Transmission problems

[TyWebb]

My car's transmission is acting up, slipping between gears and sometimes not clicking over at all. This is the second time in the past year I've had this problem and I'm thinking it's time for a new one.

Anybody have any experience with this? How much does a new transmission usually run? Should I just try to get it repaired and risk it messing up again?

 

[BYH]

I had a new tranny (hey-o) put in my 1989 Pontiac Bonneville in 1997. I think it ran me close to $1,000, but I had a mechanic I trusted and he said I'd be able to get a few more years out of it b/c the engine was fine. And he was right. Car eventually perished of old age but the new transmission bought me several years at a minimal cost.

 

[Clever username]

All I can think of is the Simpsons episode in which Moe gets Homer to steal and drive his car off a cliff in order to collect on the insurance. Sadly, I cannot find any pictures from that episode to post, at least not one that represents what happens well, which would have been infinitely funnier by itself than these words.

 

[Clever username]

http://tubearoo.com/articles/87858/Homer_And_Moe_Pull_Insurance_Job.html

That's better.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Have had two different cars with transmission problems, and you'll probably spend at least $1,000 and perhaps up to $2,000 depending on the car. Worse yet, it's a two- or three-day job at most places (they have to take the entire engine out to get to the transmission on some cars), so you'll be without your car for a while.

Depending on how large a city you live in, you might save some money by buying a used/reconditioned one from a salvage warehouse and taking it to the shop where you're getting your car fixed. That way you don't have to wait on them to order the parts. (Only drawback here is the place that's doing the work will only guarantee the labor, and not the parts. But worth the risk if money is a major object).

All that said, I'd give serious consideration to just getting new car. Transmission problems suck. I'd rather have a hernia ...

 

[pressboxramblings07]

Check first to see if you have a leak and if the transmission fluid needs to be flushed out. Do everything possible BEFORE getting a new transmission. If you take care of everything else and don't notice the slipping between gears, etc., you just saved yourself a ton of money.

If that doesn't work, I'd look into getting a new car, depending on how new/old your car is.

 

[fishwrapper]

Age of car will depend a lot on the diagnosis of this problem.
If the car is post 1999, more than likely the mechanic can "run code" and tell you specifically what is wrong with your tranny. Now, I recommend you take it to a transmission specialist, not a national chain, but a mechanic whom specializes in transmissions.
There are many, many problems that can be fixed in and on a transmission without "dropping it." Dropping it and the repairs thereafter are the costly ones.
It is important to determine whether your transmission needs to be dropped or not. That will go a long way in determining the cost-effectiveness of repair.
Good luck.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

My car's transmission is acting up, slipping between gears and sometimes not clicking over at all. This is the second time in the past year I've had this problem and I'm thinking it's time for a new one.

Anybody have any experience with this? How much does a new transmission usually run? Should I just try to get it repaired and risk it messing up again?

Is this an automatic transmission or a manual?

If a manual, it could be that the flywheel has had it. I had that happen on a vehicle equipped with a 5-speed manual and 180,000 miles on the odometer. Vehicle was sound in every other phase, and the $800 I invested was well worth it, especially when I got $1,000 for the machine when I sold it with 230,000 miles.

If it's an automatic, it could be that the torque converter is giving up.

As for whether a new transmission will be needed, it depends on the extent of the damage. Typically, a rebuild - with a new torque converter or a flywheel - can take care of the trouble. Ask around for a dependable transmission specialist ... typically NOT a dealership, which both overcharges for labor and also will put in new parts where not always necessary or helpful (with a 20 percent parts markup from the parts department to boot).

Good luck.

 

[fishwrapper]

I've had a tranny problem with one car in my life. A ford pickup.

 

[fishwrapper]

Will a torque converter cause skipping of gears, or just loss of responsiveness in gear?
It was just one of my many issues.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Will a torque converter cause skipping of gears, or just loss of responsiveness in gear?
It was just one of my many issues.

The latter much more than the former.

Thing is, I've never owned a vehicle that didn't have a manual transmission.

 

[slappy4428]

I share your pain. I have to replace the wheel bearing tomorrow that didnt make any telltale signs of wear; missed work tonight and will probably have to do it again tomorrow

 

[TyWebb]

My car's transmission is acting up, slipping between gears and sometimes not clicking over at all. This is the second time in the past year I've had this problem and I'm thinking it's time for a new one.

Anybody have any experience with this? How much does a new transmission usually run? Should I just try to get it repaired and risk it messing up again?

Next time, don't buy a Ford.

Funny thing is, it's a Honda. Granted, its a '98, but it has treated me perfectly up until now. It is an automatic.

Making matters worse, I just started a new job at a new city a few months ago and I'm hours away from the mechanic I learned to trust and respect.

Thanks for the input everybody. Man this is going to be painful.

 

[Angola!]

Replacing transmissions is extremely costly, but all of the people saying he should just buy a new car are crazy. Who of us sports writers has money to buy a new car at the drop of a hat? I sure don't. So, unless you are going to buy a clunker for $2k, then I would just get it fixed.

 

[Bad Guy Zero]

I had a new tranny (hey-o) put in my 1989 Pontiac Bonneville in 1997. I think it ran me close to $1,000...

That works out to $125 a second.

 

[I'll never tell]

PM me if you need to, but there's is this stuff you can buy at AutoZone. You add it to your transmission. Sometimes it helps, when it doesn't you're only out $5. In our case it didn't solve the problem, but has made it bearable.

WHATEVER YOU DO, don't change the transmission fluid if it's not pink. If it's brown-ish, that's your problem ... it's not been changed enough. (And the only thing that's keeping it from not slipping more is all those metal shavings in there providing grip)

If you change transmission fluid now, the detergent will eat it up in less than a week or two.

I would say though that the reason it's popping up now is because it's colder. Warming up a car with a bad transmission does help a little bit. Three or four minutes should do the trick.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

I really thought this was going to be involved in this thread:

 

[fishwrapper]

Not many on this board know what that is. Or cupplers for that matter...

 

[BTExpress]

Who of us sports writers has money to buy a new car at the drop of a hat?

You need to head over to the SportsJournalists.com parellel universe.

Over there everyone eats at "real" restaurants (no chains!), has 15,000 songs downloaded into iTunes and pays $20,000 for weddings.

 

[TyWebb]

Quick update for those interested: Found a trustworthy tranny specialist in the area. Turns out my fluid was pitch black and smelled awful and my transmission was only miles away from dropping on its own. The owner of the place said he was surprised I could even drive the car to the shop.

There were a number of codes going off and I had two choices: leave my car in the shop for a week or two and let them rebuild it, which guarantees nothing, or put in an exchange unit (a refurbished transmission) and get it back in two days. That should solve my problems and I get a one-year warranty on the unit.

I went with the latter because the guy said that as bad as my transmission was, the cost would be similar with labor and parts piling up on a rebuild. Will set me back about $2K.