tranny problems

[abracabrasky]

i own a 97 passport with 122k miles on it. ive had it for 3 years now and prolly about a year a go i noticed a spot on the driveway that looked like transmission fluid and read the owners manual and saw it was a sealed transmission and being the naieve person i am thought that i didnt have to service the transmission. about 2 months ago my truck started making the clasic hard shifts and slipping however the slipping felt more like binding of the front axles and i noticed that the boots were both torn and almost no grease was inside so i have been planning on getting those fixed. last week i was driving home from work going about 60mph and my engine red lined and i checked my speed and it was decreasing and wouldnt let me go any faster so i pulled off to the side of the road and turned my truck off and let it sit. i started it back up and started driving and am now stuck in first gear. after that i came to this forum and was severely educated. so this morning i folowed everyones instructions in checking tranny fluid and filling it. i drained about a quart out of the drain plug and put in about 4 quarts of fresh fluid. still stuck in 1st gear. i then disconected the battery and touched the cables together and still stuck in 1st gear. im a broke college kid so i dont really have the money to take it to a mechanic to have it fixed. any sugestions would be greatly apriciated.

[Ramblin Fever]

It's hard to say what it may be, but kind of sounds like it was leaking & running low on tranny fluid for quite some time - if you noticed tranny fluid leaking in your driveway a year go.

Yeah, these tranny's are a bugger - being sealed units, but they can still leak, and/or have hoses that can leak. At 100K and plus, could have been a tranny cooling hose leaking as well.

Sorry, but it kind of sounds like you may have toasted the tranny. Couple things about these 4L30-E tranny's, they hate low fluid levels, and can't tolerate getting hot.

A rebuild "may" be in order, hopefully others will chime in. I've never experienced this sort of thing with my Rodeo's, but have with a Kia Sportage.

It was brand-new, dealership didn't top off tranny fluid - burnt up the tranny/torque converter in less then 3K miles. 1st gear was all that would work.

[listentillithrtz]

i am having a similar problem... broke college kid as well. i am having to replace tranny w/ a rebuilt one from "phoenix retrans" do a search on ahoo for that keyword. around $1500 for me to have everything done. student loans babe!

[abracabrasky]

i re checked the transmission later this afternoon still full of fluid however there does apear to be a leak in one of the upper lines. is it worth just trying to replace the line or should i just get a new tranny anyways after driving for so long with low fluid? thank you for all of the comments. they're much apriciated

[Ramblin Fever]

I'm hoping others will chime in here, and give their opinions as well.

I think it's best to take it to a reputable transmission shop and see what they have to say; there's no way for us to know, including yourself, whether or not those internal parts are damaged without getting an inside view.

Hose definitely needs replaced, but no telling if that'll "cure" the problem.

[hallbee]

hey, where did u find the check & fill plug on the trans? ive looked all over & cant find it where the owners manual said it was supose to be! mine is starting to slip too.

[listentillithrtz]

how many miles hallbe? what year?

[hallbee]

112,495 miles, 2000 rodeo 4x4 3.2 liter automatic