Thread: auto trans advice

Sorry to say, but i'd imagine the fluid has been overheated as a result of driving with low fluid. I had my transcooler hose blow off and got away with it the first time, the 2nd time was the end.

My torque converted overheated, the paint went from a tawny / pail yellow/brown colour to an orange colour, and nearly dropped a bearing. The valve body also jammed and was buggered. I drove mine approx 100kms to get home though and this would have casued great damage.

Mine had done about 150,000kms.

In the end I managed to get a second hand valve body, reconditioned converted and had the auto inspected by good auto shop who looked after me. The de-glazed the clutch plates and reassembled the auto. It cost me about $400 for the TC rebuild and about $850 for the de-glaze, seals, o-rings and pressure check.

I put it back in and drove to Cape York and back again with no issues.

But to answer your question about transcooler removal. I didn't remove the radiator, I replaced the cooler hose on the passenger side as this is the one the blew off.

To get the hoses off remove the fan shroud and viscus fan, this will give you enough room. To remove the van you will need a viscus fan spanner (See Mario at Roverlord) The money you send on the spanner will be cheaper than replacing the coolant.

What do you mean by not taking transmission fluid? Are you filling it from the filler plug under the car on the auto? It is located just above the transcooler hoses on the front of the auto. Is it just coming out when you are filling it? If so it is probably full and you have other problems other than low fluid.

I'm nut sure, but i'd imagine dex3 would mix with the semi synthetic.

Hi epic , also pretty sure dx3 will mix OK with semi , you probably know this as you have had to top up before but engine has to be running to top up trans otherwise it'll just run out of the filler, if you are already doing this then its possible damage either as jazzman describes or pump damage . hope not .

I hope not lol. My oil is still same colour it always is. Just seems very watery/runny compared to normal viscosity. You did well to drive 100kms lol. Mine lost drive as fast as the oil came out. Was slower the first time so drove further but this time i smelt tge fluid and pulled over before it got to the point of last time. There was a very long tail of oil behind it so its lost a few litres at least. Last time the trans almost drained itself. But it wont pick up any oilto replace what it has lost. I have serviced this trans myself for 3 years now with no issues. Haha yes using the filler plug. I wish there was an easier way to fill them but that is all there is.
I need to pull the pan off still and see if the pick up and filter is clogged.
Have made own tool for viscous fan removal too as have had to pull that off a few times now. Just hoping can get the trans cooler out without removing everything so can give it a good clean.
I wish your auto shop was here lol! That is a great price and doesnt sound like a place that is dishonest and just wants to rip you off. They sound like they were wonderful.

sounds like sticking valves caused by old oil and the sluggsh performace due to low oil when cold...

you'd be amazed at just how weird and intermittent some of the autos will get before they decide to chuck it in the towel.


the most frustrating one is when its the oring seal on the strainer..

park it one way and the pump will loose prime and make life difficult till it gets a good prime... park it aother and you dont have a problem then the temperature plays its part and then its the amount of time you have it parked.

and when you pull the filter out to check the oring the damn thng will be sitting there looking like its all good and its not until you do a bluing check and a plastigauge compression check is done that you work out that the O ring that came on the thing is just a little small.

The oil was not old though as was changed a few months ago. Its levels have also never been low whenever i have checked. Have never had leaking trans fluid either but if a leak is small then it would burn off before noticing. So it could have been low but would be a very recent/out of ordinary occurance for it.
I do know from experience that trans do all sorts of odd things. Is one reason why i never wanted anything other than manuals. I also do not think I'd have this issue now had i not taken it to be "checked" they never pulled the pan off to see if were any metal shavings either. Extremely disappointed. Finally pulling the pan off today to see what its like inside.

HI Epic Dragon, you are checking the oil in the trans with it running?
We had a customer come in and it was 2 litres under capacity, as who ever did the service before filled it until it ran out of the fill hole, it must be filled with engine running to get the extra oil in.
Regards,
Mario

How many Km has the trans done?

Yep always fill with it running and cycle through the gears. Always recheck a day or two later as well. and its done almost 340000 kms. But changed the filter and it is all fine now! So happy no metal anywhere either so my trans is not dying yet.