But it didn’t HAVE a dipstick!
Mar 24 '07 (Updated May 28 '07)
The Bottom Line Do it.
Manual transmissions rock!
Seriously.
Maybe I’m a control freak, but there’s just something about jamming the clutch in whilst running up the gears that really flips my switch. And the power! Just feeling the power rise and rise and rise… ‘til you gently advance the gears and then start all over. Fifth gear is great, but it’s the getting there that counts.
I have so enjoyed my Ford Explorer Sport. It’s a five-speed and big time fun to drive. My kids are not so enamored of my vehicle, being as they cannot drive it. But that’s their problem. I’ve offered to teach them countless times and been soundly rejected. Which is perfectly okay with me. Whenever I need it, my truck is sitting right out in the driveway, not off on some adventure with the children.
Sad thing, is it’s probably going to get a lot of driveway time in the near future.
Let me tell you a story. It’s one of clues and mystery and the exploration of self-knowledge and awareness.
I am my own mechanic.
Don’t laugh. I have a Haynes Manual and I am dangerous.
Thing is, while being okay about checking dipsticks and fluid levels and clutch things, it never occurred to me. There was no transmission fluid dipstick. Which was fine. Everything was moving along just great and I was told that you didn’t have to check it. “They” told me this.
“They” lied.
It’s not easy to check. Actually it involves a wrench, a rag, your little finger, and sliding under the front side of your truck. Driver’s side, about one-third of the way back from the front. So it’s not easy. It’s not impossible either. And I could have done this anytime in the last year, had I known to do so. But I was over here listening to “they”, having big time fun imitating Tim Allen by screaming “MORE POWER” whilst shifting gears.
Until one day I shifted, and they grinded, and my response was a befuddled…
What in ‘ell was THAT?
But it wasn’t a big thing, and I honestly didn’t hear it too much. Could’ve been something to do with the volume control on my very cool and very loud sound system. Until one day I drove it without the radio on. Was transporting a kid and for some reason they don’t seem to like my music. Not at the volume level I think is required. Once again it was…
What in ‘ell was THAT?
Only this time it was obvious it was a very large something and I needed to find out right then and there what that that was.
It was my transmission. And now I’m looking at major reconstructive surgery. Replacement even. So my poor truck will sit in the driveway ‘til I can finish running all my pennies through CoinStar. Might take a while. Thing is, transmission fluid is cheap. So is the wrench, your little finger, and a rag to wipe the fluid off your finger after sticking it in the hole.
Transmissions and the insertion thereof are expensive. Very expensive.
Moral of the story is, as usual, “they” are wrong. Check your fluid levels. ALL of your fluid levels. Even if it takes a little research and effort. It’s more than worth it in the long run.
***UPDATE***
May 28, 2007
I will soon be writing an article on how to drop a transmission into a 1991 Ford Explorer Sport.
Stay tuned!
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