Everyone with an Automatic inside!!

Ok guys I got quite a few PM's over this from this board and from a couple others that I post on.

Let me state that everyone here that reads this it might not apply to your specific application, but it sure is a hella lot cheaper to check than it is to find out like I did.


Yes this is a re-post from another thread but I thought it needed to be here too!

Start original post here:


Ok as most of you know, I'm a pretty die-hard Ford kinda guy, with a few exceptions.
That doesn't mean that Ford doesn't come up with some really dumbass-riffic-stupendiously-geniusomatic, stupid **** for brain ideas.

So my story begins:

Well as we all know, the last time I went wheeling I lost the oil pump in my 224k mile motor, eh not so bad, I can deal with that, so Saturday I went to work and put a new motor in the Nasty Hoe.

While in the process of removing the transmission cooling line from the radiator, a Pepto Bizmo pink colored fluid came out!
But if you recall I so called "Water Proofed" my truck, so I thought.

While at the last run some of you all might recall, due to a slight navigational error, I wound up in some water approximatly 3 1/2' or so deep (up over my lap while sitting in the driver's seat), and was dubbed the new Submarine Captain!

Well after going ahead and pulling the transmission and transfer case, my 30k mile "Ford" rebuilt transmission was completly full of water and transmission fluid, I don't even know how we kept on wheeling for another 5-6 hours after that.

So after further inspection, with the transmission out, I noticed 2 little rectangular holes in my vent tube up at the top of the bellhousing, I'm not sure what Ford was thinking but this turned out to be a disaster for me!

So after being pretty, well, miffed about that I went out back at work and snatched up a 5 speed and shoved it in there insted, so now I need to go buy a clutch and pressure plate, and swap out pedals, put the transfer case back on and put in the drive shafts, and we'll be back on the road, it just was a little more than my pocket book was ready to deal with this weekend.


So all you clowns with automatics that like to play in the water like I do, pull that factory vent tube off and replace it quickly, or you might wind up with pansyass pink fluid funfilling your day too!
But oh well that's the price you pay to play!




UPDATE:


Went to work and checked 5 other 1st gen. 4 speed automatics from Explorers, and have seen anywhere from 2-3 punched/stamped holes in the vent tube of transmissions that come in the 4x4 application.
I didn't have time to check on the 2nd gens so someone may want to take up my slack here.

 

[williecume]

i'll see if i can get hardazz04 to look on his 97 sport. since he seems to like water holes.

sorry eric i had to.

 

[Rx4phun]

i havent looked yet but say that I do have these holes which seem to really be an ingenious idea, what can I do to cover them up. Do you have to replace the whole vent tube or could you say use electrical tape or something else. I know it wouldnt work as well as a holeless vent tube. How difficult is it to replace this without pulling the transmission out?
Gary

 

[DarkMan]

JB Weld!! Whadda ya think SVO?

Any tranny specialists want to chime in on why these holes are there? It seems to me that they are to avoid a vacuum in the vent tube. But why? I can't imagine that there'd be enough pressure in the vent tube to hurt anything. Before I plug the holes, I want to know why they are there. My A4LD has almost 170k on it and I don't want to do anything that would break my luck.

If you extend all your breather lines to the firewall, would you need to do anything special with this tranny tube or just clip off the end and run hose? These mystery holes leave me a little concerned about simply running a hose up with no consideration of preasures or vacuums.

 

[SVO]

The easy fix for this is to remove the little rubber hose coming off the vent tube nipple, that goes to the long vent tube (with the holes in it) and replace it with a new rubber hose going from the vent nipple (that comes off the top of the trans) and run it up to the hood hinge area.

This job mabey easier if you remove the tranny crossmember to access to the top of the transmission with more room for your hands!

I have taken more transmission pictures today and I'll post them up tonight, and try to explain this a whole lot better for you folks.

P.S. 2wd guys I have some news for you all too, with pictures that I'll post also.
2wd guys have it a lot worse than us 4wd guys have it, I'll explain this all and with photo's tonight!

