1995 Pathy Auto trans problem - update

binardo · Nov 23rd, 2006, 12:40 PM

Last Feb I reported that the tranny in my '95 Pathy wouldn't shift properly. Its my car for my ski house in Utah. I was just out there this week to prep the house for skiing and buy a new car, when I decided to test drive the Pathy that I assumed had a bad tranny (it wouldn't shift into 3rd or 4th gear last year). It was about 45-50 degrees outside, and I drove my Pathy for 45 minutes on a highway, and the tranny shifted flawlessly. I really hammered it to test it and it was fine. I was puzzled until I noticed that after 45 minutes of 65mph+ driving, my engine temp gage was still ON the Cold line, in fact it was almost below it. Bingo - i immediately realized that the engine thermostat fails open, which would prevent the tranny fluid from heating up. No problem in 45-50 degree temps, the tranny fluid is warm enough. But in winter, when its -10 F at night and +10 F in the morning when I drive it, the tranny fluid is THICK and stays thick if the thermostat fails. Thick cold tranny fluid = bad shifting. Too bad I already bought the new car, but now I can sell the Pathy rather than junk it.

Soooo, anyone have a chilton's manual that instructs on how to replace the thermostat. I did it on a Ford before, right at the radiator hose to engine coupling, but any instructional on the Pathy would be a big help. I could start taking off all the hoses and look for it, but I figured THANK GOD FOR MOTOR HEADS, I know you guys got the knowledge.
Thanks

PS. My wife insisted I buy an SUV with a third row seat since my kids are getting bigger... so now I'm in an 02 Explorer XLT, V8, with 79k miles. Pretty sweet ride and I killed the dealer on it, thanks to Edmunds.com pricing data.

**88pathoffroad** · Nov 23rd, 2006, 02:44 PM

The trans fluid will warm up on it's own after several minutes of driving anyway, but get an external fluid cooler and do NOT use the stock one in the radiator. The stock one does not have the capacity to properly cool the trans in the first place and clogs up VERY easily with a worn trans.

The thermostat is in the center front of the engine, under the timing cover behind a small hose that goes to the bottom of the radiator. Most Chilton's manuals have the info in them, and they're only $15. Why not buy one?

binardo · Nov 23rd, 2006, 07:34 PM

I'm selling it, so a manual won't do me much good other than for the thermostat.