I have a 96 trooper with a manual transmission. Lately when I
drive it the transmission get hot and it's so hot I can smell it sever
feet away. The trooper seem to run fine, but I know it's a ticking time
bomb. Any suggestions on what to check. It has fluid.

 

make sure the fluid is not draining back into the transfer case,if you have been addding fluid its going somewhere,check the trasfercase an see if its overfull,if so the sealas between the 2 are going bad,an will cause the input gear to starve for fluid an cause damage.the trans is in a slight tilt down so if it get too low all of the remainoing fluid in the rear causing the ft gears to be oil starved.i have a tool box full of input shafts now only good for clutch alignment tools cause of this,concern.