 

[Rob_B]

Does anybody know if these holes are on the 95+ tranny's?

 

[SVO]

Originally posted by Rob_B
Does anybody know if these holes are on the 95+ tranny's?

Rob I tried to see if we had any in inventory, but we don't so I can't say for sure, if someone wants to bring me a 95' and later Explorer for me to do the inspection on I will be glad to do it!

I didn't mean to get eveyone paranoid here but it's already bad enough that these transmissions already have issues, then to have something like this ruin your day like it did mine.
I have seen too many posts about people driving thier X's through water for them to this have happen to them too!

 

[410Fortune]

mine does not have these vents.......weird.

I converted my BII (4.0L) from a 5 speed to an A4LD, so if you have any questions let me know.

You will need to change some wiring and the EEC to do it right.

 

[Nate1]

Perhaps its a rebuild thing?

 

[Rob_B]

I'm kinda paranoid cause I had some fun last weekend.

I can also think of many member's w/ 95+'s that go through much more water than I do ( I did that jus to take a good pic of it), so I shouldn't be in too much trouble. I'll check the fluid soon.

 

[canada74]

doesnt seem like they'd serve any real purpose, since that is a vent tube, doesnt make much sense

 

[Rob_B]

Originally posted by canada74
doesnt seem like they'd serve any real purpose, since that is a vent tube, doesnt make much sense

That's what I'm thinkin, they were prolly just pinched or something from body flex or something of that nature.

 

[SVO]

To restate I didn't have a 95' and up trans avalible to me to look at so I'm not sure if your steel vent tubes have these hole in them or not, but if you plan on doing any water play I would check as this could be very costly to you if there are.



When I water proofed my truck I used some clear flexable tubing similar to what surgical hose looks like but in a stronger grade, I did this so I could see if anything had been passing through it, IE: gear oil, trans fluid, or water.

I also put a one way check valve on the hose going to the transmission to ensure that only case ventalation pressure got out and nothing got back in, as this is the most unreliable and clostly piece of drive train equipment to replace, unaware of the holes in the vent tube, we are where we are now!

So lets fix your X's so this doesn't happen to you.

This can be performed in your driveway with very little mechanical know-how.

Place a jack under the Transfer case (transmission pan if your 2wd), and remove the 2 transmission mount nuts under the crossmember, next remove the one 18mm nut on the driver's side of the crossmember, and next the two 18mm nuts on the passenger side and remove the crossmember.
With the transmission and transfer case supported by the jack let it down slowly till you can get your hands on top of the tranny to locate the vent tube and the rubber hose that goes to the vent tube nipple.


You may have to slit the rubber hose with a razor blade to get it off:

Then take your new hose and slip it over the vent hose nipple:

Once you have gotten your new hose on there secure it with a hose clamp or my favorite a zip tie!
Replace cossmember and appropriate nuts.
Then carefully route the hose along the frame rail up to the engine compartment, special care must be taken as to keep this hose away from the exhaust manifold and down pipe as it may burn or heat soak the hose making it brittle and easily damagable.
Then route the hose past the steering shaft so as not to allow it to get caught and pull away or apart when the steering wheel is turned, zip it up as close to the top of the hood hinge/engine compartment as you feel comfortable.

And do the same with your transfer case and front diff.
As for the rear diff I ran a hose in side the back of the gas fill door and looped it around as to make it difficult for water to traverse through there.


Here are a few pics of another transmission with the same delima:

Now for you 2wd guys:

Unfortunately you guys have it a little worse than us 4wd guys do, as your transmissions have a "Vent Cap" as opposed to our tube assy.
That would be the round thingie on top of the transmission case in the picture below!

I have no clue if this can be removed and replaced with a nipple or not, but I do know that both the vent nipple and vent cap are pressed into the transmission case and would be rather difficult to remove.

Either way this is worse as you can not hook a tube to it and it sits about 8" (give or take) lower than our 4wd transmisson holes in our vent tube.


