94' Ford Explorer Problem

[davidf246]

Hey everyone, I have an issue with my 4.0/Auto 94' Ford Explorer. When I was driving the car up the cahon pass, I heard 3 pops from underneath the transmission, after that smoked started coming from the back and about 2 quarts of transmission fluid started pouring out.

I'm wondering what the problem could be, I took it apart and now I'm pondering what to do next... Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!

 

[MrShorty]

After cooling down, does the transmission continue to leak?

One semi-common effect of "overheating" this transmission (seems likely as this occurred while going over a pass) is for the front seal to temporarily fail. Mine did the same thing one summer -- the transmission sealed itself back up when it cooled down, I refilled it, and have driven it for several years (much more gently - especially over the mountains) since.

If you deem it necessary, you can drop the transmission and replace the front seal.

 

[JPR600]

Does the transmission have a vent tube?

 

[XLTByAccident]

Yes. It has a vent tube. On my 92 it ran from near the rear along the side/top and made a loop at the top by the bell housing. Kind of like an upside down horse shoe at the top with the opening pointing down. I leaked out 5 quarts one time when it overheated. It wouldn't leak as long as I didn't overheat it. I eventually rebuilt it and that solved the problem. Several issues inside with one them being the clutch packs looked like toast.