Transmission diagnosis please

[mauna kea]

Hello, I have a 95 XLT and was driving up a 14,000' mountain today on a good gravel road in 4WD and noticed that there was a hot oily smell and smoky fumes coming from under the car. I had a look and saw what appeared to be transmission fluid pouring out of what I think is the transmission. Prior to that the transmission was not slipping but after stopping to look, the car would not engage in gear and I had to roll back down the hill. Does this mean that the trans is completely stuffed or is there any chance of it being something less expensive?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Check your coolant level, fan clutch, and thermostat. It's possible that the fluid got overheated, and boiled out. The front seal blow out problem is pretty common, but it was also on an incline with the fluid tilting to the rear overfill opening. Your other thread was deleted because it was the same as this one.

 

[Tbars4]

.....Taking the saddle trail up to the observatory???

..I'm not a tranny guy....From what I can tell, you over heated your tranny and it pumped fluid out of the tube, and if you would have stopped, let it cool off for about an hour, and were able to refill the fluid during that time, you may not have really hurt it other than needing a fluid change and filter...

...The overheating of the tranny is never a good thing and usually leads to taking it to the tranny shop in the near future...

 

[Cstoliker]

A word of caution. If you do end up having to bring the truck in for service. While explaining what happened do not use the words “what I think is the transmission”

 

[mauna kea]

Yes, Mauna Kea had snow on it so thought we'd have snow fight but didn't quite get there.
Thanks very much for your help. I might even try adding fluid only. Might get me going for a while??

 

[Tbars4]

...The best thing you can do is change the tranny fluid and filter a.s.a.p....Brooklynbay has a tranny fluid guide in his useful threads found in his signature....Burnt fluid will not work properly and will cause more problems...

...Did the tranny operate normally after a days rest???

 

[mauna kea]

Yes it did work OK, after being topped up with fluid. No slipping at all. I do need to change the fluid and filter though. Will do today.