A Terribly Terrifying Transmission Trouble

[TacticalSR5]

Yesterday morning at 8 oclock I drove to a coffee shop (~ a mile) just as smoothly as ever. Spent about an hour or 2 there.. when I put it in reverse to go back everything was fine, but it was when I put it in drive I had to check to see if I was in nuetral or not because it was clear that it didn't kick in.... I thought nothing of it and just shifted the lever forward one and then back to Drive. Still hardly any signs that it kicked in. I figured maybe it was just something weird so I tried giving it a little gas...

When i gave it a little gas the RPM's moved as normal, but it just hardly moved. It felt like an old manual truck just slowly starting out before it would kick into gear. (but no preaking point, like it was stuck in that stage) So I got curious, Parked it, looked underneath only to see nothing unusual.. Tried driving again, still ****ty. Since it would move, I had class soon, and My house wasnt far I decided to try and crawl it on back on home.

Engine was putting out normal amounts of power, sounded just fine, yet it would feel like I was being pushed by children instead of powered by a healthy V6. Got about 100 yards away from the coffee shop when it kicked into second and drove like it normally would. Shifted in and out of 1st gear just fine, Reversed over a curb into my spot with ease like normal.... Not a nock, rattle or anything out of the usual after that.. SO at that point I was wondering WTF?

Went out this morning to check on it and grab some things before the game, Turned it on popped it into gear and the same issue was back....

Sorry for the novel. Im worried here.

Checked the Transmission fluid just now and its blood red AND too high? Checked it 3 times out of despair but each time it came out passed the hot indication level and it was totally a cold engine.

SAVE ME

 

[BrianSD_42]

post a pic of the fluid?

take a white paper towel and dab it with the fluid from the dipstick.

 

[steezemcqueen]

did you check it with it running?

 

[TacticalSR5]

Okay good ideas, I may be able to take a pic of that tomorrow. And when I do I will check it while its running.

 

[topdown4runner]

Hmmmm.
Don't start it!!!
Open your radiator cap. Check for an oily fluid mixed in it & or does it look like a strawberry milkshake?

I sincerely hope not.

If so, I am afraid your tranny cooler integrated into the radiator leaked. The 2 fluids are mixing & killing your transmission.
Both fluids are bright red.
This is bad.
If this is the case, DO NOT START YOUR TRUCK.
Search "Milkshake of death" and follow the directions you find.

Good luck!

 

[TacticalSR5]

Both fluids are not red, one fluid is the dark red and the other is hardly a color at all. like diluted peach? pics soon to follow.

 

[BrianSD_42]

on the day the problem occured:

did the engine get hot?

did the CEL come on?

did coolant pour onto the ground?

did it fail to shift or kick hard?

 

[quicksilvr]

The fluid level showing too high when it's cold is 100% normal. The only way to check it and get an accurate reading is when the fluid is hot (which requires at least 5 full stop and go's in traffic) and then parked on a level surface with the engine running. With foot on the brake, move the shifter through each position, pausing for a second in each one. From park down to low, then back to park. Get out, pull the dipstick and wipe it off, put it back in, pull it out and read.


Second, it sounds like your transmission fluid and coolant are both the correct color....the big thing is if they are both CLEAR and not cloudy looking. The coolant being a light orangish red color is normal, as long as it's clear....and doesn't look like a smoothie from starbucks.


I'm guessing a shift solenoid is bad. Hopefully not a major fix, but the trans pan will have to come off. I've never dealt with a bad solenoid myself, but I'm sure somebody can give you pointers on replacing one.

 

[TacticalSR5]

Pics are in:

So how about I do this:
Trans cooler, all fluids flushed well, transmission checked out by someone reputable? (May have to drive 45 miles for cooler addition and tranny check)

What aught I do for this?

 

[TacticalSR5]

Okay so it is more pink in this picture l, in person it wasn't quite so noticeable.. ****.

 

[quicksilvr]

If it IS your transmission cooler slowing going out, and the fluids are starting to mix, you shouldn't drive anywhere, let alone 45 miles. If it goes completely, you basically just wasted your transmission.

Is it still only doing it in first gear? If it's only first gear, and the fluids look that clear, I don't think it's the trans cooler going bad. Because: the fluid would have to be a lot worse than what it looks like right now for you to have such pronounced symptoms like you are. I think it's electrical.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I wonder if it could be your rear brakes and/or bellcranks (control the E-brake). Has it been cold lately where you live with Ms. Theron?

 

[quicksilvr]

I wonder if it could be your rear brakes and/or bellcranks (control the E-brake). Has it been cold lately where you live with Ms. Theron?

That would be kind of strange that they would let go after being locked up, but this is actually a plausible idea. Are you using the parking brake every time you park? If so, stop. And grab a hammer, crawl under the back of the truck and hammer the bell crank screws over so they're hitting the backing plates...ensuring the ebrake is fully released on both sides.