Metal shavings in transmission fluid

[sickfleming]

Following the post I made earlier, when I was driving an hour away my transmission blew a seal and i spilled out some fluid, resulting in noise and bad shifting. After filling it back up, I carefully made the hour long drive back with little issue, except for the rare, quiet grind.

Well, i planned on replacing that seal. The passenger side cv axle was ridiculously tough to remove (much more than the axle that was on the car when I bought it). To my surprise, as I pulled out the axle a piece of the spring steel clip from the end of the axle fell on the ground. I looked around for the other smaller piece but couldn't find it.

Crap... I even drained all the tranny fluid to see if it might have fallen in the transmission. It's a really small piece so it it should have been able to slip out. Any ideas?

Also, when I looked at my tranny fluid, it was slightly glittery. I know that that is bad news, but does that mean my tranny is done for? Or should I start looking for another one soon?
Like I said, it only has 78000 miles and never gave me any trouble up til the seal blew. But I did drive it low on fluid for.about ten or fifteen miles at 70 mph. Then an hour back after I refilled most of it.

Help!!

[georgeb]

Pour a quart or so through it to maybe flush the piece out. I would run that tranny as long as it transmitted power.

[Festy46]

The Festiva transmission has a magnet inside that is about the size of two 7/16" flat washers put together. The magnet probably grabbed the other piece of the clip. Start using a full synthetic gear oil in the transmission and you will probably be good for a long time IF you ran it "low" on oil and not "out" of oil.

[sickfleming]

The Festiva transmission has a magnet inside that is about the size of two 7/16" flat washers put together. The magnet probably grabbed the other piece of the clip. Start using a full synthetic gear oil in the transmission and you will probably be good for a long time IF you ran it "low" on oil and not "out" of oil.

Is the magnet on the drain bolt? If it grabbed that piece of the clip, is my transmission safe?

I dont think I ran it with without fluid. I put a quart in when I stopped on the side of the highway and it drove fine if you were easy with it. Plus I had enough to slowly drip out of the seal later.

Also, do you have any recommendations on synthetic gear oil?

[link5186]

The magnet is in the bottom of the case, held in by the case halves. Can't really get to it without disassemly.

So far as gear oil goes, any brand synthetic 75-w90 will do.

Sent from the bathroom via crapatalk.

[Festy46]

What he said ^
That magnet is quite strong. I don't think there is much chance of it letting go of that little piece of metal.
A lot of guys think transmission fluid is great, but I don't use it. I use the full synthetic in the transmission with the engine turning 7,000 + rpms in second gear and have never lost a transmmission in 7 years of racing.

[sickfleming]

Well, after replacing the transmission seal (a total PITA, for those who haven't tackled thay yet) I proceeded to flush it with clean ATF by going around my apartment complex and then letting it drain overnight. I went ahead and filled her up with 2.6 quarts of Mobil 1 synthetic 75w90 today to see if she was okay for work. I must say, it really did everything you guys said it would. Shifting was MUCH smoother. Just as good as before my tranny blew that seal. The only difference is that every now and then, second gear will spit out my shifter right after I shifted into it,, and reverse gear requires working the clutch like before, but it's no biggie. And.of course, my tranny is totally silent now.

I was so impressed with its performance that I took it back to work delivering pizzas. Driving carefully for the first day back of course. Thank you guys a bunch

[rbrown]

Wow. I just realized you are in Houston.

[sickfleming]

Sadly yes rbrown. I made a posting, "Calling all Texans", so I could know who was nearby. Especially since I've seen both a red and blue Festiva and a red Aspire right in my immediate area. Well, nobody really responded.

But yeah, I live here in the Galleria area, and I'm hopefully moving to Montrose soon by the end of the week.

[sickfleming]

Also, my tranny is still making a small leak, dripping off the drain bolt and a couple inches behind it. I guess I need to put the bolt on tighter...hopefully.

Also, i forgot to mention that after I took my car for.a quick spin to flush it with that ATF, my radiator was dripping and totally covered in coolant. Turns out my hip had hit the radiator cap and twisted it partially off and had a quick boilover. Whew...