If not anything I hope this helps someone from wiping out thier transmission and falling into the same situation that I have gotten myself into, I will still drive through deep water and have fun, but I will always remember what happened and keep that in the back of my mind when doing things as such.

My intentions were not to make you guys/gals paranoid but to enlighten you on my discovery to possibly help keep you guys having fun with your Navajo's and Explorer's like myself.

Please feel free to ask any question I'll try and answer them as best as possible.



Happy Wheeling


The Submarine Captain

 

[Webster3]

Ed, I think it's 5/16" or 3/8" in diameter

I asked SVO about the size of the tube that should be used in a PM and above was the answer.

Here is a follow-up SVO... I want to make sure I get a good durable hose if I do this. Where would I go to get a hose like this? I checked Home Depot, as an example, and they don't have anything they claim can handle any kind of heat. I did use that tube they had to extend my breather hoses on both diffs, but I'm not sure I'd trust it for this.

Any suggestions on where to find some good hose?

The other question is reflecting an earlier post... are you sure the tranny doesn't need those holes for something?

Thanks again man!

Ed

 

[SVO]

Originally posted by Webster3


Any suggestions on where to find some good hose?

The other question is reflecting an earlier post... are you sure the tranny doesn't need those holes for something?

Thanks again man!

Ed

I found mine at a place here called Tractor Supply (aka: TSC)

http://www.mytscstore.com/

http://www.mytscstore.com/detail.asp?pcID=4&paID=6078&sonID=6103&productID=1302

You might try an automotive store but thay my not have clear, but if you rout them right (exhaust) you still shouldn't have any problems, the ventallation doesn't reach but about 190-250 F basied on the efficency of your cooling system.


I'm positive on thoes holes, but I would say that you would be ok, in the reguards that if you live in an area with a hotter than normal climate (IE: AZ, TX, CA, FL, and so forth) you shouldn't have a problem, remember heat rises, and that is where you are directing it too, so it'll follow it natrual path up wards.


Thanx Ed, and anytime.

 

[Nate1]

[dumb question]
How can you drop your transmission and x-fer case with it still attached to the output shaft on the engine and both driveshafts?
[/dumb question]

 

[SVO]

Originally posted by nweibley
[dumb question]
How can you drop your transmission and x-fer case with it still attached to the output shaft on the engine and both driveshafts?
[/dumb question]

It will be able to be lowered about 8-10 inches before everything will kind of "bind" up and it won't lay down any more, but that is just enough space for you to get your hands up there and do the nessicary work to be done.

Let your hands be your eyes, the blind do!


The dumbest question is the one you never ask. Knowledge is power.

 

[Webster3]

So the old breather tube with holes in it looks like it goes around and straight down... is that correct? So even without the slots is it possible to get water in there if the engine were to die while the tranny was submerged?

I'm just wondering if it would be easier to throw a few tack welds into those holes like Darkman mentioned. But if there is still a risk of taking in water that way I can see why you elect to just replace the whole thing and run it up high. Was that the reason?

Ed

 

[sk1er17]

say you've been through water quite a few times... rhetorically of course .... if you check your tranny fluid from the dipstick in the engine compartment and it looks normal then no water got in those holes right?

Or is there other fluid you need to check?

 

[SVO]

Originally posted by Webster3
So the old breather tube with holes in it looks like it goes around and straight down... is that correct? So even without the slots is it possible to get water in there if the engine were to die while the tranny was submerged?

Ed

Ed, just bypass the steel hose altogether, and yes water can still get in there, either with the engine running or not through the fill tube (dip stick tube) if your O-rings there are bad.
Or if you have any leaks, such as front/rear seals, or pan gasket, if it's leaking there is a possibility that water can get in, make sure your transmission is well sealed.

Originally posted by sk1er17
say you've been through water quite a few times... rhetorically of course .... if you check your tranny fluid from the dipstick in the engine compartment and it looks normal then no water got in those holes right?

If all looks good, you have no problems sir!