Tranny Goes Bye Bye

[NorthernSHO]

Well this past weekend the old girl let loose. I passed a Contour and just as I got by it, I heard a couple of thuds and then the gas pedal did nothing but rev the engine. No forward movement under power what so ever. I also have no reverse! The only gear that I was able to move the car in was 1st.

I have a lead on a tranny with 70,000 miles on it out of a 94. I think I may buy this tranny and get it looked over, have a transgo installed, and then go from there. I don't think I can swing the $3,000 for a rebuild at this time.

Any thoughts, suggestions would be great.

 

[sdpatt]

Did you have any fluid in the transaxle?

 

[NorthernSHO]

sdpatt:
Did you have any fluid in the transaxle?

As far as I know...I haven't checked though since the incident. Last time I checked it was maybe a month ago and all was well. Fluid was nice and clean, topped up, and not burnt smelling.

Why do you ask?

 

[sdpatt]

I misread the transaxle type and thought it was an MTX. Nevermind.

<small>[ May 13, 2003, 11:30 AM: Message edited by: sdpatt ]</small>

 

[Mr Anonymous]

You understand that the labor to install the TransGo kit is identical to the labor you'll pay for a rebuild, right? The tranny has to be almost completely disassembled to install the TransGo.

 

[NorthernSHO]

SHOooo:
You understand that the labor to install the TransGo kit is identical to the labor you'll pay for a rebuild, right? The tranny has to be almost completely disassembled to install the TransGo.

Nope, was not aware of that. I guess I will just be installing a used tranny with no shift kit and hoping for the best. Wish I had money to do more...wish I could do a MTX swap!

 

[Mike Kopstain]

If you like roadtrips, my tranny shop does a full rebuild, double stacks the clutches, and installs a shift kit for $1630 installed.

The transmission is currently found on one Supercharged SHO.

 

[NorthernSHO]

Mikeys_Taurus:
If you like roadtrips, my tranny shop does a full rebuild, double stacks the clutches, and installs a shift kit for $1630 installed.

The transmission is currently found on one Supercharged SHO.

Even with the exchange that is still better than what I was quoted for a Ford unit. Here is what I was quoted...

Ford rebuilt transmission - $2,500cdn
Labour to install - $700
Taxes (15%) - $480
Total - $3,680 (2,650US)!!

I wish I could afford the tow to bring it down to you, but I'm sure that would be an expensive journey!

 

[Jaxon]

Did you look in the classifieds? I saw a tranny that had been tore down to the core and replaced with all 95 internals with a shift kit and everything for $1300 US + shipping, you could prolly get it for less because it didn't sell on ebay or shoclub from what I saw.

 

[NorthernSHO]

Jaxon:
Did you look in the classifieds? I saw a tranny that had been tore down to the core and replaced with all 95 internals with a shift kit and everything for $1300 US + shipping, you could prolly get it for less because it didn't sell on ebay or shoclub from what I saw.

That is not a bad deal at all. I have found a used tranny in Ontario with 114,000kms (71,250 miles) out of a rear-ended 94 ATX that I can have for $400 plus shipping ($270US). With the financial situation I'm in, I think that is the route I'm going to go. I'm going to also add a beefy tranny cooler and run redline synthetic...hopefully this will improve the life of the transmission.

Thanks for all of the help and advice.

 

[Jr's Sho]

Sorry to hear about your loss, these are the kind of stories that make me worry about my automatic.

 

[SHOtimer]

Used to make me worry to, now I'm worrying if I can make it to the end of summer when I'm gonna replace it. I used to think mine was solid...nope. No ATX is safe...
Doug

 

[NorthernSHO]

SHOtimer:
Used to make me worry to, now I'm worrying if I can make it to the end of summer when I'm gonna replace it. I used to think mine was solid...nope. No ATX is safe...
Doug

Yes I thought mine was fine as well. It has done the slow shifting and clunking into 2nd for a very long time. I had my car at the drag strip the night before it let go, but that was only the second time my car has ever been at the strip. I have never brake torqued it and would only do two runs and then let it cool down for 15 minutes. The fact is that these transmissions are weak and can go at any time. **** Ford is still making these transmissions and they are still just as weak.

