Hey guys,
Got my 1980 Pinto, 2.3 C4 automatic that seems to lose transmission fluid but slight issue. I don't know where it's going. I noticed this morning it was not staying in first too well until it was warmed up. When I got to work I checked the fluid and it was barely on the dipstick! I am at a complete loss since I had recently installed a new transmission filter, gasket, dipstick seal, and chrome transmission pan. By recently I mean approximately 1500 miles ago. (Before I went to Geneva on the Lakes Pinto VS Maverick Show). Over a week ago I noticed it was acting up & was half pint low, so I topped it off & was fine. Well it started again. Any suggestions what to check?
I park in various spots at work, and in my driveway or garage and there is never any signs of leakage, other than a few drops of engine oil here & there.... To answer the question many may have I know it was oil since it was brown/amber in color and smells like engine oil, as opposed to the distinct scent that is ATF.
I also plan to jack up the car and pull off the vacuum line at the vacuum modulator to see if the diaphragm is bad, since I know if bad it will pull fluid back in to the intake and burn it. An additional repair I made was to replace the old worn out tailshaft seal, and new O-ring at the speedometer cable when I replaced the old cable. I know there is that "weep hole" in the inspection cover at the bell housing, and no oil and/or transmission fluid dripping from that notch/hole in the cover so pretty sure the front seal is OK. Additionally when I had the starter out to be replaced the snout of the starter was clean and dry.
I appreciate any suggestions on what to check, as I don't want to have to buy transmission fluid by the case for this thing.
On the bright side, it's not a grenade like the C3 was in my old 77.