Cold weather tranny problems.

[g8tors2010]

Ok, I'm needing some suggestions or advice. I got my son a '97 Explorer last year, for graduation. It had just had a shotty, no idea what they were doing head job done on it the prior month. And was ready for another one, because they didn't replace the radiator that had a 3/16 hole in it. So, we knew right away we were gonna get a new radiator and do an engine swap, I could get a used motor with a guarantee cheaper than I could do a head job. My son ordered a remanufactured radiator off ebay from a liquidation warehouse, for $24 dollars. Well, we receive it and open the box and we know have a new radiator, for a straight shift. I'm thinking no big deal, it's there fault, we had proof we ordered one for an auto so we'll just get them to swap it. Nope, they can't do that. There fine print stated that you could not return an open item. So, now the only thing I'm getting swapped is my blood pressure medicine. Well, I told my son, it'll be okay. We'll just get a trans cooler, it'll be cheaper and quicker than dealing with them and I could get him out of my Cherokee. So, now with single digit temps in the arctic state of Alabama, we have tranny failure. It worked fine until recently when we started having temps below freezing and now that we are in the single digits, it don't work at all. To begin with, I thought it just might need to be serviced, maybe the filter was clogged. I did that last night, inside a shop away from the elements, and worked great. Until it set outside all night. So, I'm trying to figure out what would be his best route to go, cheapest and most beneficial in the long run. He's fixin' to be starting school at Auburn and making 200 mile round trip drives every weekend and I don't want him to get stranded. Any advice or suggestions?

 

[PopRichie77]

Sounds like low fluid. Are you checking the fluid level, when warm, with the engine running and in park? If you are add a quart of fluid and see if that fixes the problem, the dip stick maybe the wrong one.
The auto rad also warms the fluid in cold temps but this is after running.

 

[g8tors2010]

Fluid level is fine. I changed the filter and fluid the first time it happened. Not knowing when the last time it was changed, I thought maybe the filter was stopped up. Well, today the weather warmed up and it did fine. Then the idler pulley decided to spit it's bearings out and break the belt. Leaving my son and wife sitting on the side of the road, while I'm at home fixing busted water lines. I believe I'm gonna be the one to break down next.