Hi everybody, I'm new to the car scene, but absolutely love classic Mustangs. Anyway, I have a 1968 coupe with an automatic transmission and I think the transmission may be leaking, but I'll worry about that later, here's the problem at hand: I drive this car everyday to classes and work and it has been running horribly lately and a friend suggested that I check the transmission fluid.

So this morning I started the car up and let it idle for around 8 minutes and then checked the transmission fluid. When I pulled out the dipstick, to my dismay I saw that there was barely any trace of anything fluid-like on it. I was hoping that I was just an idiot and didn't know what I was doing, but I checked it at least 5 more times and had the same result.

I know transmission fluid can't just become sentient and walk away, but right now I'm worrying about putting some more in the car first before figuring out if there's a leak. I have a friend that knows what he's doing with cars, but he said he isn't comfortable helping me out without the service manual. So my hope here is to find out where exactly I put this stuff (I'm assuming it goes where the dipstick for the transmission fluid goes) and if there is any particular type of the stuff I should put into the car. I found the service manual on Amazon, but its on a CD and it'll be here in 2 days. I don't think I can really wait that long.

Thanks in advance!

 

you checked on a level surface right?? the tranny takes type "F" fluid only

 

F. Okay, thanks! Was I right in assuming that it goes where I checked the transmission fluid?

As for a level surface, I wasn't on a hill if that's what you mean. I don't know how level the side of the street is, but would a minimal slope like that have that dramatic of an effect on the transmission fluid level? Thanks again.

 

Make sure that the transmission is fully warmed up before filling it too full. The fluid will expand somewhat when hot. Being overfilled is just as bad as being underfilled.

 

Yes pour the additional fluid in the tranny dip stick hole. They make a funnel that should fit the tube opening at Walmart or most any parts store. As for checking the fluid. I always drive the car a little and let the fluid both warm up and circulate through the tranny and then check the fluid level with the engine running while on a flat surface. If you do that and it is still low, add a little F Type ATF.

 

Great word (sentient)!!! Don't hear that used much around the Mustang forums...you win word of the week...

 

Lets clarify. If it shifts bad, then low fluid level in the tranny can be the problem.
If it is running bad, that would be a motor problem.

You don't need a shop manual to find a transmission leak.
Go to Autozone or any good parts store and get some of the UV dye for transmissions. Put it in the tranny and fill it with type F fluid.

Wipe down the tranny or clean it with gunk engine cleaner.

You can 'borrow' a UV light fron autozone and shine it on the tranny and tranny cooler lines. The UV dye will glow and you can spot the leak.

Don't drive the car much if the fluid is so low it barely touches the stick, it won't shift right.

 

Yeah, I would definitely be putting some more fluid in before I drive again. Remember the fluid in the pan is just the tip of the iceberg, as soon as you start the engine the torque converter gets pumped full of fluid. You could be driving around with a half empty converter, which would explain the car running poorly.

 

just a word of advice if the people at the parts store tell you type F is wrong dont listen :P every store ive ever been in has told me that for some reason

 

I ended up wiping down and using the funnel I usually use for oil. I was freaking out because it was fatter than the hole, so there was a lot of anxious hoping that everything would go where it was supposed to go on my part.

Cool.

Sorry, I should've clarified. I didn't want to go into great detail because I wanted to get to the point of my question. What had been happening is that the car had trouble shifting into "overdrive" (as I'm told it's called) and I had to drive like a senile old lady in an area where people think it's okay to cut you off with a half a car space of room in front of you, without inkling of intent beforehand. Not exactly safe; I usually just go really really fast to get away from the idiots

I'll probably do that with my friend. He's helping me bleed the brakes. Plus I don't know jack about anything

Yeah, I borrowed another friend's Camery to go pick up the transmission fluid.

That would definitely explain it.

That actually happened. I was at autozone and their computer was telling them that I should get something completely different... and that I should be driving stick... or something. It was bizarre.


Anyway, I put in the fluid and the car is running MUCH better now. Thanks everyone.