The guy who came and towed my car told me that he had picked up a 2000 Windstar that morning with 43,750 miles on it with a blown tranny! I'm sorry but that is just not acceptable...nor is the fact that my tranny went at 130,000 miles. My girlfriend had a 91 Accord with 170,000 miles on the original auto tranny and never ever did a tranny flush!

 

[Bluto]

Northernsho,

You are not too far from me, I'm in Rochester NY.
I had mine done out this way for $1800.00US.

That was rebuilding mine, and installing a Transgo Kit.

If you have CAA+ it will cover the first 100 towed miles.

Or if you have full size pickup rent a 4 Wheel Auto Transport from Uhaul. I know round trip its like 50-60 dollars a day.

Contact me if you need help, or want the tranny shops info.
-Carl

 

[ohioshodude]

you lost all the gears but first?! wow thats weird. aren't first and reverse the same gear? have you had it looked at by a tranny shop, it maybe not be toooo bad. or could be fixable. thats really odd.

 

[Bizzy]

Jaxon:
Did you look in the classifieds? I saw a tranny that had been tore down to the core and replaced with all 95 internals with a shift kit and everything for $1300 US + shipping, you could prolly get it for less because it didn't sell on ebay or shoclub from what I saw.

If you're talking about the IPT tranny in the forum classifieds, the shift kit can be installed for an additional charge. Even still is a good price.

Good luck Northern, I hope things work out for you soon. Keep us posted.

 

[svtman]

Originally posted by NorthernSHO:
My girlfriend had a 91 Accord with 170,000 miles on the original auto tranny and never ever did a tranny flush!

91 Honda Accords also have 4 bangers with barely half the horsepower that the SHO does.

But yeah - Ford did make a poor design with the tranny. I plan to rebuild mine myself if it gets much worse (it shudders a bit on the 1-2 shift) and install a shift kit when I do. I haven't priced it out, but I'd be surprised if the rebuild kit and shift kit come in over $500-$800 dollars. Mine's got 147,000kms on it (original).

 

[pete c]

The honda has similar hp to the anemic vulcan motor in the slo, but, they still get chewed up. Face it, the Ford ATXOD is a *************. It is almost as bad as the mopar ATXOD.

I have heard here that the doug lewis rebuilds are supposedly bulletproof.

What does doug know that ford doesn't? Or is he just willing to spend a few dollars on good parts. Seems to me that ford would sell a **** of a lot more tauri/windstars if they fixed it.

One of the reasons I bought the SHO was that it came with the MTX. Why doesn't ford sell the slo with a 5 speed? Oh yeah, I forgot, the marketing gurus say it wouldn't make sense. Funny how the toyota/honda marketing guys haven't figured that out yet. I guess they're too busy making mtx accords and camrys.

 

[NorthernSHO]

Bluto:
Northernsho,

You are not too far from me, I'm in Rochester NY.
I had mine done out this way for $1800.00US.

That was rebuilding mine, and installing a Transgo Kit.

If you have CAA+ it will cover the first 100 towed miles.

Or if you have full size pickup rent a 4 Wheel Auto Transport from Uhaul. I know round trip its like 50-60 dollars a day.

Contact me if you need help, or want the tranny shops info.
-Carl

Hey Bluto,

Thanks very much for the offer. You guys have all been very supportive and if the logistics of getting my car down to the states wasn't so bad, I'd consider making the trip. The fact is that I'd have to rent a trailer, borrow a truck, take a day or two off work, etc, etc. I know that I can do better than the quote I got here of $3,600...I'm actually going to get the whole thing done using the used transmission for around $1,000 cdn ($600US). It is not the best long-term solution but is about all I can afford right now.

I'll just have to keep my eyes open on autotrader for a nice MTX!

Thanks again

 

[NorthernSHO]

ohioshodude:
you lost all the gears but first?! wow thats weird. aren't first and reverse the same gear? have you had it looked at by a tranny shop, it maybe not be toooo bad. or could be fixable. thats really odd.

Well yea...I was able to move the car a few feet out of the way using first but had absolutely nothing in reverse. I have no idea if that is strange...but if so if someone could elaborate it would be appreciated.

I have not had a transmission shop look at it but had my car towed to a Toyota dealership where my friend Thomas (fellow SHO owner) is a mechanic. He looked it over and said my tranny needs a rebuild. So I guess my question is...should I buy this used tranny for $400cdn or does it sound like my current tranny could be rebuilt for around the same money?

Thanks again!