We’re on a road trip and are kinda at a loss. Debating on what to do. It looks like adding fluid isn’t an option but if there’s a way to do this then I can limp home. Other than a tow, who’s got any ideas?
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Yeah there’s no adding it. I spoke with a service guy and he said as much… you need a lift.You need to tow your vehicle unless you’re able to add tx fluid and seal the leak while on the side of the road
We’re on a road trip and are kinda at a loss. Debating on what to do. It looks like adding fluid isn’t an option but if there’s a way to do this then I can limp home. Other than a tow, who’s got any ideas?
In hind sight, I should have taken my friend's advice which was to have the following three:
- 1 ton SRW HD pickup
- car trailer
- my car
Step 1: Hook up car trailer to my car.
Step 2: Load 1 ton SRW HD pickup onto car trailer.
Step 3: Drag race my car with that trailer until the transmission turns into kibbles and bits.
Step 4: Unload 1 ton SRW HD pickup off trailer.
Step 5: Hook trailer up to 1 ton SRW HD pickup.
Step 6: Winch my car onto the trailer.
Step 7: Drop off my car at a BMW dealership for a transmission replacement under warranty.
I may have tried to drive back to the nearest city if it were just me but I had my wife and kids with me and a breakdown in a more remote area would just present more issues. As it was I was in the middle of nowhere and lucky to find a spot to pull off with service and a relatively safe spot to stop.If your vehicle is covered by factory warranty, I would continue to drive that until the transmission turns into a pile of smoldering kibbles and bits. If you don't drive it to failure, Ford/dealership may decide to just top it off with ATF and send you on your way. The damage that was already done by the lack of ATF may not manifest itself until after the warranty period has expired. Better to have it completely fail under warranty.
This is what almost happened with my transmission in my BMW. The initial fix was just to top it off with ZF Lifeguard 8. No later than 10,000 miles later, the transmission missed a shift and threw codes. I'm glad that was under the extended warranty mileage limit.
In hind sight, I should have taken my friend's advice which was to have the following three:
- 1 ton SRW HD pickup
- car trailer
- my car
Step 1: Hook up car trailer to my car.
Step 2: Load 1 ton SRW HD pickup onto car trailer.
Step 3: Drag race my car with that trailer until the transmission turns into kibbles and bits.
Step 4: Unload 1 ton SRW HD pickup off trailer.
Step 5: Hook trailer up to 1 ton SRW HD pickup.
Step 6: Winch my car onto the trailer.
Step 7: Drop off my car at a BMW dealership for a transmission replacement under warranty.