I posted a thread a few days ago before I bought the truck, Well since I've bought it I've never been able to pinpoint what the problem is.

When I go get in it and start it I can drive it fine for a mile or two and then it just seems to kick out of gear and the transmission either just slips, or goes out of gear.

I can shut it off, go back a few hours later and do the same thing.

When I bought it it was a quart low on transmission fluid, I put one in it. Drove around the block and it was messing up again so I parked it in the shop. The next day it was a quart low again but it doesnt appear to be leaking, maybe just a drip here and there so I filled it again.

When the transmission hooks up it seems to be fine, it doesn't slip or anything and shifts at the right rpm and smoothly too.

I need to get this truck going ASAP but I dont wanna get ahead of myself until I can figure out what is going on.

I would appreciate any suggestions or information you could give me.

Thanks,

 

Are you sure the transmission wasn't more than a quart low the first time? It can be a quart low in the pan but missing more through all the lines and valves. You need to go through all the gears to make sure it hass flowed through every passageway and then check it again.

If it is actually leaking, you need to pinpoint that leak! Have you checked the cooler lines?

 

I had a 92 v6 Auto that did the same thing. My transmission cooler had clogged up (stock ones are too small) and blew out overdrive and the rest were slipping. The complete rebuild and bigger cooler cost me $2200.

Take it to a tranny shop ASAP before it gets worse.

 

I mean I couldnt be positive it wasnt more than a quart low, I drove it for about 5 minutes and checked it so it could have been more than one quart low to begin with.

It seems to be dripping from the front pump seal, other than that I dont see any leaks. I guess I'll continue to shift it through the gears just rocking it back and forth and maybe it will go ahead circulate fluid through it all.

 

Just keep in mind that when it comes to something like the pump, it could be dripping on your driveway and pouring out going down the road when the pump is really being pushed!

But 92KotaRT4x4 makes a good point! The factory cooler is too small but more importantly, the check valves are notorious for clogging up!! Most people just straight up remove that valve so it can never cause a problem.

 

Okay I got it out again today, while its running it just slightly drips, I've had people follow me and watch for leaking and looked myself and it is just a constant drip every 5-7 minutes. I drove it again today about a half mile and i had it in 4Lo but it ran and seemed to drive fine but was slightly hesitant to shift, it seemed like it was trying to shift at too high of an rpm but I havent driven it in low before so Maybe ~3k or a little higher is where it is supposed to shift, but then I let off the gas to slow down for a stop and it just unlocked like I put it in neutral again. I got out and checked the fluid again and it shows a quart over full today when yesterday it showed a quart under after I drove it.

It cant be the transmission itself with these symptoms can it? I've never seen a transmission go out and then work again after it cools off..

Could the cooler being plugged make the fluid back up into the transmission and show overfulll and cause it to drive like this? It seems logical

 

Any of that is possible. Does the fluid look or smell burnt to you?

Why were you driving around in 4lo? The only times you should ever use 4 lo is if you're offroad and want to A) crawl or B) climb a very steep hill or if you are onroad and trying to pull someone out of a ditch or similar situation.

 

Transmission and Tcase are 2 different things. Where does it seam like the leak is coming from? Oil line? Gasket?

 

The fluid looks and smells good to me, no burnt smell or anything unusual on the dipstick.

It was in 4lo because you guys havent seen the driveway to my shop and when I made it out of the driveway I didnt want to stop, and risk it stopping on its own.

It seems to be leaking from the front pump seal on the transmission, but Like I said, not leaking seriously.

 

95_318:

The check valve you are talking about, is it in the line or in the cooler?

I am adding an aftermarket cooler today and doing a fluid and filter change to see if that helps my problem any.

I'm sure it cant hurt either way..I'll only be out 6 bucks for the filter kit plus the fluid, It needed a bigger cooler anyway im sure.