Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Auto Trans questions

[GRW]

Well it may be the begining of the end

I bought the truck knowing that the trans would sooner or latter go.

I am not sure if she is just picky or going south.

When the fluid gets a low (half a quart) she hesitates.

Topped it off and it seemed to take care of the problem.

But my wife is complaning again (same type of problem)

We have put maybe 2000 miles on it and she is acting up again (last top off).

One of the problems is trying to check the trans hot.

Can't seem to get it hot, we were on the road about an hour this afternoon.

Luke warm at the best (to the touch).

If she is coming to the end of her life (hope not).

There is alot of threads on the subject.

All of them with two sides (always).

What are the pro's/con's on whats on the market (just the facts, don't want it to get personal)?

I know I don't want to stay with the stock trans.

One of the factors will be location (I would prefer to be able to do this in person) not over the phone.

I know I may be out of luck, but I am going to try.

By the way the truck is a 98 12V auto 4X4 LB QC, stock.



Thanks Gary

 

[SEmerson]

You are so close to DTT it would be ashame to not go there.

 

[KYLE4]

Check out www.bd-power.com they offer 100k warranty with their transmissions I am a vendor of theirs

 

[Lsfarm]

Saving your Trans

Hello Gary. You can probably save your trans for awhile. Auto transmissions live on ATF, not repairing a leak and running the trans low on ATF is a sure recipe for killing the trans.



First where is it leaking ATF?? A trans should not have any leaks, and if it does, the leak is probably the pan being loose or having a bad gasket. Try tightening the pan bolts, Don't crank 'em down, you can crush the gasket or worse strip the threads in the trans case. Just snug 'em up, if it is leaking you will usually find a few bolts finger-tight. If the bolts are all tight, and the pan is leaking, then it needs at least a new gasket.



If you need to replace the gasket, I would recommend buying a MagHytec trans pan, changing the filter and adjusting the 2nd gear band at the same time. The MagHytec pan holds more fluid, and you will eventually need the pan with a rebuild anyway. It is a very high quality product.



If you don't want to buy a new pan, then at the very least keep the trans full of ATF!!! A little over is NOT a problem [1/4" overfull is OK]. But running a trans low, especially with the stock pan's marginal capacity is going to kill your trans very fast. Our transmissions have to be overfull by about 1" on the stick to be in danger of the fluid level hitting rotating parts and foaming. If the fluid level is even 1/4" below the full mark, then your trans can starve for fluid on steep inclines.



With a pure stock engine, and not towing heavy, the stock trans is good for a lot of miles, but of course they are pretty boring miles. Since you are so close to DTT I would of course recommend talking with them and maybe going up for a visit.



I hope this helps, feel free to PM me with questions Greg L

 

[Cooker]

If you do not want to spend the money on a real transmission quite yet it might be worth looking at solving the problem with the stocker. Where is the fluid leaking from? Does it drive well when the fluid is topped off?

 

[Howard Durand]

It is not far from Everett to Abbotsford. Go up and talk to Bill at DTT and the folks at BD as well.

I wouldn't suggest that anyone cheat Christine or Dino out of their sales tax but it is something to think about.

 

[JKaltenheuser]

Check your transmission lines, sometimes they will vibrate together and rub holes in eachother causing your transmission to leak fluid slowly.



John





'98 12 valve 2500 4x4 club cab short box with a stock automatic, Isspro transmission temp, boost, and exhaust temp gauges on the pillar, K&N filter, Mag-Hytec 727-D transmission pan, 4" straight pipe , Alpine alarm, Pioneer stereo, and 285 BFG all terrains on series 145 Eagle alloys

 

[GRW]

Well as of yet I have not found a leak. Other than an oil leak.

I don't drive it, my wife does so it's a little harder to tell.

The only time I have had it slip was when it was low (1/2 quart).

But my wife said it is acting the same again, I have not.

But I only drive it on Sunday & once in a while on Saturday

As I do not head north that often I did not know DTT was close.

I am note sure how close they are, I will give them a call on Monday.

I hope to get a chance to look it over this week.

Thanks for the help & if I find out more I will reply to your posts.

 

[ChadHarlan]

Carefull. Too much slipping will glaze the converter clutch and you will be looking at a new converter.

 

[Snow man]

Definetly call DTT,you have arguably one of the best,(IMO the best) hi performance trans builders in North America in your back yard.

 

[Stefan Kondolay]

It takes me about 1 to 1. 5 hours to get from DTT shop to everett, when I'm going to the Mongolian Grill. So if your close to there maybe that would help in telling you how far we are.

 

[SBrandon]

The only time I have had it slip was when it was low (1/2 quart).

A 1/2 quart low is like a grain of salt gone out of a salt shaker, Im sorry to say that most likely you have answered your own question "the begining of the end" your transmission is shot.



You defininitely need to find the leak, a good spot to look is under the motor where the lines come up and over the cross memeber. the lines there are held up by cheap plastic holders that over time prove effective for failing. If there is a small hole now its only a matter of time and the trans pressure will make a big hole and then alot of :{ will be happening.

 

[Lsfarm]

Not correct

A transmission pan is flat, and during acceleration, deceleration and cornering, the ATF sloshes around a lot. If the fluid level is low, even 1/2 quart, it is easy to have the filter suck air and this will cause the trans line pressure to drop and the clutches to let loose and slip.



Most oil pans on engines are set up with a deep sump where it takes a lot of g's or a very low oil level to uncover the oil pump pickup, the stock trans pan is not designed like that. Only the double deep MagHytec pan has an extra deep sump and can support a low ATF level.



So if you have a leak find it, and keep the ATF level full. If you have run it low too many times, then the clutches are probably burnt up and a rebuild/upgrade is in the future.



I see wierd shifting and other symptoms all the time turn out to be low ATF level with the stock pan.



Greg L