Hey all,

Got a question:

Is there a way to inspect an automatic transmission while it's out of the car to see if it's in good condition? WITHOUT tearing into the tranny...

 

Not really...... you can take the pan off and see how much debris is in the pan, that might give you a heads up to the condition of it. Don't forget that the smell and looks of the fluid is also a heads up!

 

There's not much you can tell unless you tear it down.

The C4 is a very easy transmission to disassemble. There are videos on the internet and the Haynes Ford Automatic Transmission Overhaul is great.

I took mine apart last night. I never got to test it when I bought the car since it was leaking badly and the rust in the fuel tank was clogging up the filter.

I figured it was going to be bad inside but it looked brand new. Kinda wish I never cracked it open but I would have never known it's health if I didn't.

 

Thank you guys for the responses.

I'll start with the pan drop.

The thing is, KStang65, I watched a LOT of videos online and quite frankly...I'm even more scared now having seen the videos than I was before seeing the videos! Just the thought of tearing down an automatic transmission scared me. But...now that I've seen videos...WOW! Honestly, I've been building cars and fully restoring them for over 16 years and I've NEVER rebuilt a transmission. I've installed PLENTY of them. I've built rear-ends, carburators, motors, calipers...etc...but never transmissions. Anyway; enough of that. I may just have to sit down, collect myself and give it a try. The thing is, I don't have the money to rebuild the transmission in the FIRST PLACE, let alone the money to pay for a VERY costly mistake!

-TNT

 

check for the oil as said above. There is probably oil in the pan. let it stand for a while then twist so the oild moves top one side. debris in there? yellow looking metallic pieces in there? you can also check the C4 with air pressure. There's one or twop videos on youtube I think.