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Drained Tranny fluid by mistake and drove... error codes and slipping now refilled
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jacobim
New User
Mar 6, 2014, 1:30 PM
Post #1 of 5
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Drained Tranny fluid by mistake and drove... error codes and slipping now refilled
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04 Explorer
6 cyl
non-dipstick tranny
150k miles
Like the title says. Changed oil, and drained trans pan by mistake. Filled with oil, and it took all of it. Drove for a month before I realized mistake and refilled fluid. In that time, started slipping, now od light, engine light on... half a dozen error codes from failed solenoid to improper setting for shift point 1-2, 5th, etc. Seems to drive fine except that shift point is all screewy from 1-2. Not sure about 5th as I haven't taken it on highway.
Trying to figure out if tranny is cooked, or if replacing solenoid pack or similar could inexpensively fix.
Question boils down to this: How can I determine if there is physical damage beyond what a relatively simple fix could cure? Also, now that fluid is back, is it damaging further by driving so long as I ease it gently through 1-2 gear shift?
Already took it into trans guy who barely looked at it, and said it needed a new transmission. When I asked him why, he just said because there are error codes. Not putting too much stock in his read, so like to dig deeper. The vehicle is simply not worth the expense of replacing fully transmission.
Also, high oil seems to have caused leaks. What should I be mindfull of right now about any damage from high oil for that month?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 6, 2014, 2:10 PM
Post #2 of 5
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Re: Drained Tranny fluid by mistake and drove... error codes and slipping now refilled
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I gotta take a breath! You drained as much as trans drain plug drained then put in proper refill amount of engine oil - is that right?
You've probably killed both. Too late now but don't you check engine oil level when finished changing it and would have known this all went wrong? - Guess not,
T
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 6, 2014, 4:55 PM
Post #3 of 5
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Re: Drained Tranny fluid by mistake and drove... error codes and slipping now refilled
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So basically, you put 10 quarts into the engine when you drained the transmission instead of the crank case. Then you drove it around with an overfilled engine and a near empty transmission?
Transmission is probably done and will need to be replaced since you had been driving it around with low fluid. I'm surprised it would even move if you drained the transmission.
Did you drain the oil out of the engine and put in the correct amount?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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jacobim
New User
Mar 6, 2014, 8:42 PM
Post #4 of 5
(1297 views)
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Re: Drained Tranny fluid by mistake and drove... error codes and slipping now refilled
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Yeah... painful. I know.
No, I didn't see any need to check oil level since it had just supposedly been drained completely and refilled with level indicated in manual. It didn't overflow or anything. Had no indication anything was wrong.
Trans started slipping occasionally, though... didn't get any error codes or anything for a month. Drove fine except for occasional slips... then rapidly got worse about not shifting into 2nd.
Yes, oil has now been drained and refilled to proper level. Got trans up to proper temp and put fluid back in through the nozzle in drain plug. It took about 3 quarts to refill it.
So, basically drained the pan on tranny which means there was still fluid, but it was down whatever the pan holds when cold.
Errors now say bad solenoid, bad shift point for 2nd and 5th, and a couple other things I don't remember right now.
Hate to think how all that oil worked it's way out or what hole was left behind when it did. So far no indications of any oil issues, though.
Since it drives fine except for codes and shift point into 2nd, just want to make sure I can't do something like replace solenoid pack before ditching the vehicle. Haven't hit 5th gear yet, but if it weren't for the missed shift into 2nd and the lights, I wouldn't know anything was wrong.
At 150k miles, I'm not about to sink the money into it for new trans, so just seeing if there's any way to salvage the situation.
(This post was edited by jacobim on Mar 6, 2014, 8:45 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 7, 2014, 4:30 AM
Post #5 of 5
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Re: Drained Tranny fluid by mistake and drove... error codes and slipping now refilled
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It's trouble and sorry it wasn't caught right away. Trans down 3 quarts isn't all of the fluid but shouldn't have moved IMO. What was left is probably so gummed up only a complete tear-down is going to clean it up and you would overhaul it if all apart as that's the work - parts not usually the big chunk.
The wearing parts just clutches and bands don't have much to lose new and slipping at all wipes them out of range in no time. Debris and hot sticky like dried polyurethane in the wrong places too. Yes - trick solvents claim to fix that but usually don't even for a week if they do. Whatever and all sensing and moving parts now in question and hard to believe any codes too much.
I'm shocked that the overfill didn't wildly react right away. It may have been (engine oil) quite low that it worked at all never mind a month.
As said back a few posts it's real trouble for both engine and trans now.
Sorry it happened. YES - filling to known amounts is a way, even my way to know dipsticks in question or if plain low oil check lights are coming on by adding one quart low, reading sticks then fill to correct amount. Tell person/owner or if yours take note that it's off if so.
Many just "check oil" not the dreaded low oil pressure warning lights are way too low for comfort when they do light not within safe range IMO but real close.
Engines: About all are fine (no testing limits on this) a qt. low or over with exception of steep hill parking or use there is a safe range. Under is dangerous low oil pressure as it isn't there for picking up in sump and overfilled splashing in the crankshaft, bubbles or hydraulic damage slowly or right away that doesn't self correct much if damage done.
Sad situation. Probably best to have it diagnosed as to whether it's worth any attempts or hunt down entire replacement engine+trans as a fix up to giving up on this vehicle for another. Bummer,
T
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