Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Big transmission problem

[snowracer69]

I had a line break on my transmission cooler yesterday, up front by the radiator. Right where the two steel lines turn back towards the engine and go under the body mount, one of them rubbed through I think and managed to pump most of my transmission fluid out. I easily tracked myself back to where it started leaking and realized it happened just after it shifted into OD after stopping at a stop sign. I then continued to drive it another 4-5 miles or so to my g/f's house, and when I got out there I realized the ENTIRE drivers side of my pickup was COVERED with transmission fluid!



For the last 2 miles or so it wouldn't shift into OD. Temperatures never got hot though, it was still running 150*F when I shut it down.



I'm going to pull the cooler today, and drop the pan as well. Thankfully I'm only 1000 miles shy of 10k on this fluid, so it was needing changed soon anyway. Will call Bill K. or Stefan first thing Monday morning and get their take on it.



My question: How do the lines disconnect there underneath the engine, right by the oil pan? They have retaining clips on them, but once I pull those off, then what?



Pray for me and my DTT. :{



Josh

 

[RDLeader]

I think one runs to the transmission itself, on the drivers side, and the other runs to the heat exchanger on the passenger side. The retaining clips just keep them seperated so that they will not rub one another and create a wear mark/leak.



Roman

 

[snowracer69]

Crisis avoided.



Turns out there is a quick connect between the metal tubing and the rubber hoses that is nothing more than a hose clamped connection. One of those blew apart on me and pumped about 5 qts of fluid out... I'd say there was still 10 left in the pan and torque converter. No extra metal, so no worries.

 

[DTangstrom]

Mine are leaking at that point is there an O ring on those steel tubes that can be replaced.

 

[snowracer69]

no, the rubber line just slips over the steel lines and is hose-clamped on. The steel is flared a little ways down so the clamp has something to hang on to.



I'd just take them apart, clean them up, then put 'em back together and tighten down the hose clamps good and tight.

 

[y-knot]

Sorry to hear about the leaking transmission fluid, hope the fix is easy and quick. Being that automatic trany's work in a very oil friendly environment, and depend on it's lubricating qualities for survival, running one dry is never good. You did some damage,just hopefully it is not terminal. The low temperatures reported to you my the sending unit you installed, were most likely erroneous. For that systems relies on the fluid to transfer the heat for a proper reading. Being that you emptied the reservoir, you also negated your trucks ability to accurately relay the transmissions true temperature, I assurer you those temps were slightly higher then the 150 reading you got.

 

[DTangstrom]

no, the rubber line just slips over the steel lines and is hose-clamped on. The steel is flared a little ways down so the clamp has something to hang on to.



I'd just take them apart, clean them up, then put 'em back together and tighten down the hose clamps good and tight.

I'll try that. I assume I need to use the same disconnect tools that are used for AC systems and fuel lines.

 

[snowracer69]

Not if it's the steel lines that come right off the transmission cooler up front by the radiator. there are two short lines, about 8-10" long that have two rubber lines just pushed on to them... they are then hose-clamped down onto the metal lines. If you are talking about the other connections, more towards the oil pan, then I can't help, as I haven't taken them apart.