02 Windstar-mechanic says transmission is about to blow........

[jsas1218]

I know a little about cars but just from what I've learned through past experience, but I've never had problems with a transmission before. My car jerks when I accelerate, it's getting worse so now it's sometimes when idiling too. At first they thought it was a misfire but no check engine light came on. The mechanic drove it yesterday and he said it's doing it every time it shifts. He said it feels like the gears are slipping. He checked my transmission fluid, it is completely black and has metal chips in it. Just looking for some feedback (he says I'll be lucky if it goes another 200 miles without dying). Is there something I can do to try and prevent having to replace the whole transmission? Would a tranny flush help any? And lastly, I only started having problems with it after I got an oil change, and filter change. (They also knocked my vacuum hose loose, so that caused my check engine light to come on, they knocked another spring or something off my engine too, so basically not competent people) But my question with that, is there something they could have done wrong to be causing me to now have transmission issues? I appreciate any advice. Thank you in advance.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by jsas1218

. He checked my transmission fluid, it is completely black and has metal chips in it. .

If you are sure the fluid looks like this, then you will need a new (rebuilt) transmission. A filter and fluid change will not help.

Transmissions do require some maintenance, usually a transmission fluid and filter change every 2 or 3 years is a good idea. Not doing this basic maintenance increases the risk of transmission trouble in the long run.

The fluid should be pink. If it's black, it means the transmission has been slipping enough to overheat and 'burn' off the friction lining in the clutch packs and band. This burned material contaminates the fluid, making it black. Badly-burned clutches and bands will always slip and must be replaced via a rebuild.

Sometimes transmissions slip because of a lack of maintenance. A filter that is never changed can become clogged, so the transmission fluid cannot be circulated through the transmission sufficiently. This reduces fluid pressure and makes the clutch packs slip and burn. A low fluid level can sometimes do the same thing.

If this is the case, it's possible you could have avoided long term damage by getting a transmission service done as soon as you noticed the jerking motion, instead of continuing to drive (and damage) the car.

The metal chunks in the fluid is very bad news. It means some 'hard' parts (metal parts) have broken, probably gears or bearings. Such metal particles are now spread throughout the transmission, contaminating all internal components, including the torque converter.

If the 'hard' parts broke first, then the transmission was history anyways. You likely did not do much additional damage by driving it.

So, I agree with the mechanic, your transmission and torque converter require replacement. If you plan to keep the car for another few years, go for a rebuilt transmission and converter. I would not recommend rebuilding your actual broken transmission - I think it is too badly damaged inside. Insist on rebuilt (exchange) unit.

If you plan to replace the van in a year or two, you may be able to save some money and get a good used unit from an auto dismantling (wrecking) yard.

Finally, no it's very unlikely that an engine oil and filter change could have lead to such severe transmission damage.

[12Ounce]

I agree with what has been posted thus far. I would add that it is very likely the transmission service you paid for .... did more harm than good. It is difficult to buy good service.

Decision time! Is it better to trade now? ... while the car still moves. If you replace the transmission ... are you confident your local service shop will do that properly?

How many miles are on the transmission? Folks are lucky if they get 100k miles trouble-free on a Winny's tranny.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by 12Ounce

t it is very likely the transmission service you paid for .... did more harm than good.

I do not think jsas1218 had any trans service done. I think he or she was referring to an engine oil and filter change.

[12Ounce]

Oops! My bad!

[jsas1218]

I have had numerous transmission preventive maintenance services etc.. done since I've had this vehicle. I always take very good care of my vehicles. I was referring to an engine oil and filter change when I started having all the problems.

"If this is the case, it's possible you could have avoided long term damage by getting a transmission service done as soon as you noticed the jerking motion, instead of continuing to drive (and damage) the car"

And in regards to this comment, I appreciate the comments and advice, but please don't make assumptions. I took my car to my mechanic the day I left from getting an oil change to have him find out what was wrong with it. They believed it was a misfire in my engine. The problem continued to get worse, and I kept taking it in. Only when it started getting really bad did it pop any codes up in the computer for them to correctly diagnose the problem.

[12Ounce]

Do you know the codes? Are you still having the symptoms or has it been corrected?