Crud! I have a serious problem! My transmission dip stick broke off and fell down to the bottom of the tube! The bottom 2 or 3 inches of my 1996 Chevy Caprice dip stick(4L60E tranny) just cracked off and fell down the tube. I was checking it like normal. I pushed it in a heard a metallic "pop" sound and then metal sliding down the tube sound and a metal "clank" when it hit the bottom. It broke off right across the full circle/hole marker. I tried to put the dip stick back in and it gets hung up and won't go back in at all...maybe just a few inches and stops. The engine was at full operating temp and the engine running. I shut it off immediately once I realized what happened. How screwed am I? How can I get this broken piece out safely? Is it in the tube or maybe the bottom of the pan? Can I drive it to a mechanic shop? I can not believe my luck! Has anyone ever seen this before? Thanks for any help!
Crud! Transmission dip stick broke off in tube! What do I do?
- Thread starter Chris B.
- Start date
If it made it the whole way to the bottom it is just going to sit there until you pull the pan off and fetch it.
More curious as to why the stick won't go in there. You sure the piece isn't stuck partway down the tube?
More curious as to why the stick won't go in there. You sure the piece isn't stuck partway down the tube?
You can try fishing one of those flexible tipped magnet down the tube and maybe snag it, otherwise you will have to pull the pan. I doubt it will do any damage. I can't see the piece getting past the filter. It may also get snagged by the pan's magnet if so equiped.
First, cover the dipstick tube either by reinserting the old dipstick, or putting a plug in it so that no dirt/debris gets into the transmission.
Next, you can drive the car as long as you like because that broken piece isn’t gonna get pulled up through the filter. Personally, it would bother me so I would get it fixed fairly soon.
Buy a new dipstick, pick up a new filter, drop the pan, fish out the old piece, put in the new filter, refill the transmission and you’re good to go.
Next, you can drive the car as long as you like because that broken piece isn’t gonna get pulled up through the filter. Personally, it would bother me so I would get it fixed fairly soon.
Buy a new dipstick, pick up a new filter, drop the pan, fish out the old piece, put in the new filter, refill the transmission and you’re good to go.
It's now located on the pan magnet safe and sound. Just get a new dipstick and let not your heart be troubled.
If it bothers you, it will be sitting in the bottom of the pan when you remove it. Realistically, it will end up sticking to the magnet in the bottom of the pan and live there forever.
Was it Ford that was famous for letting the dipstick tube hole plug fall into the pan when assembled? Millions of Fords on the road with those plugs floating around in the transmission pan, no problems.
Was it Ford that was famous for letting the dipstick tube hole plug fall into the pan when assembled? Millions of Fords on the road with those plugs floating around in the transmission pan, no problems.
I'd also compare the length of 'old' and 'new' dipsticks.
I'm pretty sure your dipstick has a part # on the remaining section.
This may insure you get the proper replacement.
You can cut the remaining section off and use the plug to seal the tube
until a replacement can be had.
Good for you, you probably wore it out.
This may insure you get the proper replacement.
You can cut the remaining section off and use the plug to seal the tube
until a replacement can be had.
Good for you, you probably wore it out.
Put the broken dipstick back in to seal off the fill tube, and drive it until you buy a new dipstick. You can fetch the broken piece the next time you service the transmission. As mentioned the broken piece will not make its way through the system.
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2021
- Messages
- 2,275
No, your post ruined it.
Zee09
$200 Site Donor 2023
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
- Messages
- 21,838
Put the broken dipstick back in to seal off the fill tube, and drive it until you buy a new dipstick. You can fetch the broken piece the next time you service the transmission. As mentioned the broken piece will not make its way through the system.
You mean you're supposed to check the tranny fluid occasionally? Just kidding.
When I helped a pal do a pan drop and filter change on his '97 F-150, that subassembly plug was in the pan.
I didn't know what it was and my pal almost freaked.
Fortunately he has a "Ford pal" who explained what it was.
What I can't figure out is why something like the wet end of the dipstick tube needs to be sealed off in the first place.
Wouldn't it make more sense to temporarily seal off the top of the dipstick tube as that's where the dirt would enter?
FFW to today: "No dipstick for you".
Similar threads
