1991 Ford Ranger XLT Automatic Transmission Fluid HELP!

[Superbanki87]

Ok, here's the deal. I got a '91 Ford Ranger XLT a couple weeks ago that has been sitting for at least a year. There are a TON of problems with it, such as the ignition has been bypassed so it doesn't need a key, the wipers, radio and most likely other things are wired so that the vehicle does not need to be on for them to have power, etc.

But my major issue currently is my Automatic transmission is not working anymore. It was slipping for a bit and today, while driving it just cut out on me. I was able to push/coast it in neutral back home. I didn't think of checking the Transmission fluid earlier, but the engine oil is fine. When I went to check the Transmission fluid, I couldn't find a dipstick, or a reservoir. I had a friend buy me a Haynes manual for it, but after searching through it, and looking at the engine, I seriously cannot figure out where the reservoir is.

I feel like a complete idiot, and my knowledge of cars really is at a basic level. Can someone please, please, please, tell/take a picture of and show me where the reservoir/dipstick should be for the transmission fluid?

 

[monsterchuck]

All I can say is that the trans dipstick should be on the passenger side, towards the firewall. All of the Rangers I've had were the three-pedal version, so I can't give you an exact spot to look. It should have a yellow plastic ring on the end of the dipstick itself, or a black t-handle labeled "TRANS". There should be no resivoir.

 

[Superbanki87]

Well in that case I am somehow missing a dipstick, if there is no reservoir, where do I add Transmission fluid too? I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, but I honestly cannot figure it out for the life of me, and I don't have the funds to take the truck somewhere to be looked at.

 

[kunar]

the reservoir is in the pan on the transmission, there is no external reservoir. you generally add fluid through the dipstick tube. normally on an auto trans, the tube is quite a bit bigger diameter than the engine oil dipstick tube is. like chuck, ive never owned an automatic ranger, so i cant say any of this with certainty. take a pic of your engine bay for us?

 

[Superbanki87]

I just went out to take one, but I couldn't get good enough light with my flashlights, I will take one first thing in the morning! Thank you!

 

[HAPPY+RANGER+GUY]

What engine do you have?
4 cylinder
6 cylinder?

Yes you're going to be looking for a vertical tube that goes downward in the direction of the transmission...you could start at the transmission and trace it up to the engine bay from there I suppose.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Straight back from the oil cap....see the black plastic T handle with the yellow writing? That's the trans dipstick. You check it hot idling in park. It should be in the crosshatched area.

 

[Rangurr]

Straight back from the oil cap....see the black plastic T handle with the yellow writing? That's the trans dipstick. You check it hot idling in park. It should be in the crosshatched area.

It doesn't hurt to run shift the transmission through each of the gears for about 3 seconds each before putting it in park to check. Also, make sure the truck is level when you do it.

 

[adsm08]

Also, in 1991 the trans dipstick may be a white metal ring, instead of the yellow metal or black plastic already mentioned.

 

[Superbanki87]

Ok, I just took a few pictures, I'm guessing where the arrow is pointed is where there should be the dipstick? Because I'm pretty sure there shouldn't be an open hole there. It is a 6 cylinder engine.

Here are some other pictures of the engine.

And here is the link to the album, in case these photos are unviewable for some reason.

http://s297.photobucket.com/user/Relicpuregood/library/91 Ranger XLT

 

[Mark_88]

You might want to check the passenger side a bit more...that's where the one on my old 2.9 was...near the firewall...

An added check is to look down the radiator on the passenger side...you should see two tubes connected to the rad...a bit bigger than brake lines and usually metal...these would be your transmission lines...check to see if there is any fluid leaking around these...the fluid will almost always be red in colour...if you see any drips of it under the truck it could be why you are losing fluid...

I would not recommend trying to loosen them at this point because they do tend to snap or damage the rad if not removed carefully...but if you crawl under the truck you can also trace the tubes running from the transmission to the front of the truck...two of them will be the cooling lines...one should be the dipstick tube...

 

[monsterchuck]

Okay, let's see if I can help now. I'm referencing the last picture you have posted. Look at the oil fill cap, now look straight behind it. There is a thing that looks like an oversized hot dog made of black plastic. I can guarantee with 99% certainty that your transmission dipstick will be within 6 inches of that hot dog thing. If there isn't one there, you need to crawl under the truck and make sure there is in fact a dipstick tube installed, yours may have been removed for some odd reason.

 

[Superbanki87]

Okay, let's see if I can help now. I'm referencing the last picture you have posted. Look at the oil fill cap, now look straight behind it. There is a thing that looks like an oversized hot dog made of black plastic. I can guarantee with 99% certainty that your transmission dipstick will be within 6 inches of that hot dog thing. If there isn't one there, you need to crawl under the truck and make sure there is in fact a dipstick tube installed, yours may have been removed for some odd reason.

That helped perfectly! The dipstick was, for some reason. almost a foot underneath and slightly to the left of that HotDog thing. Well, I have plenty of Transmission fluid, I started the truck up and had it running for about 10 minutes, shifting through the gears. Reverse caught, but then slipped out again after about 10 seconds, none of the other gears would catch though.

Any thoughts on this? Looks like I'll have to take it to the shop, as messing around with the transmission is way out of my league/comfort zone.

 

[Andy D]

What color was the ATF on the stick?

 

[adsm08]

Before giving up and taking it to a shop try this.

Crawl under the truck and find the vacuum line that is hooked to the trans. Pull it off. If fluid comes running out head down to the parts store and get yourself a new vacuum modulator. It is a fairly common failure and can cause the symptoms that you describe.