Hopefully I didn't destroy my transmission.

Last night after wiring in a stock Honda am/fm radio, re-soldering the clock to make it work, and deleting the golf cart musical horn the previous owner had installed (don't ask...) my gf and I went for a nice drive. We drove along Lake Michigan just north of Milwaukee. It was cooler outside the city, we got some ice cream...it was a great drive.

Then on the way home my trans started to make this whining noise I haven't ever heard before. It wasn't really loud, but not normal for sure. If I was in fifth between 2-3K rpm I didn't really hear it too much so that's where I kept it. It shifted fine, and we were almost home so I decided to not worry about it until I got back.

When I got back I ducked under the car and found that where the drain bolt for the trans usually is there was a hole and some shiny threads staring back at me. Somehow, at some point the drain bolt fell out! What! I changed the trans fluid right after I got the car back from Seattle which was 4-5 months ago, and I've put thousands of miles on since then. How and why it came out now is beyond me.

I have a new bolt and crush washer on order, and Ill put those in and fill it back up to see what the damage is, or isn't. Wish me luck. :(

Comments

  • After a search I didn't find any solid info on this: If I did destroy my RT4WD trans, can drop my shafts, unplug my rear axles and put in a 2WD trans while I find/rebuild mine?
  • :( wow I really hope she's ok
  • I did just find a local yard that doesn't have a wagon, but does for some reason have a full RT4WD trans sitting on their shelf. He said to me, and I quote "It's been here for such a long time I doubt we'll want much money for it at all."

    All, it seems, might not be lost. :)
  • RustyHRustyH Band Wagon
    superhatch wrote:
    I did just find a local yard that doesn't have a wagon, but does for some reason have a full RT4WD trans sitting on their shelf. He said to me, and I quote "It's been here for such a long time I doubt we'll want much money for it at all."

    All, it seems, might not be lost. :)


    Sometimes luck goes your way. Five years ago, when I found out that 5th gear in my 1981 wagon tranny was gone, I figured it was a 4 speed from then on. I called around and one transmissison exchange business had a 1982 5 speed tranny sitting on the shelf. It had been there since it was rebuilt 12 years ago. I asked them what they wanted and they said a couple of hundred plus my tranny would do. Hopefully they'll rebuild my old tranny and have it sitting on the shelff 20 years from now when I need a new trany again!
  • Did you fill it back up and try it out?

    I fried a transmission in a simliar matter in my old 87 teg a few years back.
  • RustyH wrote:
    Hopefully they'll rebuild my old tranny and have it sitting on the shelff 20 years from now when I need a new trany again!

    Lol!

    I haven't fired it back up yet. I won't be able to get any MTF until Thursday so Im gonna wait until then. The Z6 trans did have a bolt and Ill get a new crush washer on Thurs as well.
  • digdug18digdug18 Band Wagon
    sounds like the morale of the story is to wire tie your trans drain plug in so that this doesn't happen.
  • I'll be putting on some blue loctite for sure when the next one goes in.
  • JakerJaker familEE
    You must have forgotten to tighten it up properly. I've always had to use brute force to loosen it when changing fluid. You'll regret it the day you go to change fluid if you use locktite.
  • 3rd4ce3rd4ce Council Member
    got to agree with Jaker....
    not sure u want to put anything on that drain plug except elbow grease ......
    I've never had one back out ... :roll:
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    Man I really hope your trans is ok, if it was 2wd I would say there is a chance of being ok but the RT4WD part is kinda touchy. Good luck man!
  • I ran a qt. of Honda MTF through the trans before filling it up and nothing disturbing came out. Looked clean. I filled her up and went for a drive up to about 60mph and everything feels fine. Whew. Still gonna buy the spare trans and start building it for powa!!
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    superhatch wrote:
    I ran a qt. of Honda MTF through the trans before filling it up and nothing disturbing came out. Looked clean. I filled her up and went for a drive up to about 60mph and everything feels fine. Whew. Still gonna buy the spare trans and start building it for powa!!

    You lucked the hell out!
  • How many miles without fluid?

    In short, it is TOAST!

    Also stay away from Honda MTF, too thin for the older cars that were DESIGNED for 10w30 motor oil.

    PS: I hope to be joining the RT4WD ranks in a few weeks.
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