96' Transmission problem

Hello, I am new to the forums. My name is Scott, I live in central New York.

So here is what happened. Yesterday I was driving my 1996 Escort LX hatchback to work, and I heard a odd noise. I pulled over to the side of the road, and it looked like I had smoked my tires, but I could smell it was transmission fluid. I did not see any leaks, but I figured I better shut off the car just to be safe. As soon as I shut the car off, the fluid just poured out. I could not exactly get under the car to see where it's coming from (the body kit is too low to the ground) so I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what it may be. I am really hoping I don't have to replace the entire transmission, because I dont have the money for it.
Thanks
-Scott

Scott: You are going to have to get it up in the air and see what is up. Too many things to guess at, you may have hit something in the road and pierced the oil pan? Who knows. But you gotta get under it somehow.

Yeah well I noticed the other day that.. When I would stop at a stop sign, I could not let off the brake, or else the car would roll back, and as soon as I gave it gas, the car would not move, but then catch.. Then this happened. I jacked the car up today and got under it, but there is some kind of a plate covering up the entire transmission section so I have to figure out how im going to get that off. I can see fluid all over though, and it doesnt appear to be leaking from the pan, but it could be leaking from the pan and just follow down on the skid plate thing. I just thought it was wierd how it poured out. Transmission usually just dont leak all of the fluid when they go shot do they?
My father suggested that it may be some kind of a vacuum hose, of some sort. Do Escort transmissions have anything like that on it?
thanks alot
-Scott

Scott: First thing to do is check the oil level, sounds like it might be low by the way you describe how it is working. Both my 95's have a vent on the transmission that is attached to the dipstick tube and ends by the top by the stick. There should be a set of plastic shields underneath and a crossmember that is built out of two tubes. It runs from front to rear underneath the trans pan and holds the front and rear mounts. You can take the crossmember out, there is a mount on top of the trans too and it will not fall out.
Second, the only time that I have seen transmission fluid pour out without a hole or a shot seal is if it overheats. Usually seen in units that plow snow, tow a trailer, or have no exterior cooling. There are tow cooling tubes that lead from the trans to the radiator. Now my other question is has the radiator been replaced and a standard shift one was put in instead? If so there would be no cooling. The lines on the transmission would be looped together with a piece of hose and hopefully not plugged off. The lines are on the front of the transmisson. Keep the faith brother, if a man built it a man can fix it. Keep in touch, it will be interesting to see what was up.

Well it appears as though there is a nice little hole in the transmission. As I jacked the car up, I noticed the fluid coming out faster and faster. This kind of sucks. So it is a pea-sized hole, in the part that the CV joint comes out of, right next to the oil pan. If I had enough room under there, I would get a picture. So, considering I have no money, and the money I do have has to go towards the bill to pay the car off, I decided to take the poor-mans route. I used J.B. Weld. I just put it on a few minutes ago. Tomorrow when I get home from school, I'll put some more on, then Tuesday after school I will put fluid in it and see what goes on from there. I hope this approch will at least give me a few months, but from what it appears, J.B. Weld works pretty good on applications like this, so with all hope it will last long enough so I can get the money to get a hole new transmission all together.
I'll let you know how it works out. And thanks for all the input.
-Scott

You did exactly what I would have done! I've had good luck with JB Weld. Had a hole in an engine oil pan once. Put on the JB Weld and it never leaked a drop! :icon16:

In your original post you said that you heard a odd noise before you struck oil. Has something broken inside the transmission to cause the hole??? I wouldn't stray too far from home with it for a little bit until you are sure things are all good. Good luck!!!

Well, it's been 24 hours and the JB weld is pretty dry, but it's been really cold out, so I figured I would put another coat over it, and put a lamp next to it for the night. Tomorrow im just gonna put a little fluid in it, and tip the car up on the jack to see if any leaks. (tipping it to the side made fluid pour out yesterday) With any luck, it will work, at least for a while until I can figure something out. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Well im pretty much f*cked. So I JB welded the hole, looked good, works good. But Irealized there was still a slow small leak coming out. Turns out that part is got one or two cracks on it too. This sucks. It makes me wonder what in the hell really happened to my car. I have another question. Does anyone have an exploded view of the transmission I could look at, or possibly a PDF of the Haynes manual? I'm so screwed it's not even funny. I cant even goto work because I dont have a car, thus I can't make any money, to pay for the car that is not even mine yet.

The crack/hole was where the CV joint comes out of. Does this make sense that transmission fluid is coming out of there? My father doesnt think that the fluid should be coming out of that part of the car, so some input on that would be nice too. >.< I don't think I messed up anything internally, cause when I spin one wheel(with my hand) the other one goes the other way. ANy suggestions as to why that part of my transmission cracked?

I do believe I've read that when you pull a CV axle out of the transaxle, you have to plug it or you fluid drains, so the fluid should be that high.

I'll look for an exploded view of a 2nd gen tranny....I've seen one somewhere. If not, I'll scan my Haynes manual for you tomorrow morning (it's at home, I'm at work).

Would these help your explanation?


http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/medium/0900823d80156738.gif


http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/medium/0900823d80156739.gif

Yes, the silver looking thing that the CV joint comes out of, that's where the hole was, and that's what is cracked. I guess it's time for a new transmission. :(