Overheating and transmission issues

[bfabian76]

Ran into some problems today! 2001 4.0. Auto.

Took a 2 hour drive with my trailer to pick up a new axle. First time on the highway with it. Right now I’m on 33s and have the stock gearing (3.07) On the highway the tranny would constantly hunt for a gear around 65mpg. Like bucking back and fourth. I blame this on the gearing. But i could be wrong.

I get to my location. Load the new axle up. Go to start. Shows it’s overheating on the dash. Let it sit for about 30 mins. Super hard start. Barely idles. Smashing the gas to keep it alive. Put it in gear. Truck barely moves under its own power. Finally starts to creep away.

As soon as i get out of his driveway everything drives fine. The ride back. No overheating. Still hunting for gears on the highway but i slowed down to 60 and it was fine. Get home and my whole trailer has spots of tranny fluid on it. Look underneath and you can see it leaking from the bell housing. (I also have a small RMS/oil pan leak so disregard the wet oil pan)

But you can see its tranny fluid. And it’s all over the bottom of the truck. This transmission was just replaced with a reman unit about 3 months ago. Any ideas?

On the upside i have a 8.8 rear end with 4.10s, lsd, and disk brakes at the house now to put under her soon

 

[CharlesHS]

IF the transmission was replaced by a shop; sounds like it's time to bring the Jeep to that shop and have them do some checks... before the warranty period expires.

 

[bfabian76]

IF the transmission was replaced by a shop; sounds like it's time to bring the Jeep to that shop and have them do some checks... before the warranty period expires.

It was. However at this point i don’t really want them touching it. My tranny pan gasket was leaking. My NSS was leaking. And now this. I’d rather fix it myself and know it’s done right to be honest.

 

[Chris]

I don’t think that a Ford 8.8 axle has any upsides to it whatsoever, I’d rather have a Super 35

I think it’s time to pull the transmission for sure and probably use a spell checker going forward. I mean that in the most respectful way

 

[TJ Jim]

So…your point is?

 

[SvtLdr]

I don’t think that a Ford 8.8 axle has any upsides to it whatsoever, I’d rather have a Super 35

I think it’s time to pull the transmission for sure and probably use a spell checker going forward. I mean that in the most respectful way

Gotta be one of your top 10 most-helpful posts!

I mean that in the most respectful way.

 

[Chris]

Gotta be one of your top 10 most-helpful posts!

I mean that in the most respectful way.

I’m all out of ideas today. That’s what happens when your 2 year old pukes all over the back of your Jeep when off-roading

 

[bfabian76]

I don’t think that a Ford 8.8 axle has any upsides to it whatsoever, I’d rather have a Super 35

I think it’s time to pull the transmission for sure and probably use a spell checker going forward. I mean that in the most respectful way

I blame autocorrect. I have a screaming baby in my lap and a leaking jeep in the shop. I’m typing frustrated lol

But no. I’d rather have a built 8.8 or Dana 44 over a super 35. If i was staying 33s i would probably consider it. But I’m not. And i had zero luck finding a nice Dana 44 locally.
I’m probably going to throw it on the lift and drop the trans soon to check it out. The only thing i can think of is the vent tube or input seal.

 

[SvtLdr]

I’m all out of ideas today. That’s what happens when your 2 year old pukes all over the back of your Jeep when off-roading

So glad those days are behind me.
...but I miss them just a little bit.

 

[Chris]

So glad those days are behind me.
...but I miss them just a little bit.

Right now I think I won't miss them, but I probably will at some point.

I had no idea he (my son) even has motion sickness, but after 2 hours on the trail all of a sudden we look back and he just pukes everywhere. I guess it makes sense since my oldest daughter (9) has motion sickness as well in the car. It seems me and my 5 year old daughter are the only ones who don't get it. The other kids must have gotten it from my wife since she gets motion sickness as well.

 

[SvtLdr]

I’m all out of ideas today. That’s what happens when your 2 year old pukes all over the back of your Jeep when off-roading

I was the exact same way, read the post and just stared at it blankly... been a long week.

