Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'95 Ford Escort GT, Transmission Boil Over Problems
Q:
I have a 95 Ford Escort GT with an automatic transmission. At 105K
miles the transmission went out. The shop did a complete overhaul. I got
the car back and drove it around town, then went on a highway trip. After
about 30 miles, I noticed a large amount of smoke and the engine speed
was increasing. I managed to get off the road and shut down. The entire
engine compartment was covered in transmission fluid and a large puddle
of fluid developed under the car. The car was towed in to the original
shop and they said that a seal had failed allowing pressure to build up
and blow the fluid out of the vent. They replaced the seal. After about
150 miles the engine RPM began to increase, I began to see smoke again
and the transmission began to shift erratically. It was towed back to
the shop and they told me that it was down about a quart on fluid and
that it was blowing out of the vent again. They have replaced the cooler
with a larger cooler and said that they enlarged a hole in the control
valve per a manufacturer bulletin, that the transmission was not harmed
and would be fine. I'm skeptical, to say the least..............Harold
Schwartz
A:
You
were sharp enough to notice that the transmission wasnt working
right and stopped before it did. Good move on your part. If you drove
until the transmission would not move the vehicle, than it would have
likely been damaged. From your description I cant help but wonder
if the transmission cooler was the problem. At this point I would suggest
driving the vehicle and keeping a close eye on the transmission fluid
condition. If the fluid darkens or starts to smell burnt go right back
to the transmission shop, they have some more work to do.
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