Transmission fluid in radiator and brake light STILL on!

[mimzie]

Ok I realize I'll need a new radiator for this problem with fluid getting into the water but why the heck is my brake light STILL on?! The van has about 140k miles, the brake light came on right at 75k miles and has not gone off since! We've changed the brakes (front, and I'm pretty sure the back) Could it just be something electrical and nothing really to do with the brake?

And about the transmission fluid, I started noticing my transmission fluid was low? It was like a quart low when I noticed (I dont drive much so I knew I hadnt gone any where on low fluid) so I topped it off and off I went. A week later again.. low transmission fluid? We had also noticed something redish in the radiator fluid but figured it was because of the switch from green to orange antifreeze. Then it came apparent that it wasnt. Connected the 2 and figured it was a bad radiator! URGH! Hopefully that's all thats wrong with it though, new radiator coming in soon. But I'm wondering, could there be another problem or should the new radiator fix it? The transmission seems perfectly fine, no slipping at all. But want to make sure this is the fix and feel safe driving it again.

Rachel

[mwrobe1]

I don't want to come off sounding hysterical...but...I wouldn't drive that van until the radiator is fixed along with getting your tranny fluid flushed with ATF+4.

This is how my original tranny got toasted on my minivan. The tranny cooler failed, anti-freeze got into the tranny...KABOOM! Wife was on the expressway when it happened to top it all off!

[vipergg]

Do not drive the van anymore if you still have this problem . If you haven't already ruined the tranny it will shortly . At the very least you will need a new radiator with a complete flush of the cooling system and then a complete flush of the transmission fluid also . As far as the brake light could be anything , if you have ABS there could be a fault in that system which would have to diagnosed at the dealer or could be something as simple as a parking brake switch misadjustment . The fix for your radiator problem willk not be cheap with the cost of the radiator ,labor and the cost to flush the cooling and transmission though it should be a lot less than if you ruin the transmission, $2000-3000 for a new tranny.

[mimzie]

Thanx for the replies everyone and FYI I am not driving the van so no worries As soon as I realized what the problem was, it was parked and radiator pulled out. Radiator is sitting by the van and the van is waiting for its new radiator. (Waiting on payday, luckily I found a raditor (new) for $161 delivered to my house instead of 180 + tax at the auto store!)

We plan on flushing the tranny first too, so far from what we can see, it appears there is NO antifreeze/water in the transmission fluid so we are hoping that trans fluid is getting in the water but not water into the trans (fingers crossed lol)

My battery is dead to top it all off so the van is not going any where so you guys dont worry ;-) LOL

Rachel

[wafrederick]

This is a proper flush and a lot better than the machine.Point the bottom transmission line towards a pan,start pouring fluid in and start the vehicle.Continue pouring fluid in until the fluid is clear with the vehicle running.Just make sure not to run the transmission dry.The problem with the flush machine is,the dirt gets pushed back in,mixes the new fluid with the old fluid. and uses more fluid.That is bad and I hear horror stories about flushing with the machine.I had to replace one that was acting up after being flushed.My father knows a guy that has his own transmission cleans valve bodies out after finding out the transmission was flushed with the machine and the complaint is:does not shift right.The guy does a valve body cleaning and shifts fine.Change the fluid and filter also.

[AwPhuch]

Well I know there is no water in the tranny...thankfully the overpressure in the oil made it seep INTO the radiator and not vice versa!

I will drop the pan just to make sure....the tranny uses dextron III...

I will go ahead and replace the hoses from the tranny to the radiator/cooler because of all the other dang hoses blowing out(arrrrgh dont get me started on the freeking bypass hose under the ac pump grrrr)

P.S. The tranny DOES NOT use DEX-III, so before I cost myself $2000-3000 im gonna go find me 8 quarts of ATF-3 or ATF-4 and flush it completely!

Brian, Mymzies hubbie
AwPhuch

[AwPhuch]

Great news....got the new radiator in...remounted it and everything, putting all the damn clips and stuff in was a pain

Dropped the trannypan..no water in oil...replaced filter and fluid

Running like a champ...

How odd...the trannycooler cylinder INSIDE the radiator was leaking...good thing was it was leaking under pressure INTO the radiator so no backflow into the tranny

P.S. Like a jackass I filled it with DEX-III
Going to find some ATF-3 or ATF-4 and flush b4 driving any more!

Brian
AwPhuch

[AwPhuch]

sig explains it!

Brian
AwPhuch

[mimzie]

If anyone is reading this with brake light issues, it was a recall issue and dealership fixed for free!