I Just Joined the Trashed Tranny Group

[captaineric]

1992 Explorer Sport, 125,000 miles, always maintaned well. New Jasper rebuilt engine last year due to bad noises inside original motor. Jasper has rear main leak, fixed under warranty. Immediately after seal repair, tranny began leaking fluid. Back to the shop, replaced seal under their warranty. Promised all was well. Planned a trip today for fly fishing on the Skagit River, about 3 hour drive, last 40 miles on gravel road. Rig ran perfect all the way to the gravel road then once I put it in 4 WD the tranny began pissing fluid all over the place and started to slip badly. Added my spare two quarts of ATF, made it back down the mountain about 1 mile before slipping started again. Basically coasted downhill for about 5 miles before I had to stop. Walked a mile, bought more fluid, added 3 quarts. Checked for leaks, everything underneath is soaked but there was no evident leakage while running. Drove 100 miles home keeping my fingers crossed. Made it just fine. Tranny sounds and runs good, no problems shifting, etc. Went to another shop, this time a specialty trans place. They said this is pretty common with the Explorer trans once over 100,000 miles and that the fluid was likely getting hot from internal slippage and blowing past the seal. Going to cost $1800 for them to do a full rebuild on the trans, including removal. Pisses me off that it still runs good when it has fluid. Anyway, figure with the new motor and the rest of the rig is in great shape that the rebuild is worth it. Can't stand missing any more days fishing due to mechanical problems.

Figured I'd let the rest of you know you're not alone with your tranny problems.

Eric

 

[general x]

ya i just brought my x to a shop an hour ago to get my tranny checked out, if its origanal it had a good 250000kms on it. The thing barly shifts into second and i dont have the money to just go throw away so its gunna be tough keeping it on the road

Your not alone

 

[Glacier991]

The shop is right. My Ex has 206,000 on the trannie.... on the level without stresses runs fine, drive up up hill for long distances and plan on a bath. $1800 eh ? Make sure it's more than a soft parts rebuild for that kinda $.

 

[YW84U]

You are not alone.....just finished my $2200CDN kick in the teeth last Thursday on my '91. Gave the A4LD a hug when it came out though - lasted 280,000 kms! Replaced TC, OD Planetary, couple other gard parts, one servo, and the usual clutch plates and such. Feels like a new truck, and the shift points are meaningful once again!

Big tranny cooler was worth it!

Good luck!

Tom

 

[general x]

Hey YW84U, You think a tranny and install would be worth around the same in alberta??? How much did you pay for labour/tranny. Im looking at a real simple problem with my tranny or a rear serious problem and i want to look at my options for install and rebuild/new

 

[cjbarron5]

sounds like the shop that put in the engine messed up the pump on the tranny thus causing the tranny to fail they either didnt get the tc in all the way or tweaked it puting it back in....what fluid did they put back in it? dex or type f if they goofed and put type f in it would be imenit death for the tranny

 

[captaineric]

At first I thought the shop that did the engine was at fault but looking back on things I realize it was probably the tranny getting ready to go. Even though the mileage is only 125,000, most of that was in the Middle East where I bought my '92 and the heat was often incredible. Also, the tranny doesn't leak a drop around town and when not pushed hard, only when hot and stressed. And, I noticed a definite drop in fuel economy for several thousand miles before I had the Jasper motor, and this drop continued with the new engine. Although the tranny seemed to shift and act normal, I suspect things were not right inside, allowing the loss in efficiency. So, I'll be taking her in next week for the repair and will double-check with the shop to ensure they replace everything necessary, not just the basics.