddy]

Mine won't change properly if the fluid is low. Usually only needs a couple tablespoons to get it good again.
I find it'll hold third and won't kick in the O/D for a while. Add a few drops of juice and all good again.

[Hsmithyy]

Thanks heaps jono165 ive done all that over the weekend dropped the filter and replaced to find out it has a grand vit box in it? Its still not wanting to change through the gears properly. I've heard about a "drop back cable" could this be the issue? Its not changing through the gears properly almost like its skipping 2nd and 3rd going straight for 4th and dosnt want to drop back a gear when slowing down, but all works beautifully "manually" also when in top gear around 100klmph it wil try drop back to 3rd then 4th again. Not too keen on the auto box, is it woth the manual conversion?

[fordem]

An AW4 takes close to 12 or 13 litres of fluid IF DRY, and it will only be dry after a complete teardown and overhaul - that 2.2 litres is the contents of the pan - I would also suggest you don't worry with replacing the filter - it's a mesh screen, remove it, wash it in petrol & replace.

Here's how I would deal with the fluid change ...

1 - remove the cooler return hose from the line and direct it into a bucket.
2 - start the engine and allow to idle in park until fluid flow stops, and then switch off
3 - estimate the quantity of fluid collected and add the same amount of fresh fluid through the dipstick tune.
4 - start the engine and allow to idle in park until the fluid flow stops and then switch off.
5 - remove the pan drain, there should be very little fluid in the pan, and then remove the pan and service the filter.
6 - reinstall the pan, reinstall the cooler hose and fill with fresh fluid to the cold full mark on the dipstick.
7 - drive the vehicle to get the transmission to operating temperature and top up as required to the warm full mark.

The process above will take 6~8 litres of fluid - it comes from the Mitsubishi procedures for servicing the same transmission, and has the advantage that it flushes the torque converter the pump and the cooler circuit, which the Suzuki drain/refill does not do.

[jono165]

I'm not sure that the problem you have is anything to do with fluid condition - unless the fluid is really dark in colour. At the age of the transmission a full fluid change might not be a bad idea anyway.

I think the issue of not shifting properly could be one or combination of the following all of which are pretty simple repairs.

- There's a throttle valve cable which affects the line pressure in the auto which helps the transmission shift correctly
- There's 2 shift solenoids and 1 torque converter lockup solenoid, if one of this goes bad you can miss gears. I have an XJ jeep which wouldn't shift into 4th when the lockup solenoid was playing up.
- On the side of the transmission there is what is called a Neutral Safety Switch, these get dirty over time internally and are simple to clean out, this controls your reverse lights and only being able to start the car in P or N as well as telling the Transmission computer which range the shifter is in.

I dont think its worth a manual conversion, these are durable auto's that rarely have complicated faults. There a number of us that have swapped vitara 4 speeds into our sierra's because of how good they are.

[Hsmithyy]

Thanks heaps guys ill do some research in those feilds and see how i go. Legends!