A Sad Day in Mudville

[Tom Bahner]

Saturday was a bad day.

The wife and I was returning home from a local cruise when ol Blue started reving up going down the interstate. Yep, something gave out on the old tranny. The underside of the car is soaked with tranny fluid along with the rear of the car. It lost it fast, by the time I got to the exit, there was no movement. Pulled the dipstick, empty.

I thought maybe one of the rubber hoses in the cooling lines gave out but I can't see anything wrong with them.  Of course its hard to tell since its all wet. The front ones going to the  rad. appear to be in tact and the front part of tranny is fairly dry. Can't figure where it would have leaked out so fast.

I'm sure its probably toast so guess I'll be looking for a rebuilder.

Tom B

[Tom Bahner]

Well, after a little over 7quarts of ATF, I finally got it full. Took it out for a 10 mi. drive and all appears to be well. Still full and no leaks when I got back, shifted smooth and even kicked it into passing gear.

Oh a second note, not sure if I should name names but, Haggerty took good care of us on the emergency service. A flatbed picked us up on the interstate within an hour. Very happy with their response.

Thanks again all for your advice, suggestions, and support.

Tom B. 

[Jason Edge]

Title of this thread should be changed to Good Day in Cad-Ville! :-) Congrats on the easy fix.

[Tom Bahner]

Well, after a couple quarts of ATF, found a 1" split in one of the 4" rubber hoses on one of the cooling lines. Replaced both hoses at tranny and added a couple more quarts to get it to register on the dip stick.

To my amazement, she moved, both forward and reverse. Will replace both hoses going to rad. today and top the fluid off. I'm questioning the reading on the dipstick. After 5 qts. still reads at "add 1 pint" level on the dipstick at idle. Guess I'll keep adding a pint at a time till it registers  full. Then a road test to see how it shifts.

So, I'm thankful for two things, that I had it towed home instead of to a shop - a rough storm rolled through Sat. night so it would have been sitting out, and for all the sage advice from all the fine folks on this site so ol Blue will travel another mile or three..

Guess I should have replaced them when I read Matthew's blog. How much pressure are the power steering hoses under?  I'm questioning if they need replaced?? I've replaced about all the rubber mechanical stuff now except them.

Will post results of road test later.

Tom B

[Tom Bahner]

Thanks all for your suggestions, Its worth a try, I'll throw some down its throat and see if I can determine the leak source an if I get any movement. It was working great before we lost the fluid

Will keep you all posted.

Thanks Tom B.

[Jason Edge]

Tom, Perhaps the dipstick tube where it seats in the O Ring popped out. Did you check it. It could be something other than faulty transmission internals. If you do end up needing one and don't want to go the rebuilt route,  I have a ton (literally!) of Turbo Hydramatics at a great price from running cars ($150), but no Hydramatic so I cannot help you. Russ, or Bill or maybe someone else may be able to help you.  Else I can put you on the Wait List.