Transmission from heck, part deux

[DanInPompano]

'93, 1.6, ATX (I know, I know, but I can't drive a stick). It's been a month since http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=69986 that ordeal started, and my transmission still overheats.

1. The transmission was 'rebuilt,' has a new valve body, and a HUGE cooler attached completely independent of (not in line with) the radiator.

2. The car drives fine around town. Probably because it's not getting hot.

3. The car hits the highway fine, but anywhere between 50 - 100 miles, the transmission overheats. It will start spewing fluid out the vent line, which I don't notice until I pull over because my transmission slips out of 4th into 3rd. I lose 4th entirely until it cools back down. While it's cooling, all the vented tranny oil is making wonderful foul smelling smoke as it burns off of my engine.

4. The guys at the transmission shop have finally decided it's "something electrical" outside the tranny causing it to not stay in lockup at highway speeds. I've got an ECU coming this week. The harness and everything was thoroughly inspected. Nobody else I've spoken to thinks it's the ECU, including the guy at the AAMCO who installed the big cooler. I did notice one thing today... driving to work (45-55, not highway speeds), I wasn't experiencing any issues with lockup. Since I drove back roads home from orlando to melbourne (5 1/2 hours), I couldn't tell if what they said about the lockup issue was accurate (will update later).

Basically at this point, aside from knowing full well that my ATX is a piece of trash, what do you guys think would be causing it to overheat the way it is, and short of trying to get my money back and complaining to the FL Department of Consumer Services (and maybe suing), do you guys have any ideas as far as what to try throwing at it?

Desperately seeking help,

Dan S.

[muttpower]

If it wasn't doin it before the tranny rebuild, then most likely it's the faulty work of whoever did the rebuild. And if you paid someone to do the tranny work, then just tell them to fix it or give back your money. This is why I do most of my own work on my vehicles rather than let a mechanic who only has a basic knowlege of all vehicles do it.

[muttpower]

Okay, did a little research on your behalf. As for the Transmission overheating/vomiting AT fluid all over, have whoever is doing your tranny work check the ATF Thermosensor. If you check the online manuals portion of this site, its listed in the 1992 MX3 shop manual under automatic tranny/trouble shooting guide. Good Luck.

[DanInPompano]

Okay, did a little research on your behalf. As for the Transmission overheating/vomiting AT fluid all over, have whoever is doing your tranny work check the ATF Thermosensor. If you check the online manuals portion of this site, its listed in the 1992 MX3 shop manual under automatic tranny/trouble shooting guide. Good Luck.

After the ECU gets here, and doesn't fix the problem (lol), I'll be sure to take my freshly printed new found knowledge to Orlando.

[kiwimx3]

Dan, where is your cooler attached to the transmission?

Fitment of oversize coolers tends to have the effect of what your
discribing.

[DanInPompano]

I'll have to look and get back to you; but the transmission was overheating before the cooler was put on. I can tell you where it's mounted; right up in front, in front of the radiator and everything.