Tranny Probs - Astro Van
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Tranny Probs - Astro Van
Asking this question for my son, we don't live close to each other & all I know is that he recently bought a mid-late '80's Astro Van, auto tranny.
On the phone, he mentioned that he had a slight tranny leak & that the tranny was slipping. Told him to check the tranny fluid & that sometimes that slipping is due to bands that need tightening.
He put some stop leak in there & added tranny fluid, thinking that it needed more fluid, but instead, ended up adding too much fluid & both front & rear seals blew out.
He's going to pull the tranny & change out the seals, but we'd like to know if that's the only damage that could have happened by adding too much fluid ?
Also, what might be the most likely cause & cure of the "slipping" problem ?
Thanx in advance...
On the phone, he mentioned that he had a slight tranny leak & that the tranny was slipping. Told him to check the tranny fluid & that sometimes that slipping is due to bands that need tightening.
He put some stop leak in there & added tranny fluid, thinking that it needed more fluid, but instead, ended up adding too much fluid & both front & rear seals blew out.
He's going to pull the tranny & change out the seals, but we'd like to know if that's the only damage that could have happened by adding too much fluid ?
Also, what might be the most likely cause & cure of the "slipping" problem ?
Thanx in advance...
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,182
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
Re: Tranny Probs - Astro Van
Originally posted by Lane_Splitter
On the phone, he mentioned that he had a slight tranny leak & that the tranny was slipping. Told him to check the tranny fluid & that sometimes that slipping is due to bands that need tightening.
>> There is no band adjustment on a 700R4. <<
He put some stop leak in there & added tranny fluid, thinking that it needed more fluid, but instead, ended up adding too much fluid & both front & rear seals blew out.
>> I doubt the seals blew from being overfilled. Usually, it will just blow fluid out the vent. The stop leak most likely turned the seals to jelly and that's why they failed. This is very common. There are also dozens of internal seals in that transmission that have very likely suffered the same fate. I boubt the tranny will work for very long, even with new front and rear seals. <<
He's going to pull the tranny & change out the seals, but we'd like to know if that's the only damage that could have happened by adding too much fluid ?
>> Over filling an automatic usually only results in airating the fluid (whipping it into a foam). This willl make the tranny slip just like getting air in your brake lines will cause you to loose braking. <<
Also, what might be the most likely cause & cure of the "slipping" problem ?
On the phone, he mentioned that he had a slight tranny leak & that the tranny was slipping. Told him to check the tranny fluid & that sometimes that slipping is due to bands that need tightening.
>> There is no band adjustment on a 700R4. <<
He put some stop leak in there & added tranny fluid, thinking that it needed more fluid, but instead, ended up adding too much fluid & both front & rear seals blew out.
>> I doubt the seals blew from being overfilled. Usually, it will just blow fluid out the vent. The stop leak most likely turned the seals to jelly and that's why they failed. This is very common. There are also dozens of internal seals in that transmission that have very likely suffered the same fate. I boubt the tranny will work for very long, even with new front and rear seals. <<
He's going to pull the tranny & change out the seals, but we'd like to know if that's the only damage that could have happened by adding too much fluid ?
>> Over filling an automatic usually only results in airating the fluid (whipping it into a foam). This willl make the tranny slip just like getting air in your brake lines will cause you to loose braking. <<
Also, what might be the most likely cause & cure of the "slipping" problem ?
Steve
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Thanx very much, Steve, I printed out your response & showed it to him today when we hooked up. We appreciate you taking the time to answer all of our questions & then some.
He's discouraged, but able to come to terms with the reality & he'll push thru this one & onto better days. At this point, because he can't afford to buy another vehicle at present & needs transportation for work, I think he's going to replace the seals & try to keep it operable long enough to give him time to either save up for something else, or to go with a used tranny if need be.
No easy solutions for this one, but he'll make the best of it. Thanx again very much...
He's discouraged, but able to come to terms with the reality & he'll push thru this one & onto better days. At this point, because he can't afford to buy another vehicle at present & needs transportation for work, I think he's going to replace the seals & try to keep it operable long enough to give him time to either save up for something else, or to go with a used tranny if need be.
No easy solutions for this one, but he'll make the best of it. Thanx again very much...
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Elyria, Ohio
overfill blowing seals
I was told by a local transmission shop that except for the earliest transmissions; it is impossible to overfill transmission and damage it. This is always in manuals and told to customers by dealers to scare them from DIY. This might make a good episode for MythBusters on Discovery. Fluid would come out the vent and as mentioned you might get some foaming. If vent were damaged or plugged it might be another story. I know on my C4; initial fill, not running, a fifth quart will come right out through the vent and onto floor.
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Thanx, rainbowATF, guess there may be hope yet, time will tell. He did mention that there were 3 puddles of tranny fluid, a bud of his had told him about the vent & he said yesterday that that would probably explain the 3rd puddle (front seal, rear seal, vent)
No offense intended, archangel, but it's the same tranny. Folks here have been very helpful & that's much appreciated. In this day & age of uncertainty, along with our economy being moved overseas & leaving many Americans jobless, just seems like some things (the age-old rivalry of Ford vs. Chevy) might be overlooked in favor of Americans being helpful & understanding of one another. Another way of looking at it would be for you to be flatterred that someone with a Chevy was asking Ford devotees for their experienced advice.
No offense intended, archangel, but it's the same tranny. Folks here have been very helpful & that's much appreciated. In this day & age of uncertainty, along with our economy being moved overseas & leaving many Americans jobless, just seems like some things (the age-old rivalry of Ford vs. Chevy) might be overlooked in favor of Americans being helpful & understanding of one another. Another way of looking at it would be for you to be flatterred that someone with a Chevy was asking Ford devotees for their experienced advice.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Joliet, Illinois
but it's the same tranny As what?
The 700R4 is a GM trans only.
I dont remember seeing it in any fords, and if I did I would be greatly amazed!
I agree with the helping other idea but have had subjects locked out before for talking to someone "Chevy" here.
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My apologies for my own ignorance in regards to the tranny. As mentioned in the first post, I don't live close to my son & wasn't exactly sure about his vehicle. Myself, I won't buy any cars/trucks unless they're pre-1980, but that's my own preference & I don't claim to be an expert on these things.
One responder was kind enough to offer the 700R4 designation, I showed the response to my son & he said that's the same tranny as his.
I was merely trying to help my 18 yr. old son get his truck back on the road so that he could get to work. It's encouraging to see someone of his age try to earn an honest living rather than take the route that many others of his age group have chosen & I'll do what I can to keep encouraging him in his pursuits.
That's unfortunate that you had a thread closed due to mention of "Chevy". It would seem that helping others would be the priority, even if it meant an occasional bending of the "rules".
One responder was kind enough to offer the 700R4 designation, I showed the response to my son & he said that's the same tranny as his.
I was merely trying to help my 18 yr. old son get his truck back on the road so that he could get to work. It's encouraging to see someone of his age try to earn an honest living rather than take the route that many others of his age group have chosen & I'll do what I can to keep encouraging him in his pursuits.
That's unfortunate that you had a thread closed due to mention of "Chevy". It would seem that helping others would be the priority, even if it meant an occasional bending of the "rules".
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