Transmission problem?

[arob498]

I have a 1990 Ford Ranger 2wheel drive with a 4.0L V6 and auto transmission. A couple weeks ago the engine overheated causing the transmission to over heat. In turn the transmission dumped most of its oil. I had a transmission mechanic look at the transmission and he could not find any leaks. He filled the fluid and ran the truck for a while and could not detect any leaks.

Has anyone else ever experienced this? What should i be looking at as the resolution?

Confussed!!

 

[Explorin94]

Mine used to do that until I added another cooler inline with the factory transmission cooler. What happened was the ATF got hot and so to speak warped the body of the transmission just enough to make the front seal leak. The bell housing of the A4LD is a structural part of the transmission housing the front seal for the transmission. The body of the transmission became hot and misaligned the front seal from the torque convertor just enough to leak and cause the problem you had. Look into another transmission cooler and you should be fine.

 

[AgPete139]

Whoa. Good to know. Good information to add.

About 4 Long Drives... where did you mount your cooler, Explorin?

 

[deathcyte]

When the engine overheated it overheated the trans fluid, (and expanded) then it either came out the overflow tube at the top of the trans, (yes there is one) and/or your front seal got soft, from the hot fluid and it leaked from there to. If your trans no longer leaks and operates fine I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Explorin94]

Whoa. Good to know. Good information to add.

About 4 Long Drives... where did you mount your cooler, Explorin?

Pete all I did was add the other one right next to the factory cooler as you are looking at it it will be to the left. There should be enough hose that you can either cut and reuse the factory hose or install new if you chose. I looped the new hose under and through the shield by drilling some more holes in the shield. So basically I just added more rows for the existing cooler.

When the engine overheated it overheated the trans fluid, (and expanded) then it either came out the overflow tube at the top of the trans, (yes there is one) and/or your front seal got soft, from the hot fluid and it leaked from there to. If your trans no longer leaks and operates fine I wouldn't worry about it.

I have only one time ever see the transmission fluid come out the over flow tube on the top of the transmission. Not saying it didn't though. I will bet you that if he goes out, crawls under the truck and looks he will possibly see that it was leaking from the front seal. The front seal may have gone soft as you speak but I doubt it as it is designed to hold up to the heat of the transmission. Like I said the body of the transmission became distorted from the bell housing which houses the front seal and is also bolted to a firm surface (the engine block). This is a come problem with these A4LD's when they get hot. The biggest killer of automatic transmissions is heat and the only way to be proactive is to install another way to cool it, like adding another cooler like I staed to do. Cause I don't agree that if it no longer leaks and operates fine it won't do it again. Adding another cooler to any auto transmission adds life to that said transmission.