AW4 Solenoid Kit 1986, new and ready to install. Fits the AW4. Ships fast from the USA.
This listing is for owners of the earliest AW4-equipped Jeeps: first-generation Cherokee XJ, Wagoneer and Comanche pickups with the Aisin four-speed automatic that now refuse to upshift, pull away in a high gear, or cruise the highway with the converter never locking. It is a new set of all three valve body solenoids, the two shift solenoids and the converter lockup solenoid, with the green connectors and steel mounting brackets shown in the photo. One set replaces every electrical control valve under the pan.
The part is catalogued under 1986, but Jeep never built a 1986 model-year truck with the AW4. The transmission arrived for the 1987 model year in the XJ and MJ, behind the new 4.0L six and some 2.5L fours. The AW4 is an Aisin design that shares much of its layout with Toyota's A340 family, which is why its solenoid sets are listed under years that predate the Jeep application. If your paperwork says 1986, read the tenth character of the VIN: G is a 1986 model, H is a 1987. A Jeep that decodes as a true 1986 model came with a different transmission, so contact us with the VIN before ordering.
Unlike the hydraulic three-speeds Jeep used before it, the AW4 lets a separate transmission control unit pick the gear. That box watches road speed, throttle opening, shift lever position and the brake switch, then switches solenoid 1 and solenoid 2 on and off in combinations that move the 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 shift valves. Solenoid 3 is the lockup solenoid; it sends line pressure through the lockup relay valve to apply the converter clutch. If a coil goes open or a plunger sticks on varnish, the computer still commands the right gear and the valve simply does not follow.
These early trucks are pre-OBD-II, so a generic code reader will not point you at a solenoid. On a vehicle this age, chafed harness wires, a tired neutral safety switch and worn clutch packs all cause shift complaints, so confirm the fault first.
Check the fluid hot. Burnt, dark fluid with friction material on the magnet means worn clutches, and solenoids will not cure slip under load. Next, drop the pan and test each solenoid with an ohmmeter between the mounting bracket and the wire terminal. Jeep's AW4 manual calls for 11 to 15 ohms, and a reading outside that range means the solenoid is bad. Our multimeter solenoid test guide walks through the meter setup. Remember that a coil can read good on the bench and fail when hot, so a temperature-related complaint keeps the solenoids on the suspect list. If the solenoids test good and the shifts are still harsh or late, the problem is more likely in the AW4 valve body itself.
Listed for the AW4 under the 1986 catalog year, which in practice means the first AW4 Jeeps: 1987 and later Cherokee XJ, Wagoneer and Comanche MJ. The AW4 changed during its run, most visibly the 1991 move from a 21-spline to a 23-spline output shaft, and buyers should compare the new solenoids side by side with the old ones before installing: connector shape, bracket angle and the O-ring tip should match. If anything looks different, stop and send us your year and VIN. A 1987 truck can also use the 1987 AW4 solenoid kit, and every other AW4 part is in our Aisin transmission parts collection.
If the fluid came out cooked, add an AW4 auxiliary transmission cooler before towing or trail use. If the pan was full of clutch material, put the money into an AW4 overhaul kit instead.
| Fits | AW4 1986 |
| Part type | Solenoid Kit |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | OEM |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. The AW4 entered Jeep production for the 1987 model year in the Cherokee XJ, Wagoneer and Comanche. This kit is catalogued under 1986 because the Aisin solenoid design predates the Jeep application. Check the tenth VIN character: H means a 1987 model.
Three new solenoids: the two shift solenoids and the converter lockup solenoid, each with its own bracket and connector as pictured. The oil screen gasket and pan sealer are not included.
Jeep's AW4 service manual specifies 11 to 15 ohms measured between the solenoid mounting bracket and the wire terminal. Replace any solenoid that reads above or below that range.
No. All three solenoids bolt to the bottom of the valve body and are reached by dropping the pan and removing the oil screen with the transmission still in the vehicle.
Jeep calls for Mercon type ATF, with Dexron II as the alternative listed in the AW4 manual. Check the level with the engine running and the fluid hot.
Only if the slip is caused by a solenoid holding the wrong gear. Burnt fluid and friction material in the pan point to worn clutches, which need an overhaul kit rather than solenoids.
