o/d flashing + tranny (or coolant) leak ?

[foonzoo]

Hi everybody,

I am new in this forum so thanks for welcoming me. I have a 2002 Explorer XLT - 95kmiles and here is my problem (sorry to start my first post by reporting a problem).

I went from San Francisco to Los Angeles yesterday and after 4 hours of quiet driving, I arrived around the first hills before L.A. (Highway 5). After a few miles up hill (around 85 mph) I noticed a blue smoke behind my truck going stronger and stronger and, at the same time, just realized the o/d light was flashing (happened a couple of time in the past but went off after the truck is restarted). So I stopped immediately and a lot of red & oily liquid (tranny fluid or coolant ?) was leaking under the truck tranny.

I forget to mention that I was with my wife a 2 girsl (5 & 8).

After few minutes, I decided to get out of this nowhere-land to find a auto repair shop.

As the previous time, the o/d went off after the engine restart, I then decided to play it very safe (around 60 mph - 2000rpm) and surprisingly, after a couple of miles, no smoke anymore. So I decided to continue on the Highway 5 and finally made the 50 remaining miles to our hotel (where few drops felt down again).

Now, I need to come back to San Francisco tomorrow with my family and cant afford to be stucked here for the next 5+ days waiting the auto repair to fix the car (if it needs to be fixed).

Question now: From where do you think this liquid (red and oily) was coming out ? What do I need to do (refill the coolant tank, or refill the tranny fluid) to make it safe to SF tomorrow ?

I will drive the truck today in L.A. to visit few spots so I'll report tonight if anything happens. Any advice would be very much appreciated by then !

Thanks in advance,
F.

 

[foonzoo]

I made another 50 miles in the city today (temperature is around 80s), without any new leak or O/D flashing.

A mechanic I stopped by told me it could be a sticky thermosthat. He advised me to let the truck and rent a car to get back to SF...

Please advice!

Thanks in advance,
F.

 

[XLRVIII]

trans overheated and puked fluid..

flashing od light is one way the vehicle tells you are overheating the trans
puking fluid is another way it notifies you..

if the light goes away on restart it means its not a continuous problem

refill the trans, dont beatr the piss out of it aka drive 80+ and it SHOULD get you home

 

[foonzoo]

Thanks XLRVIII,

What we'll do is to rent a car for tomorrow's trip as a backup. My wife will drive the whole time behind me.

If the problems happens again, we call AAA and move the family into the rental car to continue the trip.

It worth 100+ bucks for the rental car but this sounds more safe in my opinion.

I let you know the outcome shortly, thanks again for the advise !
F.

 

[XLRVIII]

Great idea...
. pack the wife and kids in a rental and have them follow you....
They will know when your truck starts puking because It'll show up on the windshield..lol

That way, you dont get "bent over" while out on the road by some shop that is trying to make you believe you are broke down and stranded.....

 

[XLRVIII]

Thanks XLRVIII,

thanks again for the advise !
F.

no problem sir, hope you make it home safe.. becareful out there

 

[foonzoo]

We finally made it safe !!! After 6 hours drive, we put our 2 cars in our driveway, what a release !

I amazed, this is between miraculous and mysterious. Cannot understand why we got this important leak a the first place and why this did not happen again.

Anyway, I'll stop by my mechanic asap and let you know !

 

[XLRVIII]

meh it was probably a sign from above...

The EX god saw there was gonna be a bad wreck, or very poor driving conditions and he pinched your trans cooler line, overheated your trans, flashed a light on your dash..to get your attention..and got you to pull over, thus missing some horrible tragedy.

Just thank your lucky stars your home safe....glad you made it and didn't get raped by some "shop out on the road" that was preying upon your fear.