I gotz issues...
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Cherry Point North Carolina
I gotz issues...
Alright, I FINALLY bought my 1991 C4 Convertible and my uncle left me a few things to tinker with. To start with there was a "small" radiator leak, and it WAS small, because I drove the car for 4 hours straight back to base and I was fine, then it started leaking about a pint everytime it got up to temperature. I've since then put a new radiator in and have no leaks anymore (score 1, minus 2).
Here's where the trouble starts:
As soon as I drove away from the shop where I fixed the radiator I noticed that when I was starting off and getting up to speed there was a vibration in the seat that hadn't been there before, which about 2 hours later (without having a working tachometer) I determined that is must be the transmission slipping. My guess was that the amount of trans fluid lost in the cooler and the cooler line were signifigant enough to affect the way the transmission worked and caused it to slip. I did drive the car for about and hour at ~60 mph before realizing this. As soon as I got to civilization again (ECU) I stopped at sheetz and got some transmission fluid that was designed for cars that use Dextron II (it was pennzoil). I've added about a pint, and now it's reading over filled. I checked the level following the intructions in the owner's manual to a T, including driving at moderate speed for 5 miles and letting it run at low idle for 3 minutes. Adding the oil reduced the amount of slipping, but it now reads overfilled and still slips a little bit.
My questions are:
Could I have damaged my transmission during the time where I suspect it had low oil?
Other than blowing seals, can over filling the transmission damage any other internal components?
Does anyone have an spare idler pulley laying around?
Here's where the trouble starts:
As soon as I drove away from the shop where I fixed the radiator I noticed that when I was starting off and getting up to speed there was a vibration in the seat that hadn't been there before, which about 2 hours later (without having a working tachometer) I determined that is must be the transmission slipping. My guess was that the amount of trans fluid lost in the cooler and the cooler line were signifigant enough to affect the way the transmission worked and caused it to slip. I did drive the car for about and hour at ~60 mph before realizing this. As soon as I got to civilization again (ECU) I stopped at sheetz and got some transmission fluid that was designed for cars that use Dextron II (it was pennzoil). I've added about a pint, and now it's reading over filled. I checked the level following the intructions in the owner's manual to a T, including driving at moderate speed for 5 miles and letting it run at low idle for 3 minutes. Adding the oil reduced the amount of slipping, but it now reads overfilled and still slips a little bit.
My questions are:
Could I have damaged my transmission during the time where I suspect it had low oil?
Other than blowing seals, can over filling the transmission damage any other internal components?
Does anyone have an spare idler pulley laying around?
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Alright, I FINALLY bought my 1991 C4 Convertible and my uncle left me a few things to tinker with. To start with there was a "small" radiator leak, and it WAS small, because I drove the car for 4 hours straight back to base and I was fine, then it started leaking about a pint everytime it got up to temperature. I've since then put a new radiator in and have no leaks anymore (score 1, minus 2).
Here's where the trouble starts:
As soon as I drove away from the shop where I fixed the radiator I noticed that when I was starting off and getting up to speed there was a vibration in the seat that hadn't been there before, which about 2 hours later (without having a working tachometer) I determined that is must be the transmission slipping. My guess was that the amount of trans fluid lost in the cooler and the cooler line were signifigant enough to affect the way the transmission worked and caused it to slip. I did drive the car for about and hour at ~60 mph before realizing this. As soon as I got to civilization again (ECU) I stopped at sheetz and got some transmission fluid that was designed for cars that use Dextron II (it was pennzoil). I've added about a pint, and now it's reading over filled. I checked the level following the intructions in the owner's manual to a T, including driving at moderate speed for 5 miles and letting it run at low idle for 3 minutes. Adding the oil reduced the amount of slipping, but it now reads overfilled and still slips a little bit.
My questions are:
Could I have damaged my transmission during the time where I suspect it had low oil?
Other than blowing seals, can over filling the transmission damage any other internal components?
Does anyone have an spare idler pulley laying around?
Here's where the trouble starts:
As soon as I drove away from the shop where I fixed the radiator I noticed that when I was starting off and getting up to speed there was a vibration in the seat that hadn't been there before, which about 2 hours later (without having a working tachometer) I determined that is must be the transmission slipping. My guess was that the amount of trans fluid lost in the cooler and the cooler line were signifigant enough to affect the way the transmission worked and caused it to slip. I did drive the car for about and hour at ~60 mph before realizing this. As soon as I got to civilization again (ECU) I stopped at sheetz and got some transmission fluid that was designed for cars that use Dextron II (it was pennzoil). I've added about a pint, and now it's reading over filled. I checked the level following the intructions in the owner's manual to a T, including driving at moderate speed for 5 miles and letting it run at low idle for 3 minutes. Adding the oil reduced the amount of slipping, but it now reads overfilled and still slips a little bit.
My questions are:
Could I have damaged my transmission during the time where I suspect it had low oil?
Other than blowing seals, can over filling the transmission damage any other internal components?
Does anyone have an spare idler pulley laying around?
Yes
Yes
I don't have a spare.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 70
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From: Cherry Point North Carolina
Well, it seems like the slip is getting progressively smaller, but it's still noticeable. I just really didn't want anything to get ruined, and I don't really know how much oil I lost in the transmission cooler/lower line that got drained when I changed the radiator. If I had a working tachometer I would have figured out it was slipping sooner. (I've never driven a slipping automatic, so this is a new concept)
Last edited by enrgizerbunny; Aug 27, 2009 at 09:44 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Well, it seems like the slip is getting progressively smaller, but it's still noticeable. I just really didn't want anything to get ruined, and I don't really know how much oil I lost in the transmission cooler/lower line that got drained when I changed the radiator. If I had a working tachometer I would have figured out it was slipping sooner. (I've never driven a slipping automatic, so this is a new concept)
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Point North Carolina
When it catches, it doesn't slip a bit, though. I rocketed from 57 to 85 without realizing it when I was passing.
Should I get this possible glazed band corrected immediately, or will it take a while to cause major problems(The plan is to put it in the shop within the next two weeks). It's my daily driver so it's a big inconvenience, plus the nearest reputable transmission shop is 20 miles away.
Last edited by enrgizerbunny; Aug 28, 2009 at 03:36 PM.
