Keep watch on your trans fluid. a lesson learned.

[Ebenezr]

I just got the bad news on my trans being rebuilt. The clutches were burnt. Nothing was busted or broken but burnt from overheating and low fluid. I do check my fluid and have topped it off every couple months. The mechanic mentioned the notorious leaky seals other threads have discussed like where the shift lever enters. Anyway happy VXing again...on Monday. 2375.00$ ouch.

[tom4bren]

Ouch.

Thanks for the warning.

Best of luck.

[Riff Raff]

Ouch is right!!! Thanx for the heads-up. I always check underneath my vehicles daily for any signs of fresh fluid drippings/puddles. For any signs of fresh drippings, I place some fresh newspaper underneath the vehicle for confirmation of source. Thankfully; my VX doesn't drip a single drop of anything, nor does it burn a drop of oil (I use up more motor oil checking/wiping the dipstick every time before a cold start).

[Ebenezr]

It would seem to me also that driving in power mode would place more wear on the clutches overall....but I like power mode

[tom4bren]

My understanding is that it doesn't. It just changes the shift points.

Indirectly Power Mode will cause more tranny wear just because it is more funner to drive that way so you drive it harder.

[vt_maverick]

Okay maybe this is a dumb question, but I thought we didn't have a tranny dipstick? Our Axiom has one right behind the oil dipstick, but no such luck on the VX. How do you check it without a dipstick?

[tom4bren]

Check plug on tranny.

Pull the plug & if some runs out - you got enough. If none runs out, add till it does dribble out.

Careful though, there are 2 plugs. One (the lower one) is for draining the tranny fluid and the other (higher one) is for adding/checking fluid level.

[VX KAT]

Ebzy did you have any drips that you'd noticed?

[Gussie2000]

It would seem to me also that driving in power mode would place more wear on the clutches overall....but I like power mode

My mech mentioned that to me while time ago,the power mode is a plus,but not a must to drive on a daily basis.

He say that on highway or city driving the power mode isn't necesary because it does wear the clutches faster if you keep it on 24/7,especially if you suffer with lead foot syndrome.

[vt_maverick]

Good to know, thanks Tom!

[Ebenezr]

Check plug on tranny.

Pull the plug & if some runs out - you got enough. If none runs out, add till it does dribble out.

Careful though, there are 2 plugs. One (the lower one) is for draining the tranny fluid and the other (higher one) is for adding/checking fluid level.

But turn the vehicle on in nuetral with the brake. then release the upper pan bolt. It will dump a whole quart if the engine is off. If nothing comes out then pump tran fluid in with a hand pump.

[Ebenezr]

Ebzy did you have any drips that you'd noticed?

Yes KAT my VX underside always has drips. I am ashamed to say I have a power steering fluid leak I have put up with for months.

[Ebenezr]

Trans man just told me someone else has had this transmission apart before and it wasn't done right!!!!

[nfpgasmask]

How low was your fluid? What actually happened? Did it start slipping or banging?

Bart

[Ebenezr]

How low was your fluid? What actually happened? Did it start slipping or banging?

Bart

Sorry I guess I described the problem in another thread and this is what I posted: The symptoms were the trans popping into a neutral state out of 3rd gear esp when it was not yet warm during the first 3 miles or so. Then it would warm out of the prob. This started 3 weeks ago and I was going to do the usual easy stuff like change the fluid and filter but it worsened then 3rd just completely died on the way to a local place to 4 wheel a bit. I did top the fluid off 2 weeks ago and that did not fix it. The fluid level was down a half quart.