I was towing my trailer in the mountains and going up some good grades and I felt some heat on my legs. Felt like it was coming from under the dash. I had the windows open and it was cool outside. Then My truck acted like it missed a couple of times. Then the next grade it started to do it more. Made it to the top and popped the hood. I thought the air filter was clogged as we were at 5k in elevation, so I took it out and beat it on the ground. I let the truck sit about 15 minutes and went on my way. There were no more grades to go up so everything was fine. Had the wife bring up new air filter and on the way home it was fine.
After talking to a mechanic at work he said I should put on a after market trans cooler. My truck is stock. I can't have this happen again. I have some long trips planned in the next couple weeks with some steep hills to get up.
Some one told me to put a deeper pan on it. Other people say just put a trans cooler on it. What to do?
I talked to the trans shop and he said the coverter could be slipping. Going to the trans shop on Thurs.
Could I have hurt the trans? All is good now, shifts fine now. I checked the fluid and it isn't low and it is still nice and red not dark at all.

 

What kinda load were you towing and whats the maintenance schedule on your truck been lately?? Oil/Filters (fuel and air) As for cutting out or missing, need more info, did the motor cut out or wind up or shudder ????? As for tranny fluid color, whens the last fluid and filter change?? Color/smell can be a key but not all the time... Theres some pretty good coolers out there, if your doing a lot of towing in the hills I'd definately look into one and do a filter and fluid change at the same time..... Sure can't hurt..........Some gauges should be on your list as well.....

Slick

 

My trailer is about 7k. The trans was serviced last year. Oil changed regularly and just 1k ago. Fuel filter less than 5K ago. I had my foot in the throttle and it acted like the trans slipped and regained it's gear. I know I need a after market cooler. I hope I just didn't screw anything up when it heated up. I guess I will know more after it goes to the trans shop.

 

Well, that happended to me with similar trailer, and the oil cames out by the front seal (so I suppose the tranny heated a lot) and the tranny slipped. I just let her to cool and continue my trip, and at home I changed the oil an the filter, add a Tru-Cool Max cooler, junk the stock filter and since then its working fine. So Ill change the oil (if you can go to synthetic) and trans filter, add a BIG aftermarket trans cooler, not a bigger pan (thats de conclusion after reading several post and different forums) and I hope it will be ok. You dont tell us nothing about your tow truck.

 

My truck didn't leak out any oil....so hopefully that is good. My truck is a 95 PSD sc 4x4

 

I guess all the fuel leaks are fixed and its time for summer transmission issues.

If it were me I would check and see if the fluid is flowing through the radiator and the existing cooler. I your not getting good flow through the radiator the aux cooler can't doing its job. Going to any larger aux cooler would be a good thing. If your slipping while towing your probably due for a rebuild. Mine had 73k on it when I got it and it was toast. Fluid was OK though if you don't count all the metal that came out with it.
So if you do need a rebuild make sure your radiator is good, hoses and aux cooler replaced so the tranny has a chance to survive.

 

Well I took my truck out this afternoon and it died on me. Don't know if it was the trans or not now. Had it towed to a diesel shop and they will look it tomorrow. I hope it is some relay or sensor. The trans was rebuilt by a good shop in town 4 yrs ago. Rebuild has less the 30k. Had it serviced last year. Don't know what else it can be. I hope it isn't something to expense.........