42RLE Transmission Issues

Shane Mckinley

Zipman35
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May 31, 2017
Messages
726
Location
Oxford, MS, United States
Ok so I posted images the other day of what I think are trans cooling lines leaking.

Possibly unrelated: last time I had issues with missing 2nd gear I was low on fluid. My son decided to add fluid for me (it may be over full as I checked it and it was over the cold full mark)

I’m thinking I should drain and refill to see if this issue of missing 2nd clears up otherwise I’m going to have a real issue on my hands trying to pay for a rebuild [emoji15]


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2005 RHD TJ Sport
2010 BMW 528xi
 
You could simply drain some out until it is at the correct level then drive it and see how it does. I wouldn't perform a full fluid change unless the fluid is burned and you suspect it to be the problem.
 
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It just slipped out of gear trying to go up a really steep driveway

I’m not so sure I can baby this til I have the money to figure out what’s going on [emoji849]

I need a day off to look ugh

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2005 RHD TJ Sport
2010 BMW 528xi
 
It just slipped out of gear trying to go up a really steep drivewayi
If the transmission was warmed up and you had been driving before that happened, that could still be caused by the transmission being a little low on ATF. Keep in mind the engine MUST be running when checking the ATF level otherwise you can get an erroneous full indication when in fact it's low on ATF. My son kept calling me from Louisiana asking about his automatic transmission problems and I kept drilling him on how to properly check its level with the engine running and in his transmission's case, it had to be in Neutral. He kept insisting its level was fine when he checked it. A month later he admitted his transmission ended up being 3 1/2 quarts low, he wasn't checking its level with the engine running and in Neutral. Getting its level back to where it needed to be fixed the problem. You can check your 2005's level in Park or Neutral but, again, the engine must be running and be sure to momentarily shift through all the gears first before performing the check.

If your transmission is slipping (feeling like it has slipped into Neutral) after you shift into Reverse or Drive for the first time of the day but then starts working ok after that, you likely have a leaky check valve which is allowing the ATF to drain out of the torque converter. If you're asking about the transmission in your '05 the check valve is inside the transmission above the transmission pan. If it's for a 2002 or older the check valve is in the transmission cooler lines.
 
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If the transmission was warmed up and you had been driving before that happened, that could still be caused by the transmission being a little low on ATF. Keep in mind the engine MUST be running when checking the ATF level otherwise you can get an erroneous full indication when in fact it's low on ATF. My son kept calling me from Louisiana asking about his automatic transmission problems and I kept drilling him on how to properly check its level with the engine running and in his transmission's case, it had to be in Neutral. He kept insisting its level was fine when he checked it. A month later he admitted his transmission ended up being 3 1/2 quarts low, he wasn't checking its level with the engine running and in Neutral. Getting its level back to where it needed to be fixed the problem. You can check your 2005's level in Park or Neutral but, again, the engine must be running and be sure to momentarily shift through all the gears first before performing the check.

If your transmission is slipping (feeling like it has slipped into Neutral) after you shift into Reverse or Drive for the first time of the day but then starts working ok after that, you likely have a leaky check valve which is allowing the ATF to drain out of the torque converter. If you're asking about the transmission in your '05 the check valve is inside the transmission above the transmission pan. If it's for a 2002 or older the check valve is in the transmission cooler lines.

I don’t know how I missed this post! Although it seems to be getting worse but what you said sounds almost
Identical to what’s its doing. It seems to be more when it’s cold and yes when first getting going.

Is the check valve something I can perform or is that a transmission shop deal? Meaning can I get to it somehow?

Thanks!!


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2005 RHD TJ Sport
2010 BMW 528xi
 
... Is the check valve something I can perform or is that a transmission shop deal? Meaning can I get to it somehow?

Thanks!
It's not easily done, it's above the transmission pan on your 42RLE automatic transmission. I'd go find an honest transmission shop with a good Yelp and BBB reputation. Which to me leaves Aamco and similar franchise or chain transmission shops out.
 
It's not easily done, it's above the transmission pan on your 42RLE automatic transmission. I'd go find an honest transmission shop with a good Yelp and BBB reputation. Which to me leaves Aamco and similar franchise or chain transmission shops out.

There’s a local guy here I have known since I was a kid. Maybe I can hope for the non “well Shane we pulled the pan... are you sitting down”

I know rebuilds are $1500 MINIMUM


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2005 RHD TJ Sport
2010 BMW 528xi
 
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So I have the slow to respond in reverse after sitting: 03 Rubicon 160k miles. I have a 2point lift, how tough is the check valve to replace & what else should pm'ed while in there?