As some of you may have already read ... i had to buy a "SUV" or car because my home owners association wouldn't let me park my truck in the neighborhood. Well I bought a ford bronco that looks just like a truck except its titled as an SUV. haha my way getting even ... well that plan backfired yesterday as i was pulling into the neighborhood i lost all my gears and immediately knew it had to be the transmission as it wasn't running hot at all. There was a large hole in one of the hoses and the tranny fluid was pouring everywhere. My first step to fix it was replace the hose that was busted and re fill with fluid. I did that last night and fired her back up, ran no problem, but when i put it in gear it still acted as if in neutral the whole time. Do any of you know any other tricks i could try or is she toast? I know its a older style transmission, but any help would be much appreciated. Its a 1988 bronco with the 5.8 automatic trans. Thanks for looking.

 

Make sure you properly filled it back up. You have to check the dip stick with the motor running and the transmission warmed up. It has to be on level ground as well.

 

^X2^ on that. Also, now that you know you have fresh fluid in there, the condition/color or your fluid may be an even better indicator of the condition of the trans.

Good job getting even with the HOA! Make sure you drive around with the top off all summer so the Gestapo can see how rediculous their rule is!



Look's a lot like a truck to me!

 

yea ...i'm hoping i just didn't re fill the trans enough ... i don't have much experience with these older style automatic trans ... i have a 89 f350 too but its a stick so no auto matic and she hasn't given me any trouble. i called a friend of mine that lives back in SC and he has 2 broncos and said most likely i have the c6 in mine and i probably didn't burn it up. He said make sure i put about 8 quarts in it before i can even think of getting a reading on the dip stick ... i listened to the guy from advanced before doing my research and he told me that 3 quarts would fill it up, but from what i heard if the torque converter gets empty then its more like 8 to 10 or more quarts. Thanks for the help.

And yes i have to agree that it looks more like a truck than my king ranch does ... minus the bed but o well ... the Home Owners Association came by yesterday while i was working on the bronco replacing the trans hose and said that i couldn't work on it in the parking lot ... lucky i had my lease on me and showed him where it says you can change your battery in the parking lot and told him i was putting a new battery in it haha ... i love dealing with idiots ...

 

If all the fluid spilled out it will take a lot more than 5 quarts to fill. You have to fill the tray which is 5 alone. The Transmission itself the hoses and everything in between.
On another note: Is it a 4 speed or a 3 speed. I had i similar problem with my 89 bronco with a 3 speed auto. The gasket on the tray broke and i replaced that. 8 quarts of fluid later it worked.

 

I'm almost 100% sure an 88 Bronco with a 351 will have a C6 - 3 speed heavy duty auto with no overdrive or electronics. The pan holds 6 quarts, total capacity is 13.6 quarts.