My '88 Camaro was running fine one night until it quit pulling, so I pulled over and turned the motor off. I waited a couple minutes to let it cool off a bit, and then started it up, and took off. About another mile, it went out again. It did this the whole way home. I was told the torque converter was slipping. I checked the fluid last night, and it was overfilled. Would over-filling it, make it do this? I know the fluid is supposed to be dark red, but can someone post a picture of what color the fluid is supposed to be to give me a good idea?


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2.8 Liter V6
No Current Mods

 

Doubt the torque converter was slipping, most likely the tranny was slipping. Overfilling can do bad stuff.


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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

 

Over-filling can cause the fluid to be whipped into a foam. Air bubbles and hydraulic systems do not mix. An automatic transmission is a self-contained hydraulic system, so yes, over filling can cause the control and locking systems in the tranny to stop working.

It probably wasn't the torque converter, though.

If you want to know what ATF is supposed to look like, go out and buy a quart and put it into a white dish.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4, 2200 stall TC. Ported World 305 heads, Crane PowerMax cam. ZZ4 intake, oil pump, pan & baffle. Accel HEI SuperCoil & module. Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback w/dual-opposite Flowmaster. 2.93 limited slip, Spohn SFCs. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily year-round driver. Best ET, speed TBD...
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7:1 forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 700 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).

 

Fresh ATF fluid looks a medium to somewhat light shade of red. Dark red fluid needs to be replaced.

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92 Camaro RS, LO3, 5-spd, T-tops

Performance:
K&N Open Air Filter, Edelbrock performer TBI intake, Fastchip Prom, Timing +4 degrees, Centerforce clutch, Xact 8mm wires, SLP 1 3/4" Headers (coated), Flowmaster Catback Exhaust, Richmond 3:42 gears, Torsen HD Posi
Sights & Sounds:
Alpine 8030 Alarm System, Valentine One Radar Detector (How did I ever drive without one?), Pioneer DEH 7450 Head Unit w/6-pack CD changer, Pioneer DEQ 7600 Sound Processor, 2 Kenwood KAC-846 Amps powering 2 12" Pro Red subs, 2 Pioneer 6x9 and 2 MTX 4x6 speakers. Z28 grille w/aftermarket lights, MacEwen whiteface gauges
NEXT UP: TBI & Suspension mods

 

It sounds like what happens when the filter is plugged. When you checked the oil, did youy notice any particles in the oil? Somwtimes checking on a tissue paper makes it easier to see but if the oil isn't too bad you should see it on the stick and if it is too bad then it needs to come out anyways.

 

It's dark red! I found out today what it looks like - kind of like a pinkish color.
I asked my boss if changing the fluid would help, and he says that it's probably no use because it sounds like the torque converter is screwed up. He said there's probably chunks of it the the tranny pan. I guess I'll get the whole tranny rebuilt. Anyone know how much it'd cost to have the 700R4 rebuilt?

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2.8 Liter V6
No Current Mods