Wife Stuck in ATL with Tranny leaking

[BullochDawg]

Wife was taking the camper and her gf's for a weekend camping trip. She called from Atlanta and said her tranny was leaking fluid. They were sitting in Atl traffic when someone told her that fluid was pouring out.
She got off at an exit and long story short. She got the camper taken to their site and the truck to a transmission place. They're saying that the torque converter is probably bad and she's looking at $3000+.
In reading some of the posts here, it sounds like the tranny just might have gotten overheated.
She said it still drove fine, other than the fluid being really low.
Would it still run if the torque converter was "bad"?
I told her not to let them start tearing into the tranny, but to fill it with fluid and see if it is still leaking.
What would you do from here?
Thanks.

[bigcountrysg]

I would do exactly as you stated. The front input seal on the trans when it gets hot will expand and cause a leak. Which once it is cold again it reseals and no more leak. But that seal needs to be replaced.

How ever the torque converter can go bad. But usually when it does one of two things can happen or both will happen.

1. when you put the vehicle into gear no matter what gear, the engine will die because the torque converter is locked up and will not unlock.
2. When the trans is put into gear, no matter what gear, the truck will act like it is in nuetral and not go anywhere.

Does she recall if the od light was flashing. The trans shop should try and pull transmission trouble codes. If the od light was flashing then the trans went into limp mode. Which will cause the trans to shift real hard and basically jerk the truck when it shifts.

3,000 seems awful high for a torque converter I had my trans completely rebuilt and did not cost that much.

For 3,000 you can pretty much rebuild the whole trans with high performance internals from Suncoast, BDS, or other premium places.

[ABoyAndHisToys]

Originally Posted by BullochDawg

Wife was taking the camper and her gf's for a weekend camping trip. She called from Atlanta and said her tranny was leaking fluid. They were sitting in Atl traffic when someone told her that fluid was pouring out.
She got off at an exit and long story short. She got the camper taken to their site and the truck to a transmission place. They're saying that the torque converter is probably bad and she's looking at $3000+.
In reading some of the posts here, it sounds like the tranny just might have gotten overheated.
She said it still drove fine, other than the fluid being really low.
Would it still run if the torque converter was "bad"?
I told her not to let them start tearing into the tranny, but to fill it with fluid and see if it is still leaking.
What would you do from here?
Thanks.

My brother is in Gainesville and has knowledge of PSD's. Would she be afraid of meeting him at the shop so he can take a look. I would give all hoses to the cooler a look at. The trans wouldnt shift or would be noticable if it were "bad".I also agree with Big Country about the front seal.

[BullochDawg]

Thanks BC. I was thinking $3000 would buy a new transmission. Trying to get in touch with the wife to get a number for the transmission place so I can talk to them.
Thanks ABAHT. I may get your brother's contact info if things don't go well with the transmission place.

[BullochDawg]

Big THANKS! Wife just called and said that she told them about the overheating and to check the fluid level. They said that the fluid level was fine and they can find nothing wrong. They agreed that it probably overheated. She had them run a diagnostic on it and no problems found.
I really appreciate the advice here and offers of help. Not saying that they would've taken advantage of a lady in trouble, but the wife was so relieved to have some good information to bring to the discussion.
Told her that once she gets home, we'll take a look at the cooler and get the seals checked. Told her to enjoy the rest of her trip and keep an eye on things.
Thanks again!

[ABoyAndHisToys]

Glad to hear it worked out I call this place my home away from home.

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by BullochDawg

Big THANKS! Wife just called and said that she told them about the overheating and to check the fluid level. They said that the fluid level was fine and they can find nothing wrong. They agreed that it probably overheated. She had them run a diagnostic on it and no problems found.
I really appreciate the advice here and offers of help. Not saying that they would've taken advantage of a lady in trouble, but the wife was so relieved to have some good information to bring to the discussion.
Told her that once she gets home, we'll take a look at the cooler and get the seals checked. Told her to enjoy the rest of her trip and keep an eye on things.
Thanks again!

Glad to hear and although not all shops do it. But we all know it does happen. A lady takes a car into the shop. The shop just see dollar signs.

The shop was probablly back pedlling when she told them about the over heating and the seal.

I would for sure look into a bigger trans cooler. Also if you have not done so, if the truck is equipped with an external inline trans filter remove it. They cause restriction of flow, which can cause the trans to over heat.

[Banshee34]

Glad it all worked out and I hope she gets home safe and sound with no other issues!

[AlaskanEngineer]

Hey, just wondering why no-one has mentioned getting the tranny fluid flushed and replaced since it is now likely starting to break down and won't have the same fluid properties it once did? Am I missing something here as that would be the first thing I would do if I was going to keep driving it...

Also, get her some gauges for Christmas -- tranny temp at least, that way she can pull over before it pukes tranny fluid -- less stress on both of you and good preventative medicine for a tranny...

[SuperCrutyPS]

Originally Posted by bigcountrysg

I would do exactly as you stated. The front input seal on the trans when it gets hot will expand and cause a leak. Which once it is cold again it reseals and no more leak. But that seal needs to be replaced.

Exactly what mine did towing my 5er. Took it in - They told me that our trannies had this issue. He replaced the seal - Been good to go ever since. As a precaution, I did install a 6.0L tranny cooler. Tranny runs way cooler according to my gauge....

Hope she gets home fine.......