Rats! My Trannys Bleeding.

[Brian]

Hi fellers,

I think I hurt my tranny. On Saturday, I was driving along and my engine stalled. I pull over and there was oil all in the engine conpartment. Turned out to be a tranny cooler to the radiator hose came loose. I reconnected it and added about 5 quarts of cherry juice. It ran fine all day Sunday. This morning gonig to a job at the end of the world the tranny started slipping. I added more tranny fluid and pulled into my friends garage. Up on the lift with the engine running the tranny fluid was leaking out between the the bell housing and tranny. He said front seal. No big thing. He flat bedded me home.

I called a tranny man and he want's to rebuild and install a new T/C for $1700.00. I was hoping for a quick fix. I know there is none.

I love my Bronco, but is it time for the bone yard? With a good tranny it's worth maybe $1500.00. Plus I need a 4X4 and most trucks here are run hard and put away wet.

I need a honest evaluation.

Thanks

Brian

 

[Justshootme84]

Go to another tranny shop and have them replace the front seal. The seal costs a bout $6/$7, but labor to pull and re-install the tranny+t-case will run about $300. I have a saying when it comes to tranny shops: Two will gouge you and want to rebuild it, the third one will only fix what you need. JSM84

 

[noahsdad86]

Not that I know much about trnasmissions but if that is your only problem then it is still alot cheaper than a new vehicle. I know the feeling when you think you are in a money pit but looks at the big pic, a down payment for a new car later and your bronco will be up and running again. Unless it is a cheap fix, never give up never surrender.

 

[Broncobill78]

Man, that's a bitch. You can flip the coin on this one. Those E4od's aren't cheap to rebuild but with it done you'll get an easy 150K-200K from it of you add a good cooler and take proper care of it. Don't ever let anyone fool you, it's NEVER cheaper to buy a new car than to fix one your already own.

If you choose to forsake the rebuild JSM84 is dead-nuts rights, there's a good chance you can simply replace the seal & be done with it since it sounds like you kept the fluid level up and didn't burn it.

You also have 3rd & 4th options. You can remove it yourself and either A) have a shop replace the seal and do a quick once-over then reinstall it yourself or B) remove it yourself and have it rebuilt on the bench & reinstall.

No matter what you choose you're almost ALWAYS best off keeping & repairing a vehicle you own. You cost-of-ownership will take a hit THIS year if you rebuild it but overall you're still way ahead of the game by keeping it.

 

[Brian]

JSM, That's what I was thinking when I called him. I know I didn't burn up the tranny, it's just leaking. Thanks.

Dad, your right. Plus I love this truck! I am looking at a 1990 F350 4 door 4X4 diesel E4OD with a 100,000 miles for $4,000.00 though. It would be better for pulling my boat. Thanks

Bill, With a lot of the bad talk about the E4OD your right, you can get 200,000 mile out of one if you maintain it. And about JSM your right again! He's replied to me before and reading his other posts, he's aways been "deadnut's on'. Thanks

I feel better this morning, going to make some calls.

Thank you

Brian

 

[Brian]

Here's the good news!

I call lyle's tranny shop in Norwich NY. On the phone he sounded good. He came with his flat bed 2 Sat's ago and got my Bronco, about a 130 mile round trip for him.

That monday he had it apart and we talked about option's he was very honest but keep telling me about no gaurentee, which I knew. He figured a new T/C and rebuild the pump about $1500.00 which includes $210 for towing which I agree to pay more for.

I said yes. Later that day he called again. I'm like oh man here it comes. He said his son the mechanic reminded him that they had a NOS T/C on the shelf and do I want it for $50.00 again with no gaurentee? Yes I do!

Well I pick up my Bronco on monday. The total bill was $1,111.06

The truck runs awsome!!!! Shifts are storng and sure. In O/D now the tach says about 1600 RPM at 55 it use to be about 2200 RPM. I use to get 14 MPG and my first tank was 18 MPG and thats with the hubs locked in.

He also changed the speed sensor on the back of the transfer case at $41.00 that cleared up my antilock brake lite I've had for the last 2 years. And he change the tranny lines on the cooler to barbed lines so they won't slip off again. And he changed the fluid in the transfercase.

I'm very happy with my Bronco again. Thanks for all the replys.

Merry Christmas

Brian

 

[Broncobill78]

Outstanding !!!

Sounds like Christmas came early in NY.

Just a quick note, I would take the opportunity NOW to install an auxiliary transmission cooler. What you have is brand new without *any* wear on it at all and I would absolutely take the opportunity to everything possible to take care of this one. With a cooler & regular (every 60K or so) fluid changes you should *easily* see 150-200K from this transmission. All things considered it should outlive the engine at this point, but it won't if it's ignored. Keeping that fluid cool is the BEST thing you can do for it and changing it every 60K or 2-3yrs is next on the list. It's a shame none of us thought to mention it before because it sounds like this guy would have installed one he had on a shelf somewhere for $50 <grin> Keep his # handy & pass it on to anyone else here who's in your neighborhood. Good shops need good patrons.

Thanks for the update, it's always nice to hear how these things work out & it's even NICER to hear it when they work out well.

 

[barrett86]

so true, congrats man, these guys help out so much then trying to go shop to shop, but in ur case u had to go shop to shop. lol

 

[Brian]

Hey Bill.

That's where the problem started, in the aux. cooler. It seems that the guy who installed it {before me} didn't install barbed fittings for the rubber hose. Hence the hose falling off and causing this problem. The trannyman also changed the order of the flow through the coolers. I'm not sure if the aux. cooler is now before or after the radiator. But it is different.

Brian

 

[Broncobill78]

Right you are man, I didn't take the time to reread your *original* post, My bad.

If the cooler is still there and it's still connected then I'd take a guess that these guys knew what they were doing & hooked it up for you correctly. Sounds like a good shop. Merry Christmas, you should be good until you take it out & break something *else* <grin>