Transmission non existant

[trout]

Got into the truck this morning, and it wouldn,t shift at all. Lots of fluid, but it seems tainted (maybe slightly burnt).It seemed like it was not shifting into first right when I got home last night. They got it to the shop and said that it was now shifting but the trany oil look burnt.

I use it daily to take people fishing in the mountains (good elevation climb for about an hour everyday). The trany gets HOT, no carpet on the floor so I can feel it through the floor.

Is my trany toast? I try to keep my rpm's down while I am climbing.

Would a trany cooler help in my application?

[JeepBountyHunter]

sounds like a good idea to use a cooler...particularly since you do that 'climb'....tranny may well be toast...but change fluids, redo the filter and add an additive like slick 50 before giving up on it..and it wouldn't hurt to try a trans cooler...
I'm sure someone more expereinced will chime in here?

[trout]

Wow, there might be hope for it!?

I sure would hate to have a meltdown way in the bush with a tour though!

I'm more than a little concerned...

[gsmikie]

Would a trany cooler help in my application? .....get the biggest cooler you can fit and run it in series with the rad as for trans condition have the pressures read that will tell you the condition of the trans what year/model trans ?????

[trout]

The truck an 81 wagoneer, I think it's stock? Does that give you enough info?

[gsmikie]

have the pressures read that will tell you the condition of the trans

[JeepKahn]

Also, "keeping the rpms down when climbing" is NOT what you want to do... The tranny relies on rpms to build pressure to hold the clutches together and without eough of them(rpms) the bands/clutches will continually be slipping and creating mondo heat and wear issues...

[Zacko]

Your original post says it won't shift into first gear. If the thing just won't go it is a little worse than just fluid. Could be a plugged filter, plugged line or cooler. But without dropping the pan you won't really know. Pull the pan and look for chunks. If the filter looks plugged up that could be your problem. There has to be enough oil volume to keep things going.
If you see an inordinate amount of guck in the pan you may have larger issues.

[dandy]

I have adjusted the bands on my 81 wagoneer when it wouldn't move. It worked great and its been 2 years now. The job is easy , but you do need a inch pound torque wrench, I bought one on ebay for 10 bucks.

[letank]

add the cooler..... change fluid and filter... and ask them to run the system with one of the cooling line disconnect so they can "flush" more trany oil.... the converter has about 6 quarts..... When you remove the pan.... you only replace 3 quarts (about) so you still have 6 quarts of burnt oil.

do you have low range, you could improve cooling by using low range, of course then your max speed is 15 to 20 mph..... and yes the trany will be hot... no matter what..... the only time the trany is cold... is when off or in alaska....

Michel

[trout]

Well it looks as though the tranny is coming out. I really appreciate all the advice on how I might be able to fix it. My situation is, if it breaks down while I'm in the bush 25 miles (with 4 clients) I'm screwed.

So when I am gaining altitude steadily is it correct to keep the tranny in low, and progress at 20 kmp. Or should I keep it in drive at listen to it shift up and down the whole time.

It takes me at least an hour to get to the closest lakes I deal with. The biggest cooler I can find is going in asap. In fron of the rad, but not rigged in series with the rad, is this OK?

[gsmikie]

run it in series with the rad

[trout]

Why in series, wouldn't it be cooler independently?

[gsmikie]

its cooler and more stabile in series the rad helps the trans warm up and to stabileize the temp a cooler alone will fluxuwait the temp