Jeep AX5 tranny problems

JPT · Nov 13, 2014

So driving home from walker on Saturday I lost gears 3 and 4 in my tranny. Its a 97 TJ 4cyl 5-speed and the tranny has always shifted good it has a new clutch and haven't had any issues until I was driving home and got of on a exit downshift to 4th nothing downshift to 3rd nothing 2 gear is there so basically I have 1,2,5 and reverse. When I put it in 3 or 4 you feel nothing in the shifter and can let the clutch out and vehicle doesn't move. I drove home going from second to fifth and there are no strange noises from the tranny. Any ideas before I pull the tranny out?

zukkev · Nov 13, 2014

Should be an AX15, if it's a 4.0L...But my guess would be you lost a shift fork roll pin (or whatever they use to fix the fork to the rail) causing the fork to not move with the rail...

WA-Wheeler · Nov 13, 2014

It's dead. Not worth rebuilding. Find a used ax15 to put in it. :awesomework:

WHITE TRASH1 · Nov 13, 2014

zukkev said:
Should be an AX15, if it's a 4.0L...But my guess would be you lost a shift fork roll pin (or whatever they use to fix the fork to the rail) causing the fork to not move with the rail...

WA-Wheeler said:
It's dead. Not worth rebuilding. Find a used ax15 to put in it. :awesomework:

I know English is hard but could you guys at least try to read more than just the topic title before replying? :flipoff:

The ax5 is a pretty light duty trans but if it went from working to not working with no noise then it probably is a roll pin or busted shift fork. 4th gear is just 1:1 with the input and output connected by a collar. If that collar ain't moving then you know the rest of the story. That trans is easy to split, I just did that on a toyota w58 which is in the same trans family. I lost second gear when I broke a shift fork power shifting. :redneck:

The ax15 can be swapped in but you either need to find a ax15 bellhousing from a 2.5 dakota or pony up for an adapter plate kit from advance adapters.

JPT · Nov 13, 2014

It is a 2.5L 4 banger so it should be a ax-5 not an ax-15 and yeah I have been told they are a pretty light duty tranny. So the question is should I have it rebuilt or just try to find another one to put in it? Any idea what kind of price I'm looking at if I pull it and take it some place assuming it is a pin or fork?

JPT · Nov 13, 2014

How common are the 2.5/ax15 Dakotas because I actually have a low mile ax15 and 231 with sye I could put in it. Also what else is needed besides the bellhousing and what clutch do you run with it? I'm thinking just rebuild it because I want to just fix it cheap and quick but just curious of other options.

zukkev · Nov 13, 2014

WHITE TRASH said:
I know English is hard but could you guys at least try to read more than just the topic title before replying?

:flipoff: IT WAS EARLY, and I hadn't had my coffee yet...

rod:

JPT · Nov 14, 2014

zukkev said:
:flipoff: IT WAS EARLY, and I hadn't had my coffee yet...rod:

Go ahead and say whatever you need to feel better about yourself :fawkdancesmiley:

WA-Wheeler · Nov 14, 2014

I read it. I just find swaps easier then rebuilding something I won't trust ever again. Do it once. Do it right.

1982cj7 · Nov 14, 2014

You could probably find a used ax5 cheaper than rebuilding yours unless it is just a shift fork. The forks are held by a bolt not a roll pin so l doubt it came loose and the gears you are talking about are on 2 different rails.

zukkev · Nov 14, 2014

JPT said:
Go ahead and say whatever you need to feel better about yourself :fawkdancesmiley:

I did!
:redneck:

boxboy · Nov 14, 2014

WA-Wheeler said:
I read it. I just find swaps easier then rebuilding something I won't trust ever again. Do it once. Do it right.

so an LS/T400 with an atlas should do the trick... just for a broken roll pin :corn:

WA-Wheeler · Nov 14, 2014

boxboy said:
so an LS/T400 with an atlas should do the trick... just for a broken roll pin :corn:

Hell yeah! Who knows when your going to have to excuse to pull the Tranny out again.... :fawkdancesmiley:

I'm just saying I have seen multiple ax5's die. Just does not seem worth it. I guess he could swap any transmission, the ax15 is a simple swap to me.

zukkev · Nov 14, 2014

I know someone that may have a 15...I'll get back to ya Tony...:awesomework:

zukkev · Nov 14, 2014

No dice...He just sold it last weekend. :smack:

1982cj7 · Nov 15, 2014

You also need a different input gear for the case to switch to an ax15.

JPT · Nov 15, 2014

1982cj7 said:
You could probably find a used ax5 cheaper than rebuilding yours unless it is just a shift fork. The forks are held by a bolt not a roll pin so l doubt it came loose and the gears you are talking about are on 2 different rails.

So if 3 and 4 are on 2 different rails what would cause both gears to fail at the same time? After cruising for 15 miles in 5th gear on I-5 with no noises or any problems with the Jeep at all I exit the freeway and suddenly 3 and 4 are just nonexistent that's why I'm not sure what to think.

JPT · Nov 15, 2014

zukkev said:
No dice...He just sold it last weekend. :smack:

Thanks for checking for me but I already have a complete AX-15 and 231 with an Advance Adapters SYE and only 85k original miles and its just sitting in my shop because I pulled it out of my other 97 TJ 4.0 to do a 700R4/D300 setup. I'm just not sure if I want to deal with doing that swap right now and having drivelines built and whatever else it will take once I am into it.

zukkev · Nov 15, 2014

If you've already got the main parts, then I'd do it now...You're gonna spend the coin on a used AX5 or the adapter kit...seems the adapter is the smart way to go.
Good luck man!

WHITE TRASH1 · Nov 15, 2014

3rd and 4th are on the same rail. All aisin transmission's are basically the same. This is my w58 out of my auto x toyota truck as an example. 1-2 is the top fork (mine is broken from hamfisting it into 2nd :redneck: ) 3-4 is the other fork you see, 5th and reverse are in the tail housing.