"My car climbed Mt. Washington".... and left its transmition

[unabonked]

Went up to the White Mtns today with my girlfriend. We drove up mt washington with no peoblem. we came down (in 1st gear, 4x4 hi), stopped to cool of brakes twice. all was fine. stopped about 15 minutes latter on the hiway for about 20 minutes, all was fine, then....

While slowing for a stop 5 miles after the last stop, we heard, rather felt a thud. We learched forward like as if hit from behind. I thought maybe it was an overheated transfer case. i stopped at the local dairy queen, and it happened again. A low thud and a lurch forward. we ate, and tried up again. the truck would not move forward in drive or overdrive. in forst gear, it kinda moved, but as it it was slipping on a cluch. reverse worked, so and there was no leaks. I have an automatic, so i'm worried i blew my tranny. its only 4 years onld and has less then 55,000 miles on it. The only place up here that fixes transmitions can't even look at it for another 3 weeks. I'm stranded and rather desperate, and would like to have any info anyone can give about this problem.

 

[Fischer]

I really don't know how to help.... Have you checked your Tranny fluid?
It should be Pink/Red. If it is dark it has been burnt, smell it also.
Also look for bubbles on the dipstick.

Check your driveline and make sure that nothing is loose. There are 3 shafts to check, I think. Rear, front and inbetween the tranny and x-fer case.

Also you may want to look at the x-fer case and see if the lever is in the correct position. It is a 3 position switch.

Also next time use 4L as 4AUTO is good only in snow and such.

Good luck man, that sounds like a interesting situation...

 

[ok89]

When my tranny crapped out in our 98 XLT (tranny was the 5R55E) I couldnt get D or 1 to work. However I limped my way home in 2 (not fun).

 

[Robert]

Try disconnecting your battery for 5 minutes to see if it will reset everything. It's free so don't be to upset if it doesn't work though.

 

[Byrd91]

Is there snow in the white mountains this time of year? And were you in 4 hi or do you have 4 auto. If there was no snow (i.e. dry roads) and you were in 4 hi you might have messed up your front end or transfer case. But I think you have 4 auto so that probably wouldn't be it. I suggest checking the tranny fluid level also, even though there are no visable leaks. 55K seems early for a tranny to go. Unhooking the battery is a good idea too.

 

[unabonked]

well, unfortunatly i was unable to perform the checks because i did not have net access after the post. I smelled somthing burning coming down from the mountain, but tracked it to the front brakes (i was unable to stop at the first few rest areas because they were too crouded). I did not smell anything from the tranny at any point.

I rode up and down the mtn in 4-hi, 1st gear because i my low didn't seem to want to go into position. Which ive had problems with in the past and didn't want to push the issue.

I'll see if i can't get someone at the shop to check those things, but they said it would be labor day before they could even look at it.

Sigh, truckless on my vacation

 

[alphabets13]

my x left no doubt when the tranny went. there was a puddle of tranny fluid underneath that looked like a lake.

 

[Jason_25]

Ok was this road paved or dirt?

 

[jonny 5]

It's a paved road all the way up to the top of Mt. Washington (something like 5280 ft.) unabonked, how often do you go up there? My parents have a condo up there. Nice and quiet in the summer and hectic in the winter.

 

[Jason_25]

Unabonked question for you then, why were you in 4-high on a paved road? You very well could have broken your transfer case doing that.

 

[unabonked]

it was both paved and unpaved. I go up there maybe once a year to get away from all the annoying people in boston (myself included).

From what I understand, there is no way that 4-hi could be damaged if used in low speed, i thought only 4-lo could be damaging if used in high speed. It was paved and i really didn't want to get that jerky motion while passing an oncoming car 3 inches from the edge of the cliffs (i have a pretty big fear of heights anyway)

If i blew my transfer case, woul it still be capable of going in reverse, but not forward? and what is the repair bill i'm looking to if its the transfer case, the tranny or both?

 

[Robert]

A transfercase runs about $1500. You can damage it by running on pavement in either high or low regardless of speed. Low range will put more torque to the axles/u-joints though so it is harder on those components than high is. When you are in high range though, you are still locking your front and rear driveshafts together. It will take longer for the tension build up to occur but eventually it will happen. When it does something must give. If you can get to a gravel section before something breaks the tension will usually release then. If you were on the pavement for an extended period of time something might have broken internally.

 

[PghBill]

Tranny Problems

unabonked .... sounds like you have the control trac 4X4 "AUTO-HI-LO". My 91 owners manual (pre-control trac) says not to use 4x4 on pavement. My 97 owners manual (control trac) states that 4x4 LO is NOT RECOMMENDED on pavement but no such advice is given for 4x4 HI. Nonetheless and as a general matter, robert is correct. in either 4x4 HI or LO, you axles will link and be overstressed when on pavement.

Go to this thread for an excellent detailed description of the control trac, including the effects of 4x4 HI or LO on pavement:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=10166

Look especially for post by Tom Wilk (its second)

I do not use 4x4 HI or LO when descending, even in snow. On steep roads, I may drop to gear 2 or 1, depending on grade, for added engine braking. And I never use HI or LO on pavement.

You need a good tranny shop, preferrably not a dealer.

Good Luck!:smoke:

 

[unabonked]

if the transfer case went, woulden't that mean that i would NOT be able to drive backwards? tranny and labor costs about 3000 right? I'm kinda hoping its the transfer case, but then again it would have to be shipped from the tranny shop to the dealership up there and wait ANOTHER 3 weeks before being looked at by THOSE goons... I can't beleive that this thing is going to be out of commision till october. That just seems wrong.

Aside fom all this, the road on MT washington was only HALF paved! it was compacted dirt for the top half, and on and off toawrds the bottom. This is the very reason why i put my 4x4 on in tyhe first palce, i thought i'd slip on the dirt.

 

[Robert]

Re: Tranny Problems

Originally posted by PghBill
. . .My 97 owners manual (control trac) states that 4x4 LO is NOT RECOMMENDED on pavement but no such advice is given for 4x4 HI.. . .

My '97 4-Wheeling supplement makes no distinction between High or Low:

pg 6.

"Do not use 4WD on dry, hard surfaced roads (except models equipped with Auto 4WD or AWD). This may damage the drivelines and axles."

 

[SteveVB]

Trans...

Sounds like either the forward clutch pak in the trans is shot, or maybe the pump- you can move in reverse but no forward. Looking over my trans manual also could be a valve body problem, fluid, or linkage. Ill guess the clutch pack since you had it in first for quite a while and needed to stop to cool off the brakes.

You may not need a new trans- they may be able to repair the clutch drum, but while your in there... A rebuild shouldnt cost too much more than 1800-2000

Running 4wd on hard dry surface is hard on all the drivetrain- from the tires to the engine. Something is going to give. I doubt that a short trip in 4 high would do anything, but your trip sounds a bit more extensive. I would bet heat buildup from the extended stay in 1st plus some extra load froim 4wd contributed to the transmissions demise.

Good Luck