ok, so the day went from bad to worse.
first my CEL went off giving a P0758 code. it wasn't wanting to shift from a dead stop. i came home, let it sit for probably an hour then i had to go back out. shifted fine for about 15 minutes, then it started again. about 10 minutes later, i see smoke coming out the back in my rearview. i got it home and looked underneath and what i think is tranny fluid is dripping off of everything.

any thoughts? please help.

 

pic attached upside down, not sure why

 

Look for a blown line maybe

 

I don't know anything about tranys, but it looks like a gasket or line blew like Xjay said..
Considering the smoke (Prob oil hitting the hot exhaust), and the fact that it didn't jam. The fluid leaking would explain the not shifting bit, if i'm right it's a simple fix.

 

so 1976mustang, you're thinking a bad tranny gasket?

do you mean oil? or tranny fluid?

 

Fluid, i always call it oil for some reason lol.
And yes, since there isn't a hole in the bottom which would indicate that a gear or the clutch blew up.

 

do you happen to know of a 'how to' or 'write-up' on changing the transmission gasket?

any suggestions on a type of gasket?

 

Nah i'v never worked on an Auto, I'm sure someone who has will post here.
Good luck

 

would you guys agree that this is tranny fluid? i don't think its oil considering where its coming from.

 

Motor oil is ovb. black, and trany fluid is red. Wipe some on a white paper towel and you'll know.

 

HAs there been fluid on the ground prior to all the troubles? From what you described it was a rapid fluid loss. I'd follow the trans line from the front to where it goes into the side of the trans pan. That way you eliminate a bad line. The only rubber line is in the front. If you can clean the **** out of that mess, fill it up with fluid, drive it, park over card board and wait for it to leak. Cuz right now you really dont know the origin. Also check to see if the dip stick tube is still connected to the pan. Or if the 2 halves of the tube separated

 

Do this first!!! Coach

 

The P0758 is the 2-3 shift solenoid. If I had to take a shot in the dark, I'd say your trans wouldn't shift, overheated, and blew fluid out the vent and perhaps dipstick tube.
As others have mentioned, you're gonna have to clean it all up and watch for leaks, if any. And check the solenoid and associated wiring for faults.

 

Clean it up, fill it up, and run it some until you find the source of the leak. X2 on it very possible be a line leaking. Open the hood and make sure the motor is still sitting correctly. The exact same scenario you described is why the PO was selling the 97 I bought. Turns out the motor mount bolts had sheared off on one side and allowed enough engine drop for the fan blade to clip one of the tranny lines. I open the hood and noticed the motor was leaning oddly to one side.

 

Since your Jeep is upside down maybe all the fluid leaked out of the filler tube?