Today is the day my Transmission Died?
 

Well kids, today, my transmission really freaked out on me. Listen to this. I was on my way to the dealer to pick up my $650 worth of tune up parts, and when i merged on to the freeway... third came just fine, forth shift was really slow, and when it hit the car just revved to 4000 and pulled only slightly. I let off the gas and shifted to 3. I got off at the next exit and noticed that my transmission had gone from about 60 degrees all the way up to about 130 when i pulled over, and usually it would have only been about 80 at that point. I drove the car and picked up my parts, all the while I could smell that horrible scent of burnt atf... pulled the dipstick there at the dealer, fluid wasn't too bad. The odd thing is, the transmission didn't ever do it again, and i drove it 35 miles on the freeway and parked it at my parents house, and even under heavy acceleration in 4th it still pulled. Is this a typical failure? I would have thought that it would get worse as the trans heated up...

atf temps pre-cooler should be under 190 but even up to 190 is safe... Lower than 150 and it will not run as it should

Tom

yeah i know, but it hadn't warmed up yet, and i've driven it for 3 years like it is now. I think I will take my old FWD transmission with a bad ring and pinion and transplant it all over.

So does it do it all the time or was it only the once? Because it is a function of the tcu to not shift into 4th until the fluid reaches 50* and the TC will not lock until fluid reaches 150*

Tom

That is correct, but the car did in fact attempt to shift to 4th, it just didn't pull once it was there. It only revved for a few seconds before i realized it and stopped, but you could smell the burnt ATF coming out the breather.

The high clutch failure is usually a relatively gradual process. maybe due to the temps it shifted when it should not have?? I would keep driving it to see if it still happens and report back

Tom

Nifty

Before you do too much pulling apart you should do two things.

1) Pull the codes for the AT.

I know the clutches burning would be mechanical and not show a code, but just the same, best to be thorough.

2) Check the tightness [or not!] of the brake band.

2 range and 4 range run on the brake band. If it is too loose through wear or age it will slip while changing. The smell you got could have been from the friction material on the band slipping and burning.

It is worth your while trying to adjust this, as it can be done on the car without stripping the transmission out of the car.

Best of luck with it..

Joe:)

Ah, I bet that is it. I forgot about that brake band! I will do the adjustment tomorrow.

Cool...;):)