auto trans leak
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Joined: Oct 2003
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auto trans leak
Distinguished Members,
I recently finished a rebuild on an 87 bii xlt, 2.9 auto. The motor runs like a top now and my son now drives the bii and keeps it at college.
He has had problems with the transmission leaking while traveling at highway speeds. (I am not exactly sure what that means to him but I will say 65-70mph) 4 weeks ago he lost ALL the trans fluid and had the car towed in from the highway for service. That local mechanic (nice honest guy) cleaned off the trans with a power washer (it was apparently covered with fluid) and filled it with fluid and let it sit overnight in his garage with cardboard under it to check for leaks. The next day he drove it ~20-30 miles and let it sit again overnight and NO leaks.
Last weekend my son was on the road again, got 2 hours down the road, and saw the bii smoking from trans fluid and took it to a trans guy. He said that it was missing two mounting bolts, cleaned the screen, and declared it fixed. I guess I will find out this weekend when he returns home for his monthly reserve duty.
What do you folks think? I cannot believe that the lack of a trans bolt (2) can cause a seal to leak, and then return to normal.
Help on this one will be appreciated.
Mike
I recently finished a rebuild on an 87 bii xlt, 2.9 auto. The motor runs like a top now and my son now drives the bii and keeps it at college.
He has had problems with the transmission leaking while traveling at highway speeds. (I am not exactly sure what that means to him but I will say 65-70mph) 4 weeks ago he lost ALL the trans fluid and had the car towed in from the highway for service. That local mechanic (nice honest guy) cleaned off the trans with a power washer (it was apparently covered with fluid) and filled it with fluid and let it sit overnight in his garage with cardboard under it to check for leaks. The next day he drove it ~20-30 miles and let it sit again overnight and NO leaks.
Last weekend my son was on the road again, got 2 hours down the road, and saw the bii smoking from trans fluid and took it to a trans guy. He said that it was missing two mounting bolts, cleaned the screen, and declared it fixed. I guess I will find out this weekend when he returns home for his monthly reserve duty.
What do you folks think? I cannot believe that the lack of a trans bolt (2) can cause a seal to leak, and then return to normal.
Help on this one will be appreciated.
Mike
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,777
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From: Perry,Ga.
With these auto trans I would beleave anything.They will blow the front seal out and this will cause it to blow all the fluid out then the next thing is a rebuild I know because that what happen to mine.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 213
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That is a common prob with the a4ld. The parts that are updated to correct this problem is crank to flywheel pilot bushing, front seal, bellhousing, trans oil pump, and pump bushing. You should get a shop to repair this due to a special alignment tool needed to align the pump correctly.If not aligned properly, it will destroy the front pump bushing allowing another major leak.
Ford has and updated bellhousing and front seal. The bellhousing has an added lip design so the front seal can be staked. Also you have to remove an obstruction at the oil drain hole to allow better flow, preventing front seal blowout.
The crank to flywheel spacer can be sometimes damaged not allowing true center of the torque converter hub, allowing seal and bushing failure.
There are some TSBs on the front seal blowout and those parts cover them all.
I could be wrong, but I think 89 and up has the updated bellhousing as well. I remembered when tearing down both an 89 and 91 A4LD trannies, I noticed they both had this updated housing.
Just a cheaper alternative
Might as well change the Torque converter and pump while you are in there Just as a safe measure..
Also tell your son, Not to push the truck too fast, as this will heat things up inside the tranny and blow the front seal.
Also you can add a larger aftermarket tranny cooler to add better cooling, as heat is the enemy of all trannies.
Ford has and updated bellhousing and front seal. The bellhousing has an added lip design so the front seal can be staked. Also you have to remove an obstruction at the oil drain hole to allow better flow, preventing front seal blowout.
The crank to flywheel spacer can be sometimes damaged not allowing true center of the torque converter hub, allowing seal and bushing failure.
There are some TSBs on the front seal blowout and those parts cover them all.
I could be wrong, but I think 89 and up has the updated bellhousing as well. I remembered when tearing down both an 89 and 91 A4LD trannies, I noticed they both had this updated housing.
Just a cheaper alternative
Might as well change the Torque converter and pump while you are in there Just as a safe measure..
Also tell your son, Not to push the truck too fast, as this will heat things up inside the tranny and blow the front seal.
Also you can add a larger aftermarket tranny cooler to add better cooling, as heat is the enemy of all trannies.
