'97 Taurus transmission

[4jenzcar]

Since we've owned the car (bought it used about a year ago), there's always been a certain amount of slippage, particularly when starting from a stop, and turning left on the slightest uphill grade (there happens to be a couple of those upward lefts I have to take, near my home). Only if I barely touched the gas as I started to go, would it go without a jerk. Then, it would be fine the rest of the time. We kept an eye on the transmission fluid, and the problem seemed to stay about the same, or at least it didn't get worse until...

I had been driving for approx. 1 hour, at freeway speeds mostly, when something must have happened, because everytime I had to slow down at all (in city traffic), the car would sort of act like it was in neutral (when it was in drive), and it would occasionally jerk forward (if it moved forward at all). So, I slowly creeped forward until I reached a nearby oil change place (the closest automotive service establishment I could find), and we asked the guys if they would take a look at. After they pushed it onto one of their service bays, they looked at it from underneath. They found that it was leaking transmission fluid like a sieve.

I know next to nothing about cars, but I'm guessing that this means the transmission is shot. Is that the case? Or, is there a seal or something that may have given way, causing the fluid to pour out like that? And if so, can it be replaced, without having to replace the whole transmission?

I should add that we left the car there for a few hours, and when we returned with a car carrier, I was able to drive (forward) up the ramps of the carrier, with no problem. Maybe that's a good sign, or maybe it's wishful thinking. Please help!!!

Thank you for reading my post! Your comments will be greatly appreciated.

Jen

[KimMG]

You said the transmission is leaking, but did not tell us from where the leak is originating. Many leaks can be fixed with the transmission in the car.

[4jenzcar]

I haven't actually seen it myself, but I was told that it is leaking out of the front end of the transmission. If you need something more specific, I suppose I could take a look at it and see if I can see it dripping from a particular spot. Please let me know if you'll need me to do that.

Thanks again!

Jen

[Smurf333]

try to main seal. It's in the front of the trans and it's circular. The one on my taurus just went and fluid is POURING!!!! The cure? For a temp. fix - put in Valvoline MAX life trans fluid for high mileage cars. red bottle, about $2 a bottle. For a real fix? you have to take out the trans, lift the engine and take off basically the entire front (body pieces - bumpers, panels, etc.) If you have a mechanic do it - go thru a FORD specialist!!!! The Taurus is an easy car to work on - but the labor for the job is unbelievable! I have to wait for a specialist to work on mine - I was going to do it myself, but I don't have the time. When i took it to another mechanic friend, he told me hell no b/c of the amount of work and the fact that he was scared to take so much of it apart. The body panels will line up fine when it gets put back together so no worries there. Other then that there isn't much more to it. The part is circular and only costs about $6. The labor is the worst as I said. Good luck! Let me know what haoppens - like I said, the Max Life trans fluis will calm the leaking down majorly - but remeber - it is only a TEMPORARY fix. Wait too long and you can cause more damage (you can go as much as a few months - but don't try a year or anything). and be easy on your take - offs!
Good Luck-
Smurf

[4jenzcar]

Thank you for responding to my post.
Before I buy the transmission fluid that you recommended, I wonder if you could tell me what it is about "Valvoline MAX life trans fluid for high mileage cars" that will keep it from pouring right through my transmission case... Is it particularly viscous? Or, is it simply a matter of it leaving some kind of coating on the interior parts, significant enough that it's not missed when it's gone? Please help me to understand.
You said that the fluid was POURING out of the transmission's front seal, on your car, so it sounds like the same problem I'm having. However, could you please give me some assurance that I won't just be pouring money through the transmission. I mean, when you're pouring bottle after $2.00 bottle into the transmission, waiting to get to the full mark, and it may never get there, because it's draining back out through the broken seal, just as quickly... how will I know that I've used enough? Please advise.
I've been out of town for the past week, but today, I plan to pick-up a bottle or two of the high mileage MAX life MIRACLE FLUID, because the alternative (that is, the labor it would take to fix the leaking seal) is not a feasible option. I am hoping you can tell me how much I'll need to make it work.
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR RESPONSE!!! Your help is greatly appreciated.

Jen

[4jenzcar]

I wanted to tell everyone (who may be having the same problem that I had) that I took Smurf333's advice, and it worked! So far, so good, anyway. THANK YOU, SMURF333!!!

If you read my original post, you would've seen that I was having (what I considered to be) major problems with a transmission fluid leak, and things were looking pretty bad. Smurf333 recommended that I use "Valvoline MAX Life transmission fluid for high mileage cars", to stop the leak (for a couple of months at a time). As you read on, you saw that I was a bit skeptical of how well it would work, given the fast rate at which the transmission fluid had been leaking. So, I didn't go out and buy it right away. But, once I determined that I didn't have another option available to me, for the time being, I went to the local AutoZone, to pick up a bottle or two.

When I got there, I saw a few other products that sounded like they were made specifically to stop leaks. But, having the strong recommendation for the Valvoline MAX Life brand, I knew I was going to buy at least one bottle of that type. However, since I wasn't absolutely certain that it would work, I decided to buy a little insurance. After all, if the MAX Life didn't work, when (and how) was I going to get back down there, to pick up something else? So, I found another one (I don't remember the name of it, and the container is in my car. But, I can get it for anyone who wants to know, if you post your request or email me), that had a "100% money back guarantee to stop the leaks with a single use", and a $2.00 rebate. How could I go wrong with that?! Before I checked out, I asked a guy who worked there if he thought it would be harmful to use both of them at once, if I added a little less transmission fluid when I was refilling it to the appropriate level. He said that it sounded like a good idea to him, and that it should work (although he may have just wanted me to spend more, who knows?!). ;^)

I poured the bottles in, one at a time, looking under the car after each, as I was expecting to see it come right back out through the same place as before. To my surprise, only a couple of drops came out! I continued to let the car run for several minutes longer, to see if the added warmth would change anything, and make it start flowing out, but it didn't.

I was too scared to take it for a test drive, without someone following me, who could give me a ride back home if it didn't work, so the car actually sat there for almost a week. Then, I had the perfect opportunity to test drive it, when I wanted to go to my son's baseball game, and it was the only way I could get there. It was at a local park that, in order to get there, I wouldn't be required to drive up or down any serious slopes. Before I left, I checked the fluid level once more, just to be safe, and I was on my way... Believe it or not, I got there and back without a single problem! What's more is, I wasn't even having the problems I had been having before the "big leak" occurred! No more delayed acceleration or hesitation, then lunging forward suddenly; no more gears slipping; no problems whatsoever!!! Now, I have driven it for approximately 50 miles, since I added the treatment(s), and I continue to have no problems. This includes city, freeway, uphill and downhill driving!

If you are having a problem with a transmission leak, sounding similiar to mine, I'd try the simple and inexpensive solution that Smurf333 offered me. Now you have two strong recommendations to go with!

Thanks again, Smurf333 (and automotiveforums.com)! You saved my family and me a lot of grief (and walking), and we truly appreciate it!

Warmest Regards,
Jennifer