Transmission Issue--Please Help!!

[curiouskitty]

Hello! I am the owner of a '95 Jeep Wrangler. While leaving my parents on Christmas Eve, I noticed about three blocks into my journey that when I pressed on the accelerator, the Jeep would go no more than 15 mph. Finally after one mile, I pulled over and the Jeep would not move in R or D. I was towed to my home and both my AAA rep and the tow truck person said it was the transmission. Sure enough, this morning my parents found the pool of pink fluid and a trail that ran down the block. My questions:

1. What could the problem(s) be?
2. What factors may have contibuted to this problem?
3. Will I have to get get the entire transmission replaced (please give me good news on this one! I can't afford a new transmission!)?
4. What is the average cost to replace the possible problem?
5. For readers on the northside of Chicago, can you recommend a relatively modest and straightforward shop that can do the repairs?

As an FYI, I do not drive the car on a daily basis, and the Chicago weather has been crazy going from 20o below with wind chills to tons of snow to rain to 35o (I add this info to see if any of these may be contributing factors.)

Thank you in advance for your responses. Happy Holidays to all!!

curiouskitty

 

[pitbulld45]

If it were me I would check to see where the fluid drained from. If its from around the pan it might be something as simple as the bolts needing tightend on the pan or the gasket might need replaced. With a mayjor fluid loss your transmission wont function properly.

 

[SteelHeadz]

It's possible that your Jeep has blown a line. if it's the steel line, considering that you live in a place where it snow's and the streets are constantly salted,i would thing the cause of failure would be due to rust. i could be wrong. you dont have to replace the transmission right away without justification. Find and isolate the source of the leak, repair it, Check the trans. fluid level and add as necessary. follow the the directions on the dipstick for proper procedure, i beleive the trans is checked in park. after this, just monitor it for a few minutes to make sure that there are no more leaks, if not, take it on a Test drive and verify that it's shifting properly in all gears, if not, i would suggest that you take it to a qualified transmission specialist.

 

[Crazy4diesels]

Hey there curiouskitty,

Any leak that big and fast is something you should be able to spot under there. As Steelheadz said, check your lines. There should be two and they will run up front to the radiator (and / or cooler). Most stock setups are steel lines. If there are rubber sections with hose clamps someone has patched them. You want to follow these lines all the way. As Steelheadz said it might be a rust through leak. Could also be a fitting has loosened. If you see that it came from the bell housing area you might have blown the pump or torque converter seal. The transmission will probably still work fine as long as you find your leak. When an automatic dies the oil "usually" stays inside. Don't feel too bad... I know someone who had a line leak and their van caught fire. They couldn't put the thing out and it burned to the ground. It was so hot that the transmission oil re-lit each time the guy hit it with the extinguiusher. Best of luck - John