93 Villager - Tranny is making a clicking noise

[branterk]

93 Villager GS with 280,000 km

It has been sitting for the last year, with only occasional runs around the block every month or so. We have just got it fully licensed and now the transmission is running rough. It hesitates at take-off. Kinda like it is chugging (or slipping) but will get up up to speed if you give it more gas.
There does seem to be some hesitation at the higher speeds but less noticeable.
There is some clunking when switching from Forward to Reverse but that may be CV joints.
I removed the Drain pan to change the transaxle filter and fluid. The fluid looked allright and the filter seemed fairly clean.

What I did notice was that with the key in the ON position, the transmission solenoids (?) click erratically.(inside where the drain pan bolts to, with wires coming out of them)

They keep clicking wether the van is started or not. Definitely seems to be the cause of the hesitation since it seems to be in time with the clicking.

Is there a control board or sensor that controls the activation of these solenoids? Since it sat for a year, corroded/broken wire, faulty sensor, or anything else you guys can think of I should look at before I take it in to the Man. (I am a cheap ba*tard since I have spent more than the van is worth on repairs already)

Replaced engine 2yrs ago. (Mechanic screwed up the crank when he replaced the engine/manifold bolts and timing belt)
Replaced Transmission almost 3 years ago.(Drove over a snow covered median and pushed the pan into the transmission)
Both were replaced with used items with around 100-120,000 kms on them.

Any ideas, please let me know.

Thanks in advance

[IH8SPM]

Start with what you already know. Check the possible problems. Clean your battery connections. Check your air filter and you should also change the gas in the vehicle. The clicking sound can be lots of things that are not even related. Let the van warm up for a good 30 minutes and then take it on soom small runs around the block. If it starts well continue to a highway so that you can run thru all the gears. You may having stuck from lack of movement. The "MAN" is only going to tell you to change the tranny.

[branterk]

Thank you.

The clicking is actually coming from the things in the tranny though. With the drain pan off, you can actually feel them clicking.

I will be putting it back together in the next day or so. I found a 'good' (reccomended) Transmission place, and when I talked to the main guy he said it doesn't sound like it is the transmission itself but will run the codes on it first berfore opening it up.

I will post what I find out.