Transmission Heat

Been noticing a lot of heat coming from my center console. Can only guess its the transmission because that's where most of the heat is coming from, if not the area where the transmission and engine meet. Don't know if the fluid has ever been changed and I don't want to take the chance of replacing the fluid. Is this the start of my transmission giving out? Any help appreciated!

 

Why are you sacred to change it?

 

If you're concerned about transmission fluid, and if you haven't done this, and I'll assume for the nonce that you have an automatic transmission, then what you need to do is take it to a mechanic for a 'transmission flush with filter change'. I intend to do this in the near future, and since I haven't trotted out the service manual yet, but I do know that there is a removable tranny pan on mine, I'll assume that the filter is a service item.

It doesn't do any good just to remove the pan and change the filter...you have to get ALL the old fluid out, which is why the need for a 'flush'... this has nothing with your concern about transmission heat, actually, I suspect that flushing your tranny will make no difference at all with what you're worried about right now. But if your concerned about the longevity of your auto tranny, get in for a flush as soon as possible if you don't know when the last one was done. I don't know the service interval for a flush, I'm certain others may know, and I suspect for certain that it's in the manual.

Now. For your problem regarding heat from your console. It's possible that somewhere along the line, someone's removed some heat insulation material from where it needs to be, or maybe it was never there in the first place. Just source some heat liner from JEGS, Summit Supply, your local hot rod shop, and put it where it needs to go. I'll leave it to you to figure out exact where that would be, but commonly, you would remove your carpet or rubber mat, and put some on the bare metal floor. If you want, you can put a double layer over the transmission. Using a good quality liner, which usually has a shiny silver finish to it, may be a little expensive, but it also has the added advantage of dampening noisy!

You can also use furnace lining if you want. That would be available at your local HVAC supply store, or on line. For ease of installation, however, I'd just use the material suggested above. It works well.

 

I was planning on flushing the trans fluid but I was talking to some mechanics and they said it might start slipping. Then I'd be in a world of issues.

 

Pull the dipstick and wipe it on a white paper towel; you will be able to check for a few things like the color of the fluid itself, get an idea ofhow much clutch material is floating around in it, if it has metal floating init making it look similar to metallic paint, and lastly a minuteafter being wiped on the paper towel to see if there is any yellowing and if itspreads similar to new fluid.

The fluid should be reddish brown with some black in it from the clutch material(a certain amount is normal). The more black there the more clutchmaterial there is. Hopefully there is no visible metal in the fluid. Lastly,if after the minute you see yellow around the edges and/or the fluid doesn'tspread like new fluid you have oxidized/overheated fluid in the unit and shouldget the fluid change ASAP.

I have seen cars and heard of cars where people changed the fluid for thefirst time after 130k-180k miles start to have problems withinweeks of the service; most of them only had excess clutch material in thefluid.

 

Where exactly do you notice the heat starting from (firewall, more on the driver side or passenger side, etc.)? If it from the firewall back could the issue be with the exhaust crossover pipe that goes from the driver to passenger side?

 

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All you need to do is drain the trans fluid yourself. Then drop the pan and replace the filter. After you do the replace the transfluid. After say 10k drain and refill again.

no need to do a flush. you really shouldn't anyways as they can push particals around.

send geargruncher a message if you want better answers.

 

Pretty sure the service recommendaton for 1st gens is a routine fluid /filter change , not a complete flush (not 100% on this tho') for the sealed transmissions like on 2nd gens, its best to take it in to a shop for a full flush unless you know what the hell your doing, or so I'm told

 

Wouldn't that cause issues if its never been changed before?

 

No changing the fluid will not cause problems. Problem is people often only change atf when it starts having some sort of problem and then afterwards when the trans fails they blame the fluid change.

Now, if they do a flush on a poorly maintained trans then yeah that will cause problems. A simple drain and fill won't hurt anything though.

 

Forgive me for pointing out the obvious...it is summer. So, maybe you are noticing the heat because it's so much hotter outside and not because there is a mechanical problem?

Automatic transmissions make a lot of heat. 25% of the horsepower at the crankshaft is lost in the auto trans. Standard transmissions only lose 7-10% of power from the crankshaft.

Or maybe there's a bad grommet letting hot air into the passenger compartment under the console.

The exhaust pipes run right next too the transmission. If you're in stop and go traffic, that heat can build up on the floor pan and make the center console warm. It's possible the heat shield for the exhaust rusted and fell off.

Hope this helps.

 

Well this past week we've been having some pretty good weather. Not too hot with some breeze and I still feel the heat. Its coming mostly from the front of the console. I'll do some looking around when I get some free time or when I do my suspension upgrade next week.

 

Ok, because I was pretty skeptical about doing that due to a couple of mechanics telling me it would start slipping. The fluid looks brown with what appears to be debris or sludge in it. I added some pics, maybe I'm just seeing things lol. What do you guys think?

 

Brown with debris is not good for sure, indicates low maint./over heating/& hard wear, sounds like mine did right before it grenaded, & they aren't cheap, you can still try changing fluid/filter but I'd start keeping an eye out for another trans

 

I say that because unless you are a trans mech. & can do yourself it's going to be anywhere from $2200- $3400 to have it rebuilt...true story

 

I haven't been on the look out for one, but I do know they cost a small fortune. Judging from lack of other maintenance on the truck from the PO, I pretty much assumed he never, if rarely, changed the fluid. I just hope it lasts me long enough until I can get a credit card (I'm only 19), because I could never come out of pocket for something like that

 

Oh I hear ya on the $$$$ end. I found a great used one for $900 & change, its been in now for 2 + years , no issues but I also maint. alot closer now..But in your case I'd def. change the fluid might get you over the hump

 

I believe the trans dipstick on my old 03, said not to change the fluid. Also I've seen first hand cars with working transmissions that stopped working after the fluid change.

 

Maybe a total flush causes that but even manual says to change fluid every 35k IIRC

 

I would try and find a junked Tacoma, but the junkyards here NEVER have them. Not even 4runners. Hopefully I can come across one for that price lol