Trans is hurting...suggestions?

[Liquid_force]

This trans has always had a hard 1-2 shift when it's cold. Otherwise it USUALLY drives ok, but has had the occasional "things that make you go hmmm".

For the last few weeks it has had a tendency to leak some trans fluid when it gets hot (3x in a month iirc), but never shifted in an unusual manner.

Last time it leaked I thought I noticed some shifting hiccups. I chkd fluid level and it was good. Drove it on the hwy for 30 mi or so at 75-80 then sat idling at a toll booth for several mins. I noticed quite a bit of smoke from under the car and assumed more leaking. Drove another few miles, idled, more smoke, drove a few more mi home.
Immediately chkd under the car and found a 3-4" puddle already.

I would like to get some info on trans repair/replacement options (assuming the problem is something that will require trans removal). I've been happy with the car and can afford to spend SOME money on it to keep it on the road.

Should I be thinking rebuild? Appx cost?

How much $$ could be saved by removing/installing myself?
Is that a job an average home mechanic can pull off w/a helper and req'd tools?
I do almost all my own repairs, but know next to nothing about auto trans'.
Last time I had one go belly up I installed a T-5 (10 yrs ago).

I plan on getting a dx from a local transmission shop, but I'm going on the assumption I have a serious problem and want to be as prepared as possible so the shop recognizes I have a clue.

 

[My_Silver_SHO]

Should I be thinking rebuild? Appx cost?
I paid $1750 for a complete rebuild w/transgo shift kit, new TQ.

How much $$ could be saved by removing/installing myself?
A couple hundred.

Is that a job an average home mechanic can pull off w/a helper and req'd tools?
I did. You will need to make some kind of engine support, I used 6x6s. A trans jack will help (check craigs list). 2 jackstands.

I do almost all my own repairs, but know next to nothing about auto trans'.
Last time I had one go belly up I installed a T-5 (10 yrs ago).

I can email you istructions from shop manual if you like.

 

[Liquid_force]

Thanks for the info.
For only a couple hundred saved I might just pay for it.
On the other hand, it can't be too difficult for that kind of money.

 

[sperold]

Before considering a rebuild on a transmission that still seems to be doing things right generally.... I would do something to make it run cooler.
I would consider bypassing the radiator (which adds heat in the summer), running bigger lines to the cooler (even if they were flex or neopreme to start with) and maybe adding another trans cooler (like you see for trailer towing).
See if there is such a thing as a temp gauge for transmissions and put one in, if not crazy hard or expensive.

 

[SHOdded]

^ along the same vein as what sperold said, cooling the ATX transmission is good for performance. Reference what has been done on Gen 2 ATX. If your car is S/C or turbo'd or trailering then look at adding a cooler.

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=94100

HTH.

 

[Liquid_force]

No considerable mods, no towing, but I've wanted to add a cooler since I've owned it, just haven't gotten it done.

it's overdue for a flush too, and I'd replace the filter as well, but at this point I thought I might as well save the time/money and put it toward the rebuild.
But if there's a reasonable chance of squeezing a little more life out of it that's definitely something I'd want to do.

Guess I'm getting greasy Sunday.

 

[My_Silver_SHO]

I have a Hayden cooler I am not using...$20 plus shipping. Its Hayden #405 Ultra Cooler.

http://www.amazon.com/Hayden-Automotive-405-Ultra-Cool-Transmission/dp/B000C3F3HK

 

[BamSHO]

Def put a cooler on it. I just put one on my black 98. It wont cost much for a new filter and tranny fluid. Plus I bet the filter in it is really plugged up. Both my silver and black 98s looked aweful, plus cleaned the bottom of tranny pan too. I had about $60 in changing out the fluid. Also used one quart of Lucas too. Will help you get thru till you replace it. Just more a pain and getting dirty. I bypassed the tranny lines going into the rad. I just use the aux cooler only now.


Brian Michael
98 black Gen3

 

[Liquid_force]

Can a trans cooler be too big or cool TOO much?
I'm looking at 243008 at Advance auto but they say no on fitment.

 

[SHOZ123]

Can a trans cooler be too big or cool TOO much?
I'm looking at 243008 at Advance auto but they say no on fitment.

Not really, the only issue may be in the winter and the TC won't lock until the temp reaches 120F or so. This usually is only a problem if you just start off and do highway driving, if it does not lock up after 15 minutes or so it quits trying.. A few stop and goes will allow it to heat up enough. Or if it does not lock up if you stop and turn the car off and restart it usually is warm enough to start locking.

Avoid any tube and fin type cooler.

 

[Liquid_force]

Got it done finally.
I ended up going with a smaller (and cheaper) cooler.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...on-cooler/_/N-25io?itemIdentifier=267252_0_0_

Glad I didn't have anything much bigger. I had to pull the nose piece and take the condenser screws out to give myself some room to work with. I work slow, but it took me close to a full day with the cooler install, flush and filter.

After refilling the trans for the flush I must not have let it flush enough out because after adding 5 qts to top it off and start checking the level I ended up having to siphon 1-1/2 to 2 qts back out. I just ran it until it looked clean, but compared to the sludge I WAS looking at I probably didn't wait quite long enough for it to be CLEAN. Regardless, it's WAAAY better off than it was.

Test drive was very positive. The 1-2 thud didn't happen, but it was good and warm by the time I drove it so that probably had something to do with it. Downshifts at 40 and 60 both felt good too.

The only negative was there was a considerable amount of smoke and oily smelling fumes at the end of the test drive. Similar to the smoke that I saw that had me thinking the worst, but not as thick.
I'm HOPING it's just burning off all my drips and spills from the work I did on it.

Motor oil is clean and level is good. Not sure about PS fluid level, but it's working right.

Don't know what other system the smoke could be coming from...brake fluid I guess, but those are working fine as well.

 

[SHOZ123]

If that cooler fixes your problem then good but IMHO you did not have much of a problem. I had a 4 tube like this, went to a 6 tube one, went to the V6 SHO one to really take care of the problem.

I use my 4 tube and fin cooler for my PS system on the Gen Coupe now.

 

[Liquid_force]

The cooler may not be making a world of difference (or much difference at all for that matter).
But it seems it was well overdue for a flush and I believe it's shifting a little smoother.

what I have is a chronic leaking trans, and it seems sizeable leak.
I can drive it short distances w/o leaking, but once it heats up it leaks steadily, lands primarily on the exhaust, and burns off leaving a nice smoke screen behind me after sitting at a light. It also looks like a fire hazard sitting in the driveway for 15 min after a leak inducing drive.
The other issue is how the fumes build up in the cabin when it's idling at a stop.
All in all, a real treat to drive right now.

 

[tqmx1]

Needless to say it's not a do it yourself job but mine did the same thing. I was on a road trip and it dumped all the fluid. I refilled it and it did not leak a drop until it started to get warm.

Any way what it ended up being was the bushing in the pump started to rotate and some times when it got hot it touched the pump seal and it puked all over.

I would say it's time to pull the trans and have it resealed and a new pump bushing installed.

 

[Liquid_force]

DIY depends on money saved. If I can save myself more than a couple hundred taking it out/installing it I'll figure out a way to get it out.
I'll just have to see what the quote is and what I can work out with the shop.