Got under it realized I didn't have the right hex size. I will have to go get more of those lol.


There was gear oil dripping off the transfer case and engine oil everywhere. Pretty nasty down there. I guess I didn't see much of the engine oil before because of the deflection shield bit under the engine.

 

yeah they can be messy.... IM following this post.. I am not having any issues like this just like the reading like a good novel! so much suspense!! lol

 

LOL I'm glad someone is enjoying this. Might as well call this a series of unfortunate events!

I got the car warmed up (although I don't see how the transmission fluid would be warmed up without driving the car?) and I got the fill plug out. Nothing came out. I figured at this point I might as well just change the transmission fluid. So I turned the car off without putting the fill plug back in, thinking let me get the pain and get the drain plug out too. Well now there is transmission fluid EVERYWHERE lol.

Oh and this transmission fluid is PITCH BLACK. Here are some pics. Definitely needs a change. Should I do the filter too?

I assume this will work

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Automatic-Tr...9ccaab&vxp=mtr

 

Definitely do the filter too.

Hopefully that will fix your problem. It definitely might.

 

-No, I would not change the filter but that's your call. Changing the filter will allow you to swap out more old fluid but I have heard problems with people not being able to put the full amount back in after changing the filter. I think it has something to do with the pump losing it's prime.
I personally would fill the truck back up and run it around for a few days then do another drain and refill. It might take 2 or 3 drains and refills until the fluid being drained looks pink instead of dark red, but it will slowly swap out all of the fluid.

-The fill plug needs to be reinstalled before you shut off the engine or the fluid will drain out like that.

-Just to be clear you do not want to check the fluid warm. You want it to be as stone cold as possible. The fact that no fluid came out even after it was warm tells you that it was really low.
When you add the fluid back into the transmission you want to get it in there as fast as possible. Transmission fluid expands as it warms up, so if you take to long filling it up the fluid will expand and come out making you think it's full. I would put as much in as possible, let it cool for 2 hours then start it and check to see if it can take any more fluid.

 

Okay, that's easier for me anyway. I'll do a refill tomorrow and I'll see if it drives any better.

 

That ATF and filter looks like it's never been changed in 130K miles. My guess is it's burnt clutches in that fluid by the previous owners lack of maintenance. I would refill with ATF first strictly following the RAVE manual run the truck for a few miles then recheck the ATF and top up, again strictly following the RAVE manual. Then completely drain and refill with new ATF once again as per the RAVE manual. If it still gives any problems after that then take it to an autobox specialist shop and get them to check it out. Once an autobox is stuffed it becomes a real PITA as you probably already know.

 

I think I would buy a case of fluid and a filter and go with the multiple fluid changes. fill it see if its any better at all and then dump the pan after 30-minute, repeat and then change the filter and hope for the best.

 

I'm curious how this turned out. I have not yet changed the transmission oil in my car. I'm dragging my feet about it since I've read that sometimes it can cause more problems on certain automatic transmissions if they are old and it has never been changed.

 

that can be true especially if it looks like the fluid above, but your choices are to leave it until you need a $4k trans. or try and change it out slowly.

the one thing you don't want to do is flush it with one of those quick lube machines.

they tend to clean it to quickly, so quick that pieces of crud break off and start blocking the valve body as opposed to the slow process where hopefully the crud dissolved and carried out with the fluid.

jmo