YACT: Now Transmission Problems? (99 Explorer XLS)

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GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
Originally posted by: galvanizedyankee


A courteous phone call. They just might be embarrassed enough to offer some solution.

Call them first. They will probably tell you to tighten the fitting, top off the trans, see how it drives,

then have it serviced and checked over real good, including all of their previous work. Good luck :)

Yeah, courteousy was not the issue... you get nowhere by throwing a fit. I'm sure they'll just tell me exactly what you said. I'll probably have someone check it afterwards.

Hopefully I'll be able to have dad take me to some place I can buy transmission fluid tomorrow morning, and I'll obviously tighten the fitting.
 

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: amdforever2
don't drive it

that will just make it worse





and
why are you shifting between first, second, and DRIVE
its obviously auto

moving between first second and drive in an auto does nothing
those first and second things just cap the highest gear at first and second respectively
thats it

in my truck i can hear solenoids activating when you move between the low gears.

but thanks for coming out.
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
It looks like my luck MAY have turned.

Tonight was the first night I've been able to go out and examine the truck when it hasn't been raining out (and consequently, everything being wet). It looks like the line that goes from the transmission to the radiator was not properly tightened... opened the hood and saw tranny fluid spraying everywhere.

I have no idea what it is I saw on the dipstick this morning, cause the tranny fluid that was being flung was bright red.

Bright red transmission fluid is a good sign. Are you sure you weren't checking the engine oil? (That's a darker brown color unless it's brand new oil.) The trans dipstick would be located near the firewall (the rear of the engine compartment, where the transmission on a RWD/4WD truck is), and sometimes it's a little difficult to find. The engine oil dipstick is located nearer to the front of the engine. If it was your engine oil you were checking, it sounds like that may be a little low too, but keep in mind that engine oil is always supposed to be checked after the engine has been off for at least a few minutes. If that hasn't been changed in more than 3000-4000 miles, it should be taken care of. If it does turn out to be low, add some. The difference between the high and the low marks on the engine oil dipstick as a general rule is one quart. (For the transmission fluid dipstick, it's usually half a quart, though I've seen exceptions.)
 

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Bright red transmission fluid is a good sign. Are you sure you weren't checking the engine oil? (That's a darker brown color unless it's brand new oil.) The trans dipstick would be located near the firewall (the rear of the engine compartment, where the transmission on a RWD/4WD truck is), and sometimes it's a little difficult to find. The engine oil dipstick is located nearer to the front of the engine. If it was your engine oil you were checking, it sounds like that may be a little low too, but keep in mind that engine oil is always supposed to be checked after the engine has been off for at least a few minutes. If that hasn't been changed in more than 3000-4000 miles, it should be taken care of. If it does turn out to be low, add some. The difference between the high and the low marks on the engine oil dipstick as a general rule is one quart. (For the transmission fluid dipstick, it's usually half a quart, though I've seen exceptions.)

I'm sorry, I just burst out laughing! :)

Yes, I know the difference between the engine oil and the transmission fluid - and just to make sure I was right, it's stamped in huge letters on top of the dipsticks.

The engine oil is due to be changed in about 300 miles... was changed 2700 miles ago.

I've done basic maintenance on farm tractors, vehicles, etc., but most of the time I just know it because I know it - I have no knowledge of how the things work, why they do what they do, etc. Nor do I really care, as long as it works. But yeah, I can identify most of the major components of a vehicle, and I can certainly tell the difference between fluids as different as transmission fluid and engine oil.

And no, I didn't take that offensively, nor did I mean anything in this post offensively. ;)
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Bright red transmission fluid is a good sign. Are you sure you weren't checking the engine oil? (That's a darker brown color unless it's brand new oil.) The trans dipstick would be located near the firewall (the rear of the engine compartment, where the transmission on a RWD/4WD truck is), and sometimes it's a little difficult to find. The engine oil dipstick is located nearer to the front of the engine. If it was your engine oil you were checking, it sounds like that may be a little low too, but keep in mind that engine oil is always supposed to be checked after the engine has been off for at least a few minutes. If that hasn't been changed in more than 3000-4000 miles, it should be taken care of. If it does turn out to be low, add some. The difference between the high and the low marks on the engine oil dipstick as a general rule is one quart. (For the transmission fluid dipstick, it's usually half a quart, though I've seen exceptions.)

I'm sorry, I just burst out laughing! :)

Yes, I know the difference between the engine oil and the transmission fluid - and just to make sure I was right, it's stamped in huge letters on top of the dipsticks.

The engine oil is due to be changed in about 300 miles... was changed 2700 miles ago.

I've done basic maintenance on farm tractors, vehicles, etc., but most of the time I just know it because I know it - I have no knowledge of how the things work, why they do what they do, etc. Nor do I really care, as long as it works. But yeah, I can identify most of the major components of a vehicle, and I can certainly tell the difference between fluids as different as transmission fluid and engine oil.

And no, I didn't take that offensively, nor did I mean anything in this post offensively. ;)

Right on. Just checking. :)

You must admit that a huge lot of self-proclaimed geeks need to "geek" up on their automotive knowledge though. I'm glad you're not one of them. ;)
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
91
Originally posted by: amdforever2
don't drive it

that will just make it worse





and
why are you shifting between first, second, and DRIVE
its obviously auto

moving between first second and drive in an auto does nothing
those first and second things just cap the highest gear at first and second respectively
thats it

Um, WRONG. Placing a Ford tranny in 2nd engages it in 2nd. In other words, if you put it in 2nd, that's the only gear it will use until you change it. It will start out in 2nd and stay there. It doesn't "cap the highest gear".
Some GM trannys work this way, too. My 99 Tahoe does.