1996 Escort Transmission problems.

Hello, I am new to the forums. My name is Scott, I live in central New York.

So here is what happened. Yesterday I was driving my 1996 Escort LX hatchback to work. It has a 1.9 liter engine with a 4 speed automatic overdrive transmission. So anyway, I was on my way to work and I heard a odd noise. I pulled over to the side of the road, and it looked like I had smoked my tires, but I could smell it was transmission fluid. I did not see any leaks, but I figured I better shut off the car just to be safe. As soon as I shut the car off, the fluid just poured out. I could not exactly get under the car to see where it's coming from (the body kit is too low to the ground) so I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what it may be. I am really hoping I don't have to replace the entire transmission, because I dont have the money for it.
Thanks
-Scott

Did you get any problems with the transmission while you were driving? Or just the smoke?

If not, it could just be a leak that has developed. Oil dripping on the manifold could burn and make the smoke.

Perhaps when you turned off the engine the pumping of the fluid stopped and allowed a lot more out through the hole that was there.

Raise the front end and look at the tranny pan and any hoses if you have a tranny cooler.

If the pan has rusted out, and I've had that happen, it may be easy to fix. Haven't done it on the Escort as I have a standard but get a book like Haynes and read up first.

If nothing else, at least you will know a little more before you talk to the garage.

Scott,
I will go with asku2. Seems to be a leak in the transmission cooler. The pouring out would be hot tranny fluid coming from a non circulating system. The fluid was being cooled then you sprung a leak and shut her off. When you shut her off, the pressure from thermal expansion of the hot fluid just let 'er rip.

Yeah I was having some problems before hand.
When Iwould pull up to a stop sign, if I didnt keep my foot on the brake, the car would roll back like it was in neutral. Then I would give it gas and it would take a second for it to re-engage. I figured it was the fluid/filter. Then this happened.

Any news on the transmission.

I'd always start from basic to complicated. Cheap to expensive.

If you find a leak, great, if not, you've only lost time, not money.

Yes there is news.
I found a pea-sized hole in the transmission casing, just below where the CV joint is attached to the transmission. I would be expecting something like gear oil to be coming out, not transmission fluid, but maybe newer cars are different than I thought. Anyway, I used some JB weld to cover up the hole. (A rock or something must have hit it just right) After about 24 hours of curing, im going to sand it and put another layer on over it, just to be safe. I'll keep you posted.
thanks
-Scott

[notafordguy]

This is not an uncommon problem with Escort transmissions. My old 94 did the same thing, except my trans casing cracked from top to bottom and shot trans fluid everywhere when shut off.

[tabitha]

i am having a problem with my 2002 ford escort. i stopped at a stop light and pushed the gas, my car wouldnt go. i had it towed and i started the car up about an hour later i put it into drive and it drove. what do you think is wrong? I have been told i need a new transmission. But someone also said my fluid and filter needs changed. any suggestions????????

[91scortgt]

Get the fluid and filter changed, when the last time you had it changed?

[rolling16]

drive it till trans gets hot and if it slips u need rebuilt