Transmission Slip ???

[kvo]

I searched and found 187 posts on Torque Converter and 67 posts on transmission slip but still did not answer my questions.

Here goes:

I have a '91 EB with 170k miles on the automatic transmission.

I went down to Hollister today and as I was leaving the Ranger office for the day, the transmission slipped! The engine was reving, it got into 1st and then 2nd, and then all the rest of the gears but it felt like you're driving a manual and your clutch is slipping. Every time I applied some throttle, the engine would rev normally but there is no downshift or acceleration when I'm driving. If I come to a complete stop, it would rev high while trying to go from 1st to 2nd, etc. but the truck would move very slowly. Once I get up to freeway speed (anywhere from 55-75MPH), it's ok but if I want to accelerate, it feels like it's slipping. It's so embarrasing gotten passed by an old beat up Mercedes 240 Diesel and an old VW Bettle!!!

I checked the fluid and it's full, clear, no burning smell while driving or when I got home. It did smell a little bit burn just after 4wheeling.

Has anyone had any experience or knowledge like this that they can share with me?

I saw one post that mentioned the vacuum hose being disconneted, I'll check that tomorrow But I don't think that's the case because the transmission shifts fine, except for the slip!@!@^%!

I hope it's not a rebuild, my wife is ready to ax my rig now and if I tell her that I need to spend a couple thousand to rebuild the transmission, she'll definitely ax it! Heck, she even vetoed a new radio for it! Well, if it's the transmission, I guess I'll be parting out the rig and will have lots of stuff for sale!
(winch, TJM front bumper, D rings, straps, hubs, gears, locker, wheels (5), tires (5), etc.).

BTW - at Hollister, at the mud pit, I saw a Ford F-250 pulled out a full-size Dodge Ram and a full-size duallie Chevy. Both Dodge and Chevy died while trying to cross it and probably will cost some serious dough to clean the engine compartment and interior (both got mud water inside). Funny thing was a 15 year old kid with a four-banger Toyota on 33" went right across without any trouble!!! I think he was so light he sorta float across it, while the other two big trucks just sank into the mud.

 

[tdavis]

170k? Sounds like the clutch bands are shot.

you could save some money by pulling the tranny yourself, and hauling it into a tranny shop.

It's a rebuild time I believe.

 

[kvo]

Thanks Tom. That's the word I was afraid of "REBUILD".

Khoa.

 

[tdavis]

I know.. I know.

It appears most of the rebuilds aren't worth much either (from my point of view).

I thought of another thing - does it sleep at highway speeds?

You could also have a bad torque converter - they don't last forever either.

 

[kvo]

Tom -

I'm not sure I know what you mean by sleep? It just does not have any pick up, it'll cruise at freeway speed, anywhere between 50-75MPH, it drives ok, just still can't pass. When I try to accelerate, the engine revs but the gear doesn't kick down like it normally would.

I'm kinda guessing/hoping that it's the torque converter. Do you know how or how hard it is to remove it? Is it one piece and separate from the transmission or is it inside the transmission?

Is there a way to check or test the torque converter?