90XLT4_0
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2023
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 1
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
- Vehicle Year
- 1990
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Transmission
- Automatic
Hey guys. New here. Had a rude awakening yesterday with an otherwise nice Ranger I just got!
Picked up for dad a couple weeks ago. 1990, 4.0 V6, Auto, 2WD, reg cab, XLT. It replaces a 1982 Datsun that we got our money out of, to put it lightly.
I got it from the original owner who bought new in January 1990. On the plus side, truck is extremely original, clean, runs great, drives great. 143k. Paid $2000.
We put a can of r134a in yesterday. Truck has not had running A/C in 25 years. 15 minutes later we got out of the truck and saw the transmission dumping lots of ATF out from between engine and bellhousing. Long story short, AC on causes the transmission to spew like a geyser. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Let it cool down and run it with the AC off, dry as a bone. Not a drop.
Basically I assume this means that the torque converter bushing and/or front pump seal are marginal, and the added heat from the AC is just enough to push them over the edge. Does this sound right?
Note that the condenser is right next to the trans cooler and got extremely hot with the AC on—to the point that the hood prop rod was unusually scalding.
Note that engine does not overheat with OR without AC on. Runs at low end of normal on gage, temps as shot with IR gun (AC off): 202 at hot side of rad, 172 at cold side of rad, 185 at water pump/engine block.
Note that rear transmission seal just replaced very shortly before I got the truck. It had sprung a sudden, massive leak itself. You can still see the aftermath on the floor pan.
Note this is in Georgia, July so hot ambient temps.
Without running the AC, we used the truck for moving furniture today and had no problem. At the end of the day I sent dad home with it and told him to keep an eye on it. AC is a moot point now anyways since a can only lasts 24 hours in it and it's now second in line for issues needing resolution.
Picked up for dad a couple weeks ago. 1990, 4.0 V6, Auto, 2WD, reg cab, XLT. It replaces a 1982 Datsun that we got our money out of, to put it lightly.
I got it from the original owner who bought new in January 1990. On the plus side, truck is extremely original, clean, runs great, drives great. 143k. Paid $2000.
We put a can of r134a in yesterday. Truck has not had running A/C in 25 years. 15 minutes later we got out of the truck and saw the transmission dumping lots of ATF out from between engine and bellhousing. Long story short, AC on causes the transmission to spew like a geyser. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Let it cool down and run it with the AC off, dry as a bone. Not a drop.
Basically I assume this means that the torque converter bushing and/or front pump seal are marginal, and the added heat from the AC is just enough to push them over the edge. Does this sound right?
Note that the condenser is right next to the trans cooler and got extremely hot with the AC on—to the point that the hood prop rod was unusually scalding.
Note that engine does not overheat with OR without AC on. Runs at low end of normal on gage, temps as shot with IR gun (AC off): 202 at hot side of rad, 172 at cold side of rad, 185 at water pump/engine block.
Note that rear transmission seal just replaced very shortly before I got the truck. It had sprung a sudden, massive leak itself. You can still see the aftermath on the floor pan.
Note this is in Georgia, July so hot ambient temps.
Without running the AC, we used the truck for moving furniture today and had no problem. At the end of the day I sent dad home with it and told him to keep an eye on it. AC is a moot point now anyways since a can only lasts 24 hours in it and it's now second in line for issues needing resolution.