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Sc400 Transmission problems

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Old May 15, 2023 | 08:16 PM
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Exclamation Sc400 Transmission problems

Hey everyone I just needed some advice for my 93 sc400 I recently changed the transmission and the torque converter making sure it was placed properly it was driving fine till I blew one of the cooling hoses off the transmission but replaced it and was running fine for 3 days till it just went limp on me one night, now whenever I turn it on the transmission engages and it spins and runs fine until it reaches operating temperature and then it just disengages and won’t go into any gear even though I can still shift, I’ve flushed the fluids and it seems fine with no metal shavings and I have no leaks I came here hoping to find a idea on what it is
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Old May 17, 2023 | 09:34 AM
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Make sure you're using the correct fluid and that the level is correct. I believe on those older auto's you need to check the fluid level while the car is running at operating temp to get an accurate reading for fluid level (someone please chime in if that isn't the case).
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Old May 18, 2023 | 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by RudysSC
Make sure you're using the correct fluid and that the level is correct. I believe on those older auto's you need to check the fluid level while the car is running at operating temp to get an accurate reading for fluid level (someone please chime in if that isn't the case).
This right here. If you pull the transmission dip stick you will be able to read cold and hot level. The correct level will be when the vehicle is hot the oil line should be just about flush with the hot level.
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Old May 23, 2023 | 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Tallyhoe
This right here. If you pull the transmission dip stick you will be able to read cold and hot level. The correct level will be when the vehicle is hot the oil line should be just about flush with the hot level.
when its on cold its way beyond the dipsticks max do I still give it a shot?
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Old May 24, 2023 | 09:30 AM
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Start it up, get it to operating temp, and check the level while the car is in neutral and running. See where your fluid level is at and report back! Having too much or too little fluid in there will definitely cause issues.
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Old May 24, 2023 | 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Birb
when its on cold its way beyond the dipsticks max do I still give it a shot?
Yeah, even brake fluid needs to be warmed up, before you add any, or you'll overflow the container. Do what @RudysSC stated. You may have a leak and you don't know it yet, it it's caked with oil underneath consider resealing the transmission pan. I know the transmission pan on the 400s tends to leak, Mine has been sealed 2 times prior, but mine just let go and its completely drained, but FIPG or a gasket maker specifically for transaxles to reseal the trans pan.
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Old May 25, 2023 | 06:14 PM
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Sorry for the bad pictures but this is before starting it and after it reaches temp, when it’s cold it looks like it’s beyond full but as soon at it reaches operating temps it looks like there’s almost nothing

After operating temps

After operating temps

After operating temps

Before starting it


Before starting it
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Old May 26, 2023 | 12:06 PM
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Is you car on an incline. It's kinda hard to tell where the fluid is at, but here is some assistance.


If you added fluid while cold, it may show overflow, since there may still be fluid in the oil tube. I do think that when cold, fluid does retract back into the oil pan from the radiator. I say this because I replaced my radiator and had very little fluid come out of the transmission coolant hoses.
You may need to do a few fluid checks to ensure it's completely cleared of fluid.
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Old May 27, 2023 | 08:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Tallyhoe
Is you car on an incline. It's kinda hard to tell where the fluid is at, but here is some assistance.


If you added fluid while cold, it may show overflow, since there may still be fluid in the oil tube. I do think that when cold, fluid does retract back into the oil pan from the radiator. I say this because I replaced my radiator and had very little fluid come out of the transmission coolant hoses.
You may need to do a few fluid checks to ensure it's completely cleared of fluid.
Got it to a flat area and read it and filled it as it needed while it was on operating temp but it still did the same thing after a while of waiting, it would disengage out of gear and it would rev its self above 1500 rpms in any gear until i turn it off and let it cool. And when i did add the trans cooler i did check if it was throwing it back to begin with and it did throw out fluid.
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Old May 27, 2023 | 04:33 PM
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Is it leaking?? what do you mean by slipping out of gear?? Is it just reving to 1.5k rpm can you still drive it??
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Old May 28, 2023 | 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Tallyhoe
Is it leaking?? what do you mean by slipping out of gear?? Is it just reving to 1.5k rpm can you still drive it??
No leaks and once it reaches operating temp if I'm in drive it disengages gear and acts like neutral in all gears besides park then it slowly revs itself to 1.5k or above unable to move, I can still change gears but its none really engage its just like neutral in all gears.
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Old May 28, 2023 | 08:21 PM
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Do you know if the transmission has ever been off?? It sounds like it's slipping, which may mean it's a goner, but I'm not a specialist on the subject. Could it be possible that the transmission was removed and not all the bolts on the torque converter were reinstalled?? Or the converter has drained back into the transmission
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Old May 29, 2023 | 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Tallyhoe
Do you know if the transmission has ever been off?? It sounds like it's slipping, which may mean it's a goner, but I'm not a specialist on the subject. Could it be possible that the transmission was removed and not all the bolts on the torque converter were reinstalled?? Or the converter has drained back into the transmission
I installed it myself and I made sure it was all in order and nice and tight, I made sure I seated the torque converter properly, it ran amazing on the first week until I blew a on the transmission and once i preplaced it, it ran amazing for another week and then one night it just went to operating temp and went limp and its done that ever since.
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Old Jun 1, 2023 | 08:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Birb
I installed it myself and I made sure it was all in order and nice and tight, I made sure I seated the torque converter properly, it ran amazing on the first week until I blew a on the transmission and once i preplaced it, it ran amazing for another week and then one night it just went to operating temp and went limp and its done that ever since.
I meant prior to you, but you answered my question. Could it be a communication issue between the ECU and transmission TCU? Dropping to limp mode maybe something is likely not jiving well with something else.
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