Let me start by saying that last week I completely drained entire system, dropped pan, replaced filter and added a good-sized cooler. Today did the engine oil and filter and the coolant, all new with DCA04. I was looking forward to a two hour drive to Sebring and camping out tonight. So 68 mph, 2300 rpm, engine running a little warm(near the m), pulling 3,000 lbs in OD on the terribly flat ground of South Florida. Noticed a hint of smoke in rear-view, decided to pull over and check it out. Got out of the throttle and started to pull over, smoke increased greatly and by the time I stopped the smoke was ugly and fluid was all over the sides of my tranny and everywhere else. There was oil everywhere when I stopped but if I pull the dipstick there is still a full reading on the dipstick. I Let it cool down, engine off and now it won't move, back or forward, except with a rope on the front, tied to a Chevy(drat). I had to pull it 6-7 miles. I did so with it idling in neutral. I met a good samaritan who helped me by pulling the trailer back to his house and then he came back and got me and pulled me there, too. Meanwhile my wife came the hour drive to pick me up. I haven't pulled the pan yet. Any ideas? Where do I start? How do I determine just how bad it is and how much repair the unit needs? Could it possibly just be the torque converter? It was running and shifting fine for the last month since I got it. When I changed the fluid last week it smelled bad like it had been burned but there was no metal or pieces in the pan. It has been shifting great since I serviced it. I'm sure it got hot today. I don't know the source of the fluid today but I imagine it was coming out of a vent or a breather near the top.

 

If it was me I would do a total rebuild with heavy duty parts. If you do enough to get it going again, next month it will be something else. Either buy a rebuilt or rebuild that one. Did you check for any codes, or is the OD light blinking? Do you have a cooler? Where was the smoke coming from? Mine leaked when they went bad, but no smoke. Mine leaked in the front below the TC.

 

It looked like it was leaking off the tops of the sides. The tranny itself was not smoking. I think the fluid landing on the exhaust pipes and burning off was what was smoking.

 

No blinking light. Would the check engine light come on if there are codes?

 

I always thought they would, but I had a few bad sensors and had no light. Check to make sure. How does the fluid smell now?

 

The fluid doesn't smell too bad now. It smelled much worse last week when I serviced the tranny. It almost smelled like tobacco then. It still smells like chestnuts now.

 

""""""""filter and added a good-sized cooler. """"""""

Gotta ask which truck and trans first.........................

So tell us exactly what your cooler lines go to after leaving the trans........ First should be the rad and from there???????

There is a vent on the top of the trans which will spew fluid if trans over heats or has too much fluid and foams up.

 

Front line out of tranny goes into radiator. Other line from radiator goes into cooler. Other line from cooler goes to rear line for tranny. I am pretty sure I did have too much fluid in the tranny because when I was filling it I used the prescribed amount and it ended up being at the "full when hot" mark when it was cool. The vent on top was definitely doing it because the fluid was coming down the sides all around the tranny. Is there any hope for my tranny as it stands?

 

Just check it as per the indicators on the dipstick, the manual only states it could foam up and force fluid out, does not indicate any possible damage, so probably none.

I was afraid you put two coolers in line after the rad, this is a "no no" as it severely restricts flow and will cause trans problems.

 

It's funny you should mention that. I actually thought about putting two coolers in-line but I never did.

 

Here is a place to search out bullitin and update info by year etc..........general info.

http://www.spxfiltran.com/bulletins/bryco/