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3 Posts
Howdy everyone, I've been a long time lurker on this site, finding great information on my 1991 Mustang (2.3 L, NA, 4 speed automatic).
This is the first time I've ever needed to ask something so specific though...
Recently (with the help of this forum, of course), I diagnosed a problem with the Transmission Vacuum Modulator... which was causing my ATF level to run down rather quickly, and slipping to occur. I would have to top up every week or two before I did the work. When I finally did it, everything worked quite well. For the last 3 weeks I put A LOT of miles on it, without loosing any fluid...
Today that all changed.
I was leaving my sisters house, casually driving down the street, without accelerating or putting any kind of unusual stress on the motor suddenly I had white smoke billowing out of the exhaust. It did not smell like oil burning, and lacked the distinct blue tinge. It did not however smell like coolant, an odour I am also quite familiar with. I pulled over right away and first thing I checked was the ATF dipstick. It read okay at this point. Engine oil level was fine too, and there was still water in the coolant reservoir. I elected to take my chances getting it home across town, about a 15 min drive. As I drove the transmission began to behave in a familiar way, slipping mildly at first then the worst I've ever experienced by the time I got it in the drive way. At this point checking the stick revealed the transmission was bone dry.
So it is obvious to me that the smoke was ATF oil because
1. transmission went from full to empty and started slipping by the end
2. smoke was thick and white, lingered a long time (hence not water) and did not smell like engine oil smoke or have a blue tint
3. oil was coming out the tail pipe and had a reddish hue
it is also obvious that the vacuum modulator I put in has crapped out after less than 3 weeks.
My questions/concerns are this.
Do you think I could have just had the misfortune of getting a defective vacuum modulator? Perhaps I should have done to the dealer for an OEM rather than an after market? Could there be a bigger underlying problem? Could the extended period of driving with a malfunctioning modulator have caused some kind of damage that resulted in the new one getting destroyed? Did this drive across town total my transmission? Should I be getting ready for a rebuild, or should I calmly just start with a new, possibly OEM modulator and see how it goes?
*also, I am doubtful of the relevance, but about 2 months ago I changed the transmission filter and gasket, and inspected the magnetic filing catcher in the pan on the advice of someone.. it didn't reveal anything compelling.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
-Donnie
This is the first time I've ever needed to ask something so specific though...
Recently (with the help of this forum, of course), I diagnosed a problem with the Transmission Vacuum Modulator... which was causing my ATF level to run down rather quickly, and slipping to occur. I would have to top up every week or two before I did the work. When I finally did it, everything worked quite well. For the last 3 weeks I put A LOT of miles on it, without loosing any fluid...
Today that all changed.
I was leaving my sisters house, casually driving down the street, without accelerating or putting any kind of unusual stress on the motor suddenly I had white smoke billowing out of the exhaust. It did not smell like oil burning, and lacked the distinct blue tinge. It did not however smell like coolant, an odour I am also quite familiar with. I pulled over right away and first thing I checked was the ATF dipstick. It read okay at this point. Engine oil level was fine too, and there was still water in the coolant reservoir. I elected to take my chances getting it home across town, about a 15 min drive. As I drove the transmission began to behave in a familiar way, slipping mildly at first then the worst I've ever experienced by the time I got it in the drive way. At this point checking the stick revealed the transmission was bone dry.
So it is obvious to me that the smoke was ATF oil because
1. transmission went from full to empty and started slipping by the end
2. smoke was thick and white, lingered a long time (hence not water) and did not smell like engine oil smoke or have a blue tint
3. oil was coming out the tail pipe and had a reddish hue
it is also obvious that the vacuum modulator I put in has crapped out after less than 3 weeks.
My questions/concerns are this.
Do you think I could have just had the misfortune of getting a defective vacuum modulator? Perhaps I should have done to the dealer for an OEM rather than an after market? Could there be a bigger underlying problem? Could the extended period of driving with a malfunctioning modulator have caused some kind of damage that resulted in the new one getting destroyed? Did this drive across town total my transmission? Should I be getting ready for a rebuild, or should I calmly just start with a new, possibly OEM modulator and see how it goes?
*also, I am doubtful of the relevance, but about 2 months ago I changed the transmission filter and gasket, and inspected the magnetic filing catcher in the pan on the advice of someone.. it didn't reveal anything compelling.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
-Donnie