did the 99 cherokee come with a 42re?

98zjstroker

98zjstroker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Location
concord nc
So the transmission in my zj finally kicked the bucket and I have been looking for a cheap replacement. It has the 42re transmission. Found a guy selling a transmission out of a 1999 jeep Cherokee 4x4 with 4.0. He said it is the 42re but I have yet to find any information about if it came in that option. Not trying to call anyone a liar but he might have said "ya" in hopes ill buy it. Ive looked online and the options I found for the auto in a Cherokee are; 904, 30rh, and aw4. So was this an option? If so how would I go about verifying that it is the 42re
 
I’ve never seen one in a 99 usually aw4 but easy to tell diff tho 42re has a corner cut off on side and oil drain plug is on side I believe aw4 is all square but a tiny corner missing and plug is in bottom of pan! I got pics but google prolly has side by side of all of em!
 
thanks... that's what I thought. Im sure he was just trying to get rid of it and would say yes to whatever I asked. Now I just need to find a 42re
 
43F517A7-8F20-47D3-BAB9-3B30F06BF144.jpeg


42re
DE61722B-D93E-49CA-9885-CE9481DAD6FA.jpeg


AW4

Just have him snap a pic real quick. They are totally different looking pans. Too easy to figure it out.
 
Xj = only aw4 unless 2.8 & then not sure, (32rh maybe in that)
Zj = 42re
Wj = 42re - some difference from zj, but not sure what it is.

99 Grand Cherokee = WJ

You can swap in a aw4 but you'd need to reflash ecm to avoid CEL for trans solenoid and would be a custom cal. You'd also need the aw4 controller & custom wiring. A manual cal would work but wj never shipped with a manual, so you'd be stuck going custom cal, maybe SCT would do it .
 
An XJ AW4 will not work in a 98 ZJ.
98 ZJ 42RE is different from a 99 WJ 42RE. There are electrical differences between them and they won't directly interchange.
You'll need a late ZJ specific 42RE to be a bolt in, plug and play swap.
 
@Jody Treadway
Care to elaborate why a aw4 won't fit in place of 42re on a zj? (Flex plate from xj, crank sensor also, custom cross member, tcm from early model xj, custom shift linkage & drive shaft, and proper/programmed PCM (93-98 can use a manual trans calibration ecm) to my understand 93-98 zj could be done like that, considering a few 93 zj were aw4 factory.

I know a 99 model is a while and the motor won't easily swap from a zj, but isn't the bell housing pattern the same?
 
Last edited:
@a_kelley
The AW4 can be made to work doing what you outlined. Can.
I don't see how it could be done meeting OBD2 requirements without setting codes. At least without somewhat in depth PCM tuning.
But the OP was looking for a cheap replacement (his own words) and being so, a custom swap with XYZ controller, ABC cross member, etc. So for his needs, it wouldn't work.

Or just get a ZJ specific 42RE and be done
 
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