A4LD transmission problems/questions

[samx227]

tranny was slipping and not engaging and on hills the truck would refuse to go up at a certain point and the engine would just rev out, but when i got it back to flat or downhill surface it would perform just fine but with its intermittent slips from 2nd to third and then third to fourth. and so i checked my fluid level and it was barely on the dipstick.. yeah that was bad. i figured the truck had not been maintained very well by the previous owner so i decided to do a drain and fill with a new tranny filter. i pulled the pan expecting it to be filled with metal because it was slipping and what not so bad. there is nothing in the pan at all but the fluid is pretty dark but doesnt smell horrible. there is a metally smell to it but thats it. i am wondering if it was acting up because it was low on fluid, or do you think my torque converter could be going out? will be putting new filter in and new tranny pan gasket and then a gallon of fresh mercon on tuesday.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Moved to the appropriate section of the forum.

Yes, low fluid sounds like the cause of your problems. When it is low and you are going up a hill, the fluid moves away from the pickup tube and the pump cavitates. No fluid in the pump = no clutch engagement = transmission slipping.

Put some fresh fluid in and see how it does. Hopefully you have not caused too much internal damage.

 

[samx227]

thank you for moving it to the correct section.. sorry bout that,
and also thank you very much for your info, will do these things and will post the results!

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Try and locate the leak if it is dripping out the bell housing you will need to pull the tranny. No metal flakes in the oil is a good sign but the black comes from the clutches and bands. If it has any trouble shifting clean or slipping haveing it rebuilt or swapping in a rebuilt will keep you from getting stranded.

 

[samx227]

the leak was from the trannypan gasket i beleive. there is oil around the bell housing where it connects to the motor but im sure its engine oil leaking from the rear main.

 

[samx227]

so a big bad on my part, my eyes mustve been tired yesterday because today as i was cleaning the pan there was a thick layer of "goop" where the magnet for the pan should be (magnet is not there for some reason) and in the 1/4" layer of goop there was sadly some glitter. i have already purchased everything to do the tranny filter so might as well go ahead and do it and see what happens i guess. Will be swapping over to an M5OD manual trans here soon anyways but would be nice to get a tad more life out of this tranny as i am moving and would be nice to have something to haul my furniture with lol although with a weak tranny its prob not a good idea. oh well

 

[Tedybear]

so a big bad on my part, my eyes mustve been tired yesterday because today as i was cleaning the pan there was a thick layer of "goop" where the magnet for the pan should be (magnet is not there for some reason) and in the 1/4" layer of goop there was sadly some glitter. i have already purchased everything to do the tranny filter so might as well go ahead and do it and see what happens i guess. Will be swapping over to an M5OD manual trans here soon anyways but would be nice to get a tad more life out of this tranny as i am moving and would be nice to have something to haul my furniture with lol although with a weak tranny its prob not a good idea. oh well

First off? Let's not be to alarmed with the goop and glitter. (as a rule) The magnet is doing its normal job and every transmission will have a bit of crud at the bottom, including some metal flakes.

Give it a shot with the new pan gasket and filter. Worse thing that can happen? You'll be at the same point now. Best thing? It might start working normally again. (But I wouldn't do a lot of hauling....if ya know what I mean). (And yes..this comes from a user that has dropped his transmission no less then 4 times....to get a working unit)

Good luck with it!

S-

 

[kimcrwbr1]

There is a drain plug on the torque converter also pull the access cover and drain the old oil out of it also. Just click the key over after you disconnect the coil wire or turn the crank clockwise with a socket. You dont want to turn it ccw if the timing chain is loose you can skip a tooth.

 

[Tedybear]

There is a drain plug on the torque converter also pull the access cover and drain the old oil out of it also. Just click the key over after you disconnect the coil wire or turn the crank clockwise with a socket. You dont want to turn it ccw if the timing chain is loose you can skip a tooth.

Note: Not all the torque converters come with drain plugs. As a suggestion? Use a marker on the flex plate and spin it as recommended. (That way you're not turning it over and over looking for something that may not be there). The A4LD used in ours? The T/C does not have a drain plug, nor did the new T/C we purchased the last time it blew out.

S-

 

[samx227]

no drain plug was found lol. but anyway, thank you all very much for the tips and advice i appreciate it!
i did the filter with a drain and fill and as of right now the truck is driving better than before. grabbing every gear just fine and seems like the tranny is okay. im thinkinge low fluid level has been the problem the whole time. anyway i do keep losing fluid it seems everytime i drive it. maybe i just didnt fill it all the way when i initially did the refill? not sure but there arent any leaks anywhere that i can see under the truck or any seepage from the pan or anywhere near the bell housing.
also just curious if anyone has had any luck or good/bad stories using "lucas transmission fix". if the truck starts to give me problms i have a bottle of it that one of my coworkers recommend i try, and 99% of the reviews i read said it worked..
thanks again to all who chimed in!

 

[Tedybear]

Just an idea. Check your coolant for transmission fluid. As odd as it sounds? Your transmission cooler (well, part of it) uses your radiator. If you've got a leak in the cooler line? It can introduce coolant into your transmission oil, and vice-versa.

(Do it when cold of course....)

S-

 

[samx227]

wow did not even think to check that. hence why i post on here to get insight from others! haha well since i work at a toyota dealership i just get leftover coolant from the techs (so i dont have to buy any) lol and i run their pink 50/50. it will be hard to tell if their is any red it in but i will try. maybe id be able to smell it in the coolant?

 

[Tedybear]

Maybe by sight? It's rare that it happens, as the natural antifreeze will have anti rust agents...(or it's supposed to have. Ever see a rust free water jacket?....same here...)

Might look like oil mixed in with the fluid and have that greasey look to it.

S-

 

[samx227]

by sight was hard because pink coolant and red tranny fluid. lol
i didnt smell nor see tranny fluid so i dont think its leaking there.

 

[Tedybear]

by sight was hard because pink coolant and red tranny fluid. lol
i didnt smell nor see tranny fluid so i dont think its leaking there.

Unhook the vacuum modulator rubber hose from the intake. Hook a vacuum pump with the brake bleeder attachment to it. Give it about 20 inches of vacuum. If the rubber in the modulator is leaky or has a pin hole in the rubber? Your engine vacuum will slowly suck transmission fluid right out the tube and burn it off in the engine. (if it's a real slow one? It might not even smoke much--to the point you might not notice it.)

(if it's bad enough? You might pull the hose off and find transmission fluid without having to use the vacuum pump.)

S-