AT problems

[Rookie2]

Got a buddy with a late 90's model Taco, who's having tranny problems. He does a lot of heavy towing (probably too heavy) and the other day he was pulling a loaded trailor up hill and said it wouldn't hardly climb with full throttle. Said the AT light came on, so he added fluid and the light went out, but he's still having similar intermitent problems with it not pulling like it had before. Didn't sound like the tranny was slipping and then catching again, it just wouldn't pulling. Anybody venture a quess at what the problem could be.

Thanks,
Rookie2

[Outback]

Pulling too heavy of a load, probably doesn't have an external tranny cooler hooked up, burning AT fluid... Sounds like a classic case of overwoking your auto tranny and burning up the clutches/bands.

Normally, the AT light means the tranny is overheated. Stopping and adding cool fluid took care of the light, but the damage is already done.

Get a rig better suited for hauling the load. Preferrably a manual tranny. Or, only tow well within your range for the vehicle.

Time to rebuild the tranny.

Jody.