What's wrong with my transmission?

[arco777]

94 Explorer - 152,000mi, 4WD, automatic.

About a week ago I was driving the Explorer on a long trip (Alaska to Arkansas) and lost drive in any gear (in Wyoming). Transmission fluid was all over the bottom of the car and appeared to be leaking from the front of the transmission but I couldn't pinpoint where. Before it happened I had driven 5,500 miles in about 5 days. According to the GPS my moving average was 95.4mph. Lots of long flat stretches followed by long hill climbs. I trailered the car 1500 miles to Arkansas.

Today I filled up the trans with about 4 quarts of fluid and everything works fine, hasn't leaked a drop though I've only driven around the block. Shifts smoothly and works as it should.

What do you think is wrong? I have used the search function but can't find a solid answer - thinking maybe a bad seal. I haven't messed with a trans before but I'm willing to drop it, though don't really want to do a full rebuild since I plan to put in a 700R4 or similar in the near future.

 

[jwrezz]

Over heated? Front pump or T.C. issues? I really shouldn't even guess. I'm so sleepy. Trying to watch Giants/Dallas, but I keep dozing off! Good luck.

 

[gonegonzo]

Front Seal. Drive a mile or two and see if it leaks.

Gonzo

 

[rednecksoldier]

im thinking you overheated the tranny. happened to me the other day going down a trail. tranny fluid everywhere, towed it home and filled it up and everything works fine.

 

[arco777]

I've driven it about 40 miles since I put fluid in. Everything works well. I was thinking front seal too. Overheating does sound possible though. It was at the end of a very long day of traveling, carrying about 600-700 pounds of junk in the back, high speeds and hills all day and about 300 miles since the last stop which was for gas. I'll keep watching for drips; hard to tell because the exhaust pipe seems to catch all the drips first.

 

[jwrezz]

yeah, this really sounds like over heating. But now that damage has been done, there may be other problems popping up. I'd start building that 700R4, or think about a rebuild for this one. I did mine @ 120Kmiles. It's actually a much better trans now. The builder had a T.C. built for my needs, he built it w/ the idea in mind that I want performance 100% comfort 0%. It shifts hard, but it's not a bad thing at all. It runs well, and shifts when it's supposed to. I know this trans has a bad rap, but going 120k before a rebuild seems pretty good to me. We'll see if I get past 200k for the next time! If it's 250k, I'll know it was better the 2nd time around! Good luck!

 

[Foxracin]

What's wrong with my transmission?

Its a A4LD.

 

[arco777]

yeah, this really sounds like over heating. But now that damage has been done, there may be other problems popping up. I'd start building that 700R4, or think about a rebuild for this one. I did mine @ 120Kmiles. It's actually a much better trans now. The builder had a T.C. built for my needs, he built it w/ the idea in mind that I want performance 100% comfort 0%. It shifts hard, but it's not a bad thing at all. It runs well, and shifts when it's supposed to. I know this trans has a bad rap, but going 120k before a rebuild seems pretty good to me. We'll see if I get past 200k for the next time! If it's 250k, I'll know it was better the 2nd time around! Good luck!

Thanks - right now I'm kinda torn on whether to rebuild it myself or to have it done. Really I'd rather do it myself to learn how but not sure how easy it will be to get all the parts and tools required. Gotta wait till next paycheck anyways

 

[n2epv]

94 Explorer - 152,000mi, 4WD, automatic.

According to the GPS my moving average was 95.4mph.

To average that speed, the engine and tranny were working very hard - and getting very hot. I have personally blown ATF out of the dipstick tube by abusing an automatic. Don't know if it actually boils over (like engine coolant when overheated) or it just expands a lot. And as jwrezz said, damage is done when it gets that hot!

Consider yourself fortunate that the ATF that got loose didn't catch fire on a hot cat or exhaust pipe! My father was unhurt (but shaken up) when he 'boiled over' the transmission in a farm truck and the ATF started a fire under the hood. We now have tranny temp gauges on our trucks!

 

[rednecksoldier]

hold up you can go 300 miles on a tank of gas. i can only go 175 on a tank. my mileage sucks.

 

[arco777]

To average that speed, the engine and tranny were working very hard - and getting very hot.

The motor was happy for the whole trip - 3.27 gears helps, but agreed, I was really pushing that trans hard. So it is possible that the expanding fluid was why it puked all over? Or did a seal blow? I still haven't had any issues with the tranny since. Fluid went all over the car and a LOT went onto the exhaust. Fortunately it only made weird smelling smoke!

Anyways I'm looking at professionally built 700R4s but will probably just rebuild a used one myself. I don't really want to rebuild the A4LD right now because I'd like to minimize downtime on that car even though I bought another X. Any suggestions, or advice on installation with an Advance Adapters kit?

hold up you can go 300 miles on a tank of gas. i can only go 175 on a tank. my mileage sucks.

Easily, I have always been suprised at the mileage mine gets. That trip I got about 350 miles per tank of gas. Maybe it's the rear air deflector thingy.

EDIT: Locally I can get a used 700R4 for $50 that works fine; it is a 2WD version though and needs a new dipstick tube. What's needed to convert it to 4WD, think it's a good deal/worth rebuilding?