 

[Chris]

I was the exact same way, read the post and just stared at it blankly... been a long week. View attachment 272052

You and me both! Kids started school last week so we're still getting them adjusted and used to the routine again.

 

[SvtLdr]

Right now I think I won't miss them, but I probably will at some point.

I had no idea he (my son) even has motion sickness, but after 2 hours on the trail all of a sudden we look back and he just pukes everywhere. I guess it makes sense since my oldest daughter (9) has motion sickness as well in the car. It seems me and my 5 year old daughter are the only ones who don't get it. The other kids must have gotten it from my wife since she gets motion sickness as well.

I'm suppose I'm blessed, both my kids have grown up in the back seat of my Jeep and on the trail since they were 18mon. old. They both still take naps on the trail and they're 9 and 6 now.

 

[hear]

It was. However at this point i don’t really want them touching it. My tranny pan gasket was leaking. My NSS was leaking. And now this. I’d rather fix it myself and know it’s done right to be honest.

Don't be too quick to assume your pan gasket is leaking. Many other leaks have a way of getting to the lip of the pan, making you think it's a gasket problem.

Did you notice any drips prior to now? My initial thought about a leak shortly after servicing is the pump gasket & input shaft seal. But I would also look at your selector shaft seal, that one is easy to blame the gasket for.

If you have the time, dry everything off completely, then stuff paper towels everywhere and let it sit overnight. Come back in the morning and look for red paper towels. That will give you some indicators. The FSM has some troubleshooting steps that include "if you see ATF on X, your leak is probably around Y. I would definitely give that a look.

 

[bfabian76]

Don't be too quick to assume your pan gasket is leaking. Many other leaks have a way of getting to the lip of the pan, making you think it's a gasket problem.

Did you notice any drips prior to now? My initial thought about a leak shortly after servicing is the pump gasket & input shaft seal. But I would also look at your selector shaft seal, that one is easy to blame the gasket for.

If you have the time, dry everything off completely, then stuff paper towels everywhere and let it sit overnight. Come back in the morning and look for red paper towels. That will give you some indicators. The FSM has some troubleshooting steps that include "if you see ATF on X, your leak is probably around Y. I would definitely give that a look.

I did that to find my leaks to begin with. I have replaced the selector seal, the nss, and the pan gasket. i had no more tranny leaks after that.

Im actually working on the jeep today. im really starting to think it fluid came from the fill tube. either up and out or around the oring. i cant find anywhere else. i pulled the inspection plate. everything inside is dry.

 

[hear]

I did that to find my leaks to begin with. I have replaced the selector seal, the nss, and the pan gasket. i had no more tranny leaks after that.

Im actually working on the jeep today. im really starting to think it fluid came from the fill tube. either up and out or around the oring. i cant find anywhere else. i pulled the inspection plate. everything inside is dry.

Don’t pull the dipstick tube w/o first draining the pan. Don’t ask me how I know, I’m likely to become irrationally angry again.

 

[bfabian76]

Don’t pull the dipstick tube w/o first draining the pan. Don’t ask me how I know, I’m likely to become irrationally angry again.

Haha. I guess you learned the hard way? Lol. Yesterday i overhauled the cooling system. New fan clutch, thermostat, hoses, coolant flush.ect. Radiator has already been replaced. I also ordered a tranny cooler with fan to help with the temps when crawling and in the mud in this Florida heat.
Hoping between that stuff and my new gears it will be ok

 

[Brianj5600]

Towing a trailer probably forced the torque converter unlock and with the torque converter unlocked the fluid gets hot. Shifting to 2nd gear would have reduced converter slippage and reduced temperature. With the correct gearing there probably would not have been a heat issue.

 

[hear]

...with the torque converter unlocked the fluid gets hot.

This is absolutely brand new information!! My lockup pigtail is in bad shape but I haven't had the chance to replace it yet...and left it unplugged after my last round of maintenance. I guess I need to plug that sucker back in.