Hi,
Optimistic Paranoid thought it'd be better to write here so more mechanically inclined people can hopefully give me your thoughts. This is from my captiain's log, post #160 https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Theadyn-s-van-and-trip-log?pid=158528#pid158528 where I was writing down the multitude of thoughts going on about possible transmission problem.
Here's the thing: back in June there was an incident where she dumped all her fluid in Arkansas. This was over the 2nd of the scenic bypasses that were too many hills/mountains, steep inclines and declines, the heat of the day, and the non-stop driving and no engine break (kept running to keep A/C going for doggies). She spit out all her tranny fluid and refused to hold it in for a while, even slipping twice before I pulled her off the road and refused to drive it for a while. It did cool off after an hour or so, kept fluid in her, and we limped her into a town about 20 miles away without issue. Slept over night there, took off early the next day, stopping often, checking often... tranny fluid stayed the entire over 300 miles home, and has stayed in her ever since.
However, there has been a few times it seems to rev up too much, like taking off and going into first or second gear. It doesn't slip or act weird going down the road in higher gears. But it has done this revving loud thing then like a jerking when getting into the first couple of gears I would say about 5 times in the past month.
Beings how I am a little nervous about the tranny already, is this a sign of the tranny going? Am I being paranoid? I have the name of a trusted mechanic, both my dad and uncle (lifelong garage mechanics themselves) has used him for their transmissions, he's reasonable and trustworthy, so that part is good. My dad said he charged him $1300 to rebuild his pickup tranny. Plus, have a second vehicle to use while should it need to be fixed.
Another issue, not sure related or not, is it's tendency to die when putting it into reverse. Starts right back up and usually goes (spitting, but goes) after that. Once or twice I've had to stop really fast, and it died when i stopped. It will always start right back up and go, it's just an annoyance and pain in my butt, really.
I hate to keep pouring money into something that didn't cost that much when I got it, but she is already outfitted and has taken me over 5,000 miles since March, and I like her.
The other thing to remember... funds are dwindling. If it's going to be a huge expensive fix, should I just scrap it and start over with what I would have been out.. thereby getting another unknown? My gut tells me 'no'.. this one has known issues. Guess it's the cost thing I'm worried about. That, and I don't want to be stranded hours or states from home, ya know?
If a rebuild is about $1500 or so I could swing it, have some left and still have some emergency money. But more than that.. :s
In your experience.. is this nothing?? Or is it the start to something?? It is a 1996 Ford E150 V8 w a 5.8l motor. Thanks for any advice.
Optimistic Paranoid thought it'd be better to write here so more mechanically inclined people can hopefully give me your thoughts. This is from my captiain's log, post #160 https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Theadyn-s-van-and-trip-log?pid=158528#pid158528 where I was writing down the multitude of thoughts going on about possible transmission problem.
Here's the thing: back in June there was an incident where she dumped all her fluid in Arkansas. This was over the 2nd of the scenic bypasses that were too many hills/mountains, steep inclines and declines, the heat of the day, and the non-stop driving and no engine break (kept running to keep A/C going for doggies). She spit out all her tranny fluid and refused to hold it in for a while, even slipping twice before I pulled her off the road and refused to drive it for a while. It did cool off after an hour or so, kept fluid in her, and we limped her into a town about 20 miles away without issue. Slept over night there, took off early the next day, stopping often, checking often... tranny fluid stayed the entire over 300 miles home, and has stayed in her ever since.
However, there has been a few times it seems to rev up too much, like taking off and going into first or second gear. It doesn't slip or act weird going down the road in higher gears. But it has done this revving loud thing then like a jerking when getting into the first couple of gears I would say about 5 times in the past month.
Beings how I am a little nervous about the tranny already, is this a sign of the tranny going? Am I being paranoid? I have the name of a trusted mechanic, both my dad and uncle (lifelong garage mechanics themselves) has used him for their transmissions, he's reasonable and trustworthy, so that part is good. My dad said he charged him $1300 to rebuild his pickup tranny. Plus, have a second vehicle to use while should it need to be fixed.
Another issue, not sure related or not, is it's tendency to die when putting it into reverse. Starts right back up and usually goes (spitting, but goes) after that. Once or twice I've had to stop really fast, and it died when i stopped. It will always start right back up and go, it's just an annoyance and pain in my butt, really.
I hate to keep pouring money into something that didn't cost that much when I got it, but she is already outfitted and has taken me over 5,000 miles since March, and I like her.
The other thing to remember... funds are dwindling. If it's going to be a huge expensive fix, should I just scrap it and start over with what I would have been out.. thereby getting another unknown? My gut tells me 'no'.. this one has known issues. Guess it's the cost thing I'm worried about. That, and I don't want to be stranded hours or states from home, ya know?
If a rebuild is about $1500 or so I could swing it, have some left and still have some emergency money. But more than that.. :s
In your experience.. is this nothing?? Or is it the start to something?? It is a 1996 Ford E150 V8 w a 5.8l motor. Thanks for any advice.
