Ran into big problems just 70 miles into a cross-country drive today. The plan was to use our 1984 Volvo 245 to tow my 1975 Fiat Spider from California to Illinois. Had just put in a nice new three-row all metal radiator. Flushed all the AW70 transmission fluid a couple of weeks ago. Put the Fiat on a tow dolley. Drove a nice and easy 60-65 MPH, flat terrain, no overdrive, about 3500 RPM, and things seemed to be going well.

Then I started noticing a little smoke in my mirror. Then more and more. Soon the whole car was filling with smoke. Managed to make it to a truck stop, and immediately opened the hood. ATF was coming out of one of the trans cooler lines (where it meets the trans --- not at the radiator) at a pretty good clip, flowing onto the hot exhaust pipes, and this was creating the smoke. I’d clearly lost a lot of ATF. It’s really lucky this didn’t start a big fire.

Got the car towed to an independent Volvo shop in Victorville, where it awaits tomorrow morning’s 7:30am opening. It’s hard to tell much in a truck stop parking lot, but I strongly suspect one of the trans cooler lines has come disconnected from the trans. Every time I start the engine, the ATF starts flowing out.

HERE’S THE BIG QUESTION: Could this have been caused by the heavy load? After I get this fixed, would I be an idiot to continue towing the Fiat? I could get it shipped for about $850, but after this much investment and preparation for the tow…I’d like to get it there myself.

Any thoughts folks have would be greatly appreciated. I’m just hanging out in a motel for now.