JohnSKepler
Active Member
So I was headed west on I-80 going up Pequot Pass in eastern Nevada pulling a 3,200 lb trailer and the transmission gave out. It wasnt hot, maybe 80 degrees, and I wasn’t pushing it hard, but the engine began to rev while putting down less and less power. Engine temperature didnt rise at all. I was in the center lane and tried to get over but the very slow semi trucks I had just passed were now passing me. By the time they were passed my power to ground was nill and we coasted to a stop in the center lane. I used gravity to back down as best I could but the motor died and I lost brake and steering effectiveness. I did manage to get out of the center lane and partially off the road but was jackknifed, sticking out into the right hand lane. Better than the center!
Flashers on, my wife and I started calling for a tow. I waited about a half-hour and started the car and the transmission had cooled enough to operate and get us out of the road. We got a tow headed our way and set up in the travel trailer for a bit to cool off. After about an hour I started the engine and pulled us to the top of the pass, about a 1/4 mile only!
Long story short, after a very long day and some expensive tows (we were only 150 miles from home, and there is NOWHERE in Eastern Nevada to get this fixed) we’re back home cleaning up the mess. Truck is at Ed Kenly Ford in Layton, UT.
Any ideas from you pros what might be the exact cause? Clearly a transmission failure. I’ve heard the lockup torque converter can go out on these and I could smell burned clutch material, so any advice on how to approach repair would be helpful. Vehicle is in great shape with 120K miles and a factory tow package. I plan on keeping it so want to get it fixed right!
For a bad day there were some bright spots. The tow drivers were awesome. Jose from Roadway took us from the top of the pass to Wells, NV. Ben took us from Wells to Layton, UT. The Folks at Ed Kenly Ford were a real blessing getting the long range tow arranged. The people we rented the Lance from through Outdoorsy have been amazing and, though we didn't get the vacation we had hoped for, making new friends is priceless.
If anyone has any advice on how I might be able to tow this baby home (about 90 miles) with a friend's truck, I'm all ears. I'd have to put the transfer case in neutral but there isn't any switch to do that. And the owners manual is in the car in Layton.
Flashers on, my wife and I started calling for a tow. I waited about a half-hour and started the car and the transmission had cooled enough to operate and get us out of the road. We got a tow headed our way and set up in the travel trailer for a bit to cool off. After about an hour I started the engine and pulled us to the top of the pass, about a 1/4 mile only!
Long story short, after a very long day and some expensive tows (we were only 150 miles from home, and there is NOWHERE in Eastern Nevada to get this fixed) we’re back home cleaning up the mess. Truck is at Ed Kenly Ford in Layton, UT.
Any ideas from you pros what might be the exact cause? Clearly a transmission failure. I’ve heard the lockup torque converter can go out on these and I could smell burned clutch material, so any advice on how to approach repair would be helpful. Vehicle is in great shape with 120K miles and a factory tow package. I plan on keeping it so want to get it fixed right!
For a bad day there were some bright spots. The tow drivers were awesome. Jose from Roadway took us from the top of the pass to Wells, NV. Ben took us from Wells to Layton, UT. The Folks at Ed Kenly Ford were a real blessing getting the long range tow arranged. The people we rented the Lance from through Outdoorsy have been amazing and, though we didn't get the vacation we had hoped for, making new friends is priceless.
If anyone has any advice on how I might be able to tow this baby home (about 90 miles) with a friend's truck, I'm all ears. I'd have to put the transfer case in neutral but there isn't any switch to do that. And the owners manual is in the car in Layton.
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