THX-1138

I recently had some work done on my 99 XJ. They redid the transmission cooling lines, replaced the transmission filter, and redid the pan gasket. When I just checked my transmission dipstick, it was all burnt above where you read the fluid level. The fluid itself seems fine (red and translucent), its just there is this burnt part of the dipstick now. It was not like that before I dropped it off. AW4 transmission if that matters. I drove it a little (20 miles), didn't notice any smells, and engine temp was fine.

Any idea what happened? I'm going to call them back and see what they say, but I kind of don't want them to work on it again.

Thanks.

Turbo X_J

Maybe the transmission burned up when the line blew out?

DFlintstone

Howdy THX, and welcome to the forum. First, all the automatics are the AW-4, and lucky that, they are about bullet proof. Your money spent pulling the pan and changing the filter screen likely was....could have been better spent elsewhere. (it takes a bunch of chunks to clog the screen).

The tube for the dipstick is two piece, sometimes people cut it to get the pan off if it's stuck. (you can then add a tube with clamps to make it one again)

Can you post a pic of the stick? Does your tube look OK?

THX-1138

Thanks for the welcome and the help!

Here are some pics:

http://imgur.com/a/P7Jav

Tube looks fine to me (at least the part in the engine bay). Looking at it now, is the dipstick bent at the end? It was perfectly clean when I dropped it off. I knew it was leaking ATF so I checked it before I went over just to make sure there was something in there. Didn't know that about the tube. Maybe something happened when they removed it... You can see the burnt part is higher up. Maybe thats where the two pieces meet?

@Turbo X_J I suppose it could have overheated if they test drove it before repairs. I don't think they did, but didn't ask 'em. Would it burn there on the dipstick though? Wouldn't the fluid just get darker?

DFlintstone

Well, maybe a goofy idea. Ya see, when that separation is stuck it's pretty frustrating. I wonder if they cut the tube with a torch, forgetting to pull the stick? Nutty idea? yes, other explanations... yet to come. If you go under with a good light we can put that idea to bed

BlueRidgeMark

I was thinking the same thing, DF. Or they just applied heat to get it to come apart.

IJM

Yup, that's my guess as well. That area of the dipstick is far enough up so it't out of the pan entirely.

DFlintstone

No, it's like that so it stays in the correct position in the tube.

THX-1138

Ok cool, so not something I should be particularly worried about (like overheating). I'll check out the tube when I get home just out of curiosity, but sounds like a non-issue.

Thanks for the help!!

DFlintstone

We don't like tranny shops, and want to know.

THX-1138

This is how she looks https://i.imgur.com/QGlFbIL.jpg Not the best pic, but you get it. Anyway, not worried any more. I think your heat theory is probably correct.

BlueRidgeMark

Now I'm confoozed. Is it the dipstick? Or the dipstick tube that looks burnt?

THX-1138

It was the dipstick itself. But it seems the reason it was burnt was that when they heated up the tube to separate it when they dropped the pan, they left the stick in there and the little bit of residual ATF in that area on the stick got burnt. At least that is the prevailing theory.

DFlintstone

Dude, that looks like they cut it with a heat wrench, (cutting torch), and didn't even bother to clamp a sleeve on it after. I'd take a better look, doesn't look right. Feel it. Is it one solid sealed tube? Or is it wobbly there where........

THX-1138

Seems pretty solid try to move it.