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1993 Mustang 2.3 L Automatic A4LD Transmission - Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter SuperSayow
  • Start date Start date Aug 7, 2020
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    1993 1998 foxbody mustang transmission
S

SuperSayow

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Mar 3, 2019
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Aug 7, 2020
#1
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #1
Hi,
We took my sons 1993 Fox in to a transmission shop to do a transmission swap. The replacement is a used transmission from a 1989 Fox. All indications is that this is a reliable swap with no major issues. However, the shop mechanics installed the transmission before checking any connections. They are claiming that the 1993 Fox has 3 connections while the 89 only has 2 connections which is leaving a third with no where to connect. I only spoke with them over the phone but I do not understand entirely what the issue is. I have looked at the harness connections to buy of the web and all show only two connections. Is it possible that they are talking about pins in the connections themselves. I am doing as much investigation as possible but cannot physically see the problem until Monday. The 1989 transmission is in and on the rack but they cannot connect the harness. I am not understanding this issue and can find no other threads on this occurrence by other posters.
HELP!
 

91TwighlightGT

20+ Year Stangneter
Sep 8, 2002
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Aug 7, 2020
#2
  • Aug 7, 2020
  • #2
Car-part shows that they should interchange... to be clear, did this replacement transmission come out of another 2.3l? The 5.0l cars use the AOD which is different.
 
S

SuperSayow

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Aug 9, 2020
#3
  • Aug 9, 2020
  • #3
91TwighlightGT said:
Car-part shows that they should interchange... to be clear, did this replacement transmission come out of another 2.3l? The 5.0l cars use the AOD which is different.
Click to expand...
it did come out of the an 89 2.3L and you are correct is the AOD. I found something that talks about a solenoid conversion starting in '88 that created wire differences.
 
R

Rcdgl

5 Year Member
Feb 19, 2018
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Nov 13, 2020
#4
  • Nov 13, 2020
  • #4
If it is a 2.3 car, Its an A4LD, totally different trans from the AOD, and yes, there are at least two versions, the earler two solenoid one and the later three solenoid version. Iirc, my 89 had the two solenoid unit. It controls the torque converter lockup clutch and the overdrive solenoid, which holds off od until the right speed. I would have to look up what the third solenoid controls, its been a while since I replaced one of these. I would not try to use the trans on a car that was not wired for it, either way.
 
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Lilkimjr

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Fresno, California
Jan 8, 2021
#5
  • Jan 8, 2021
  • #5
If you had original automatic car you only have two connectors at transmission. If it was a original standard you would have three connections. So you only need two for the t5 to work. So I believe the back up and the speed sensor. And your good.
 
J

junkyardwarrior

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Jan 10, 2011
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#6
  • Jan 9, 2021
  • #6
rcdgl is correct

there are differences in the years of a4ld's also differences between ranger and mustang and explorer and astro and....well you get the idea They are not "all the same" but since almost nobody cares about a 4 cylinder Fox body Mustang, there is VERY little reliable information out there for them, period.
 
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Tufgriz

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Sep 23, 2019
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Jan 18, 2021
#7
  • Jan 18, 2021
  • #7
On the 3 wire a4ld one wire tells the trans when to shift to 4th and one wire tells the trans to lock the convertor. On the two wire a4ld 4th gear is hydraulically controlled and the convertor is still told when to lock up
 
R

Rcdgl

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Apr 20, 2021
#8
  • Apr 20, 2021
  • #8
What Tufgriz said. I got lucky and replaced my 89 notch with the same unit. Went 10 more years.
 
9

92 convertible

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Jul 6, 2025
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Niagara Ont.
Jul 6, 2025
#9
  • Jul 6, 2025
  • #9
SuperSayow said:
Hi,
We took my sons 1993 Fox in to a transmission shop to do a transmission swap. The replacement is a used transmission from a 1989 Fox. All indications is that this is a reliable swap with no major issues. However, the shop mechanics installed the transmission before checking any connections. They are claiming that the 1993 Fox has 3 connections while the 89 only has 2 connections which is leaving a third with no where to connect. I only spoke with them over the phone but I do not understand entirely what the issue is. I have looked at the harness connections to buy of the web and all show only two connections. Is it possible that they are talking about pins in the connections themselves. I am doing as much investigation as possible but cannot physically see the problem until Monday. The 1989 transmission is in and on the rack but they cannot connect the harness. I am not understanding this issue and can find no other threads on this occurrence by other posters.
HELP!
Click to expand...
Hello, my daughter is facing the same issue…did you ever get this resolved?
 

Noobz347

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#10
  • Jul 6, 2025
  • #10
92 convertible said:
Hello, my daughter is facing the same issue…did you ever get this resolved?
Click to expand...

This thread is 5 years old and the Original Poster (OP) hasn't been back here in 4 years.


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