AX15 test plugs

macleanflood

macleanflood

I break sh!t
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Round seven on my AX15. Gave up on my transmission shop and cancelled the charges...two month saga of pain.

Did a rear seal and it didn't fix hemmoraging fluid.

Ordered one from Advanced Adapters... should be here tomorrow.

Pulled my existing one... looking at it in perspective I think two test plugs are missing and that's where the oil is coming from... anyone confirm plugs should be here?

Thanks!
Mac

IMG_20221101_135016172.jpg
 
This is the new one I put in back in June. Those holes are empty.

PXL_20220415_212729914.jpg



Not sure but I think those may be leftover mounting bosses for a t-case shift linkage from the YJ days. I certainly don't have anything leaking from them.
 
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Bargain Box said:
What are you doing with the old one? Core?
Click to expand...

Not sure yet. Pretty sure the rear 1/3 of the case is cracked.

Waiting for the results of my credit card dispute to finalize before I do anything.

Hopefully I figure out what's wrong and sell it. Everything inside is new.

If only it would hold oil...

I just want to drive the Jeep!

-Mac
 
Good luck with sorting it out. Totally understand. Just keep me posted because I'm still interested even if the case is cracked.
 
Well after two months of struggling with a transmission shop here's the lessons I learned:

1. An AX15 transmission is not complicated, easy to rebuild and the parts/kits are cheap and available.

2. Don't trade your original AX-15 transmission for a rebuilt one...keep yours and either rebuild it or replace it with a new one.

3. Advanced Adapters sells a new AX15 sans shifter for $1600 and Novak with shifter for $1900. Shipping to me was $130.

I needed a working transmission on the quick for a planned road trip to Montana...should have ordered one from above suppliers... instead drove two hours and swapped mine for a "rebuilt" unit and spent the last 2-3 months dealing with the repercussions.

-Mac
 
I literally went through the same dilemma. I ordered a reman and decided that was a bad move and returned it. Changed my mind to rebuilding mine and I'm glad I did. If it fails again and I don't think it's worth it to work on, I'll buy new next time. I'm interested in yours because I wouldn't mind having a spare that I can repair as an excercise.
 
Look under the 4wd tailhousing. It is probably cracked. That is the most common mysterious leak location from the AX15. It's not from those holes in your first pic, those are for tcase shifters on Jeeps that use shifters that bolt there. In other words, they are just threaded empty holes.
 
macleanflood said:
View attachment 372734

You mean this one?

-Mac
Click to expand...

Yep, happens there and in a few other spots around the trans mount bracket holes (all in that area).

You can fix it by changing the 4wd tailhousing, but that is about a $500 part if you can even find it, and it's a decently involved swap (requires disassembling a lot of the transmission - steps are outlined in the factory service manual).
 
Yeah that's why I bought a new one. This one's been in and out 7 times. I know I can fix it eventually. But I'd like to drive this Jeep instead of pulling the transmission weekly. I don't think I have the emotional energy to keep banging away it. Each time I find and fix another issue I find another showstopper.

-Mac
 
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