Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) transmission Woes

[guntruck]

I just went to Canada and back monday and tuesday night I returned, the next day my transmission was slipping bad. I checked and the transmission line that has the transmission temp sensor on it is the problem. It is leaking where it goes into the transmission itself, its not the line its the fitting in the transmission it screws onto. Now the transmission was just rebuilt like 20,000 miles ago. Does this fitting tighten up or is it broke and im screwed?



Thx for any info.

 

[SRehberg]

Are you sure it's the fitting where it screws into the trans case and not the quick connect fitting itself (if you still have the quick connects)? If it is the fitting into the case, and this is the first time it has started to leak, has it been hit by working on it or something flying up under the truck along the trip? I would back the fitting out, check it and the case for damage, then apply sealant to the threads and reinstall if all looks o. k. If the case is cracked, then you have a bigger problem. If you have the quick connect fittings still in place, it's time to upgrade to the hard fittings and be done with the troublesome little buggers once and for all. In fact, the dealer will not sell you any replacement quick connects, so that should tell us something. Good luck.

 

[guntruck]

Yes sir, the hard fittings have been installed long ago. It looks as though the fitting is cracked or something, I dont remember anything hitting it or maybe I wasnt aware but when I push up on the line it leaks worse when I pull down it almost stops. I wasnt sure if the fitting was molded into the case or if it unscrews, I will now go out and undo it and inspect, thx for the quick reply, much appreciated, have a great day .

 

[SRehberg]

Hope it is something simple, just loose etc. Is the fitting a flare style as they are when upgraded from the dealer, or are they a compression fitting? I have heard of some of the compression fittings having cracking/breaking issues. Either way, I hope it is uneventful and an easy fix. Good luck.

 

[guntruck]

Well it was the brass fitting in the transmission, it seems when they re-hooked up the lines maybe one of the gorillas there cranked a turn too much and twisted the brass fitting in the transmission and it just now broke, I guess from thr transmission torquing and finishing it off. Dealer is closed for snow and also tomorrow(sunday) no one has the part, very close but not what I need, so now I wait with no damn truck, oh well as you said it could be worse eh? Have a good one bro.....

 

[SRehberg]

I'm glad it wasn't anymore serious, but I hate the fact they use fittings that aren't readily available from other sources. I paid $25 each at the dealer for each one of those puppies that screws into the trans; any other fitting of same size through Napa is about $1. 98!



I know how you feel about the "gorillas" on the fitting, they stripped 7 pan bolts in my trans with a air wrench. You would think after the first strip, they would put it together maybe air wrenches and these smaller bolts into aluminum is a bad combo.



Good luck getting the part quickly.

 

[Joe G.]

Air wrench on transmission pan bolts? The only way guys like that could work on my truck would be after the fight. Sometimes the pan bolts strip even if you do it right with a torque wrench. I have three of them on my truck that have heli-coil inserts that stripped before the torque wrench clicked. Air wrench!!!!

 

[Lsfarm]

Hate to tell you

Hey Guntruck, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you leaked most of the ATF out of the trans to the point that is was slipping you probably did a fair amount of damage to the clutches in the trans. If you drove very far with the trans slipping then significant damage was done.



You may be lucky and get away with a filter change and fresh ATF. But be aware that a loss of ATF is sort of like us loosing all of our blood, the machinery doesn't work too well without it.



I hope you are able to get back on the road without another overhaul.



Take care, Greg L

 

[guntruck]

Greg what I meant by slipping was it first strts shifting funny then starts slipping. It never slipped bad I noticed just a hare of slippage in first gear, I then immediately filled her up which took 2 qts, so hopefully its ok. Thx

 

[Lsfarm]

Hope so

Hey Guntruck, it sounds like you may have caught it soon enough, I hope so, it would be a pain to have to go through the trans again.



I've go my fingers crossed for you!! Let us know how it works out.



Greg L The Noise Nazi

 

[guntruck]

Just fixed the transmission and all is well, so far. The repair went well, a little hard to get to but its fixed and no leaks. It drives real nice, I do have a shift kit and it shifts nice and strong, thanks for the info.