Originally posted by Stazi:
Brown fluid, that stink = burnt fluid = something got DAMN hot in the trans = she's screwed. Start scrounging for a new trans!
99.9% chance of this being a blown seal in either the direct/forward clutch housing or valve body due to hardened seals that have blown out. Seals harden and subsiquently blow out due to overheated fluid 
I can't stress this enough people ... flush your trans every 20-30K miles or sooner. As a rule of thumb at least once a year will keep your trans like new for a VERY long time! On the flip side of this coin, lower the trans temp with a cooler. The CD4E isn't the crappy tranny everyone likes to think it is. It has evolved into a rather good little ATX, but with one major flaw ... inadiquite cooling.
I think Ford does this purposely so that when it does go, you hopefully take it to them to get fixed. They replace it with reman with the same flaw for $2500+ and bam, new core to start the process over again. MAJOR source of income for them!
Last edited by fastcougar; 02/01/05 08:48 PM.
