Uh-Oh....

[94FordMan]

I have had a slow leak from my transmission (MTX), where the passenger side drive shaft comes out (don't know correct term). I have had it filled up once, and was planning to do it again soon. I was driving home this morning and doing about 40 when my car shuts off... I coast for a minute and then turn it back on and turn into my neighborhood. Now I'm in second and it feels like someone is pressing the brakes, and there is a squeak noise, but it only lasts a couple seconds. I shut off the car and sit there for a second and decide to try and limp it home (since I have less than a mile) in first. I got about 500 feet and it did the same thing again so I shut it off and walked home. Now my car is stranded and I fear my tranny is shot, and I don't have a job. Does it sounds like it seized up, or could it be my diff?? I don't know too much about the inner workings of transmissions... but I know this isn't good.

 

[rangerj]

You most likely did some damage to the trans. How much damage depends on how long you ran it dry.
Try putting trans fluid in it and see if you can get it home.

I can understand not being able to get to the axel shaft seal for a while, but to not replace the lost fluid before it ran dry does not make any sense. Trans fluid is not that expensive.

The axel shaft seal is a $6 part, but it is expensive to have it replaced if you cannot do it yourself.

Put fluid in it and try it. If you get lucky and it works reasonably well, then stay on top of the fluid level. If it leaks a quart a day, add a quart a day.

There is no doubt you did some damage, so take it easy IF IT WORKS! After you find a job, you may want to start looking for a good used trans.
Good luck, rangerj

 

[RI-SHO]

Any turns left to your house?

I pushed my SHO about 1/2mile before with just me and my bro, just get a few buds and push it home, one thing I can say is 18" rims suck with no power steering squint .

 

[snowwind1990]

DON'T PUT HER INTO FIRST OR REVERSE IF you try to start her up again....
Fill your tranny fluid by jacking it up and pouring from metal bending spout until you can feel in there at about 1" of your little finger.
I'm sure no one will agree with me here. But when you go to start her up, don't put her in 1st gear. Try letting off the clutch in 2nd, then get to third quick.....don't go in REVERSE OR FIRST til you have her checked out...
I'm sure the chimes are going to start any second after I post this, shoot but it will get the tranny guys thinking what I'm thinking.
Ma Ma M

 

[94FordMan]

I filled it back up and went around the block... and it did the same thing. I was more mad at myself than ******, and my dad said he wanted to take it for a drive to diagnose it. Well he and my brother got in a drove off. They came back 5 minutes later and said it acted fine. I drove it about 2 miles and it was fine, except for a whine sound in 4th gear. My dad seems to think I fried a bearing of some sort. Other than the sound it has been fine so far. I guess I can thank my lucky stars for not blowing my tranny on such a stupid mistake on my part. I am filling out applications as we speak, and I hope the tranny will hold until I can save up in the future. I had already made plans to get the seal replaced as soon as I got a job (mechanic at my dad's work looked at it and everything) I would do it myself, but he said a special tool is needed. Thanks for your help guys, and I'll be sure to keep an eye on my fluid level, and pull out the gray hairs I grew when I thought my tranny was kaput. beer