Transmission overheat?

[bradleyheathhays]

Sadly this may be the last post I make on the old '11 Crown Vic (320k). So yesterday I heard a quiet hiss coming from the front which turned out to be a very small radiator leak...in the middle of a fin somewhere. Doing errands around town today I kept extra coolant with me and added it as it needed. After filling it up I make a 60 mph trip to a nearby city about 20 miles away. When I get to a stop at the bottom of the off ramp, I hit the gas it it doesn't move. No extra lights on the dash except for the check engine light which was already on for something else. I put it in park and back in drive, tried all the gears but got nothing, not even in reverse. Thinking it might have something to do with my coolant situation I checked it and ended up putting in like 1.5 gal of coolant which is much more than it's taken before. Only thing I can imagine is that the leak got worse on the interstate and I didn't notice it. Did the no coolant issue cause the transmission to overheat somehow? There was a slight burning smell in the cabin so something definitely overheated. The overheat light on the dash never came on (I think I have one?) and the engine ran fine the whole time. I was traveling at 60 mph though so I wonder if that would be enough to cool the engine off while the transmission still overheated?


What in the heck happened and what do I do, besides sell the damn thing.

 

[JPNinPA]

Pull he transmission dip stick. Check the oil level, color and smell it. Many times the lower half of the radiator is the trans cooler. It looks like that is shared with the AC condenser on the crown Vic. So if something went through the trans cooler section of the condenser it could have caused the rad leak... But this is all chance.


Regards,
JPNinPA

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[bradleyheathhays]

Just now got back from trying to get it going for the first time and no success. First I disconnected the battery for a few minutes like someone had suggested. Checked trans fluid and it seemed at a good level, but definitely dark and burnt smelling. The coolant I had put in there before was still in there so the reservoir was full. The front of the engine was caked with white which I'm assuming was caked on and dried coolant.

Started the engine and moved the shift lever through all the gears and that felt normal. Put it in drive and didn't feel anything engage at all. Gave it some gas and something whirred in the trans. The more rpms the louder the sound got. Almost sounded like something rotating...but it seemed to be coming right from the transmission.

I just checked the trans fluid last week and it seemed to look fairly new. What in the world could have happened to cause this?

So what do I do now? Is the trans toast or could I maybe try putting new trans fluid and filter in and see what happens?

 

[TerryMason]

Any chance the coolant and the trans fluid are mixing?


A new radiator is $58 + shipping
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...,4.6l+v8,1372205,cooling+system,radiator,2172

 

[JPNinPA]

Changing fluid may work but if you just checked levels and color and all was fine inly now its burnt you need to determine cause.
You may have been getting away with slow short trips but damaged the trans farther. Maybe beyond repair.
Fo these trans have common issues?

Maybe swap in a less milage one.


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[bradleyheathhays]

Wow after all this and it turns out to be the rear end. Just got it to my mechanic and he watched the driveshaft when I gave it some gas, in gear, and it turned. So I guess that's where the sound was coming from. Although my trans fluid smells a little, a mechanic who works on these crown vics a lot says the fluid always smells somewhat burned. I'm super easy on this car so I'm not sure why the fluid would smell like that. Newly changed out like 15k miles ago.

 

[JPNinPA]

Tranny fluid should never smell burnt. Ever. That is the fluid breaking down. When that happens you loose the pressure needed to shift and the lubrication and heat transfer E effects of the fluid.

I'd power flush the trans and add a second cooler.


Regards,
JPNinPA

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