transmission troubleshooting

[geronimotwo]

last week the tranny in my '95 toyota t-100 started getting a little wanky.  while driving it would do a little stutter which didn't seem to matter which gear it was in, although since then the stutter went away.  it also attained a raspy rattling buzz when put in gear which seems to be coming from near or inside the bell housing. when put in gear there is some hesitation, but while driving it is pulling strong and shifting well in all gears.  yesterday it started leaking fluid.  i know i shouldn't be driving it, but i have a deadline on a job and can't take the time to fix it until it's done.  at least this week i can use the minivan as my wife is back from the inlaws.  any thoughts on what could be causing those symptoms? 

[dogmush]

Auto right?

Seals could be going. It keeps the transmission from building enough pressure at low RIMS to fully engage the clutch packs. Obviously the leak is a bad seal, if you had cracked the case you'd probably know it.

Pour about a cup of mineral spirits in the dipstick tube. It'll swell the seals and buy you some time to plan the rebuild.

[geronimotwo]

would that give me the rattling?  it almost sounds like a bolt came out of the torque converter and is rattling inside the bell housing while in gear. although that would make noise even when idling in park.

[Triphammer]

Sounds like a bad torque converter. Where's the fluid leaking?

I've had a buzz/ rattle when the flywheel to TC bolts came loose. Had that one diagnosed as all sorts of major problems.

[Brad Johnson]

Another vote for isolating the fluid leak source. Several things coukd cause the symptoms you described.  Locating the leak will help diagnosis.

Brad

[geronimotwo]

the leak is starting in the bell housing area, and trails backwards.   my initial thought was a torque converter centrifugal clutch spring let loose (if mine even has those as i can't find a break down of the unit?), which might give the stutter if engaging oddly and the odd sound, but wanted any other opinions that could be helpful.

[Brad Johnson]

Tranny front seal could have failed. That would cause all the symptoms you've described, including the noise and leak.  Sounds like time to consult a tranny specialist.

Brad

[Marnoot]

Sounds like time to consult a tranny specialist.

[RoadKingLarry]

Automatic transmissions are the work of the devil.

[Jim147]

Auto right?

Seals could be going. It keeps the transmission from building enough pressure at low RIMS to fully engage the clutch packs. Obviously the leak is a bad seal, if you had cracked the case you'd probably know it.

Pour about a cup of mineral spirits in the dipstick tube. It'll swell the seals and buy you some time to plan the rebuild.

I've always used brake fluid to swell the seals in auto trans and power steering units.

jim

[dogmush]

the leak is starting in the bell housing area, and trails backwards. 

10 to 1 it's the input shaft deal on the transmission.  It's always the input shaft seal.