@NickTransmissions and everybody else...
I'm Dave, the original owner. I do all the service. It's a daily driver. The transmission is 100% factory.
Mountain life, 15 miles of curvy state highway, gentle grades, not on cruise control.
60mph in the straights, 35mph in the curves.
A few weeks ago, exiting a curve, gently accelerating back up to 60, I felt sharp "bucking" at 48mph.
It felt like something slipped for a fraction of a second and then instantly locked up again. About 8 times in 5 seconds, irregular, not rhythmic.
It wasn't loud. It was quiet, but you could feel each little shock. It only happened between 48 and 50, then smooth.
My wife and daughter drove it 400 miles the next day, mostly Interstate. It did it twice in 400 miles.
Their description: "brief lurching and washboard road sound," at about 50 or 55mph.
My best guess was TC shudder, so I added a bottle of LG Instant Shudder Fixx and everything was fine for 2 weeks.
Then my daughter said she felt the washboard thing again for a few seconds, so my mechanic friend in town hooked up a scan tool and went for a test drive.
No codes. He couldn't repeat the problem. He commanded TC lockup on and off and said the TC was working perfectly. He couldn't find any problem except the transmission fluid temperature reading was -38°. He said he thought the 3-4 shift might be a little slow, took a little too long to complete.
Big picture: I need to keep this thing running for a few months on a budget.
The atf has 20K miles on it, bright. I always did my own 3 gallon flushes by disconnecting cooling hose.
I put a 2nd magnet in the pan many years ago. The pan has always been clean, but I haven't dropped it in a while. Wix filter.
If I'm lucky, a new PSMA (temp sensor) might solve the problem for a little while.
This weekend, I will test the brake switch and wires, PCM wire, grounds, and fuel pressure. The plugs, wires, distributor, TPS and many other sensors are all new since last year. The throttle body was recently cleaned. Grounds are clean. I know engine issues can contribute to transmission issues, but I'm pretty sure I don't have any engine issues.
So I'm going to be ordering parts and dropping the pan.
What would you do while the pan was off?
Part of me is thinking new harness and solenoids, but another part of me is wondering if that is wise at 275K.
I've never done solenoids, but it looks easy and they are pretty cheap.
I found Nick's videos and posts. Thanks Nick!
I've never done anything to an automatic transmission, but I can, and help is available here. I have tools and decades of experience.
If this transmission dies this year, the most likely outcome is we will borrow a car from a friend while I drop it and rebuild it.
Today's goal: prolong the inevitable as long as possible. Get by.
What would you do while the pan is off? Do you have a preferred atf by the gallon?
Thanks!
PS - I already called the dealer in Wyoming where I bought it in 1996. I asked if they would tow it from Oregon to Wyoming for warranty repair. They said no, so I guess I'll have to get by on my own. I don't know what the world is coming to. You can't even get 30 years out of a car any more without having to fix something on it. SMH.
I'm Dave, the original owner. I do all the service. It's a daily driver. The transmission is 100% factory.
Mountain life, 15 miles of curvy state highway, gentle grades, not on cruise control.
60mph in the straights, 35mph in the curves.
A few weeks ago, exiting a curve, gently accelerating back up to 60, I felt sharp "bucking" at 48mph.
It felt like something slipped for a fraction of a second and then instantly locked up again. About 8 times in 5 seconds, irregular, not rhythmic.
It wasn't loud. It was quiet, but you could feel each little shock. It only happened between 48 and 50, then smooth.
My wife and daughter drove it 400 miles the next day, mostly Interstate. It did it twice in 400 miles.
Their description: "brief lurching and washboard road sound," at about 50 or 55mph.
My best guess was TC shudder, so I added a bottle of LG Instant Shudder Fixx and everything was fine for 2 weeks.
Then my daughter said she felt the washboard thing again for a few seconds, so my mechanic friend in town hooked up a scan tool and went for a test drive.
No codes. He couldn't repeat the problem. He commanded TC lockup on and off and said the TC was working perfectly. He couldn't find any problem except the transmission fluid temperature reading was -38°. He said he thought the 3-4 shift might be a little slow, took a little too long to complete.
Big picture: I need to keep this thing running for a few months on a budget.
The atf has 20K miles on it, bright. I always did my own 3 gallon flushes by disconnecting cooling hose.
I put a 2nd magnet in the pan many years ago. The pan has always been clean, but I haven't dropped it in a while. Wix filter.
If I'm lucky, a new PSMA (temp sensor) might solve the problem for a little while.
This weekend, I will test the brake switch and wires, PCM wire, grounds, and fuel pressure. The plugs, wires, distributor, TPS and many other sensors are all new since last year. The throttle body was recently cleaned. Grounds are clean. I know engine issues can contribute to transmission issues, but I'm pretty sure I don't have any engine issues.
So I'm going to be ordering parts and dropping the pan.
What would you do while the pan was off?
Part of me is thinking new harness and solenoids, but another part of me is wondering if that is wise at 275K.
I've never done solenoids, but it looks easy and they are pretty cheap.
I found Nick's videos and posts. Thanks Nick!
I've never done anything to an automatic transmission, but I can, and help is available here. I have tools and decades of experience.
If this transmission dies this year, the most likely outcome is we will borrow a car from a friend while I drop it and rebuild it.
Today's goal: prolong the inevitable as long as possible. Get by.
What would you do while the pan is off? Do you have a preferred atf by the gallon?
Thanks!
PS - I already called the dealer in Wyoming where I bought it in 1996. I asked if they would tow it from Oregon to Wyoming for warranty repair. They said no, so I guess I'll have to get by on my own. I don't know what the world is coming to. You can't even get 30 years out of a car any more without having to fix something on it. SMH.