No, please no... (Help..)

Nomake Wan · #1 05-22-2007, 06:29 AM

I took a road trip up to Rochester over the weekend. SVX took it well, made it all the way up in the rain without problems. Helped some buddies haul a fridge and a christmas tree and other dorm-room goodies, hung out, cool.

Monday morning I'm shuttling people between dorms and all of a sudden I notice that there's something really, really weird with power application. It doesn't feel like there's enough torque, and in turns I didn't feel connected.

After some trying out of different situations, I have concluded the following:

1.) There is a general loss of torque. Once at speed, flooring the pedal allows highway speed, but it takes much longer to get up there.

2.) The second half of a turn (straightening out the wheel) causes the transmission to disengage. At least, that's what it feels like. You make the corner, push on the gas a little, begin to straighten the wheel and all of a sudden there's no torque and the engine revs freely until the wheel is nearly straight again, then it latches on and you go.

3.) This phenomenon also occurs from a rolling stop. If I make a complete 0 MPH stop, nothing strange happens aside from what was detailed in #1. However, making 1-2 MPH stops where I'm still slightly moving forward causes the effect in #2 with the following addendum: The engine revs freely as soon as you press the gas pedal, and does this for about second before suddenly going into gear.

This happened all at once. There was no gradual involved. One day the SVX was running fine, the next I have (I'm hoping not..) tranny problems. Anyone experienced this before, knows what's going on exactly?

There's also smoke pouring out of the right side of my timing belt cover but it only started happening since the car was detailed, so I'm guessing that whatever degreaser they used is still burning off. Still, that was Wednesday of last week and I've been driving it daily since then... And it just keeps pouring smoke out of the passenger's side...

svxfiles · #2 05-22-2007, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomake Wan

I took a road trip up to Rochester over the weekend. SVX took it well, made it all the way up in the rain without problems. Helped some buddies haul a fridge and a christmas tree and other dorm-room goodies, hung out, cool.

Monday morning I'm shuttling people between dorms and all of a sudden I notice that there's something really, really weird with power application. It doesn't feel like there's enough torque, and in turns I didn't feel connected.

After some trying out of different situations, I have concluded the following:

1.) There is a general loss of torque. Once at speed, flooring the pedal allows highway speed, but it takes much longer to get up there.

2.) The second half of a turn (straightening out the wheel) causes the transmission to disengage. At least, that's what it feels like. You make the corner, push on the gas a little, begin to straighten the wheel and all of a sudden there's no torque and the engine revs freely until the wheel is nearly straight again, then it latches on and you go.

3.) This phenomenon also occurs from a rolling stop. If I make a complete 0 MPH stop, nothing strange happens aside from what was detailed in #1. However, making 1-2 MPH stops where I'm still slightly moving forward causes the effect in #2 with the following addendum: The engine revs freely as soon as you press the gas pedal, and does this for about second before suddenly going into gear.

This happened all at once. There was no gradual involved. One day the SVX was running fine, the next I have (I'm hoping not..) tranny problems. Anyone experienced this before, knows what's going on exactly?

There's also smoke pouring out of the right side of my timing belt cover but it only started happening since the car was detailed, so I'm guessing that whatever degreaser they used is still burning off. Still, that was Wednesday of last week and I've been driving it daily since then... And it just keeps pouring smoke out of the passenger's side...

FirstDo not drive it!!!!!!!!!!!
Check the trans fluid !!

Second drop the transmission pan (20, 10mm head bolts)
remove and replace the transmission filter and gasket.

Refill it with Dexron and check the fluid again.

Now try it gently.

Nomake Wan · #3 05-22-2007, 07:47 AM

Will do that. With any luck it's just fluid (though the only time it could've lost fluid was when the radiator was replaced... hmm...). Thank you.

Nomake Wan · #4 05-22-2007, 08:12 AM

Fluid level is fine, no loss there. Nice cherry red color too. Front diff fluid is also nominal (I was there, figured I'd check it anyway).

I don't have the equipment here to drop the tranny pan and replace those parts though... Nearest place I'd trust to do such a thing is about 40 minutes away...

TomsSVX · #5 05-22-2007, 10:04 AM

pop your timing covers... Check to see if one or more of your timing belt components seized and caused the belt to jump.... If there is smoke from your timing covers, this is a good chance

Tom

SomethingElse · #6 05-22-2007, 11:46 AM

another cause could be clogged fuel filter, or air filter. hows the service history?

Trevor · #7 05-23-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomake Wan

Fluid level is fine, no loss there. Nice cherry red color too. Front diff fluid is also nominal (I was there, figured I'd check it anyway).

I would presume all of this to be correct.

Nomake Wan · #8 05-23-2007, 04:54 PM

It was, to the best of my ability. When I tested it in the morning after running it the dipstick looked like it was on the F reading. Could've been my mistake. Probably was my mistake, considering all the ATF all over my driveway.

svxfiles · #9 05-22-2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomake Wan

It doesn't feel like there's enough torque, and in turns I didn't feel connected.

1.) There is a general loss of torque. Once at speed, flooring the pedal allows highway speed, but it takes much longer to get up there.

2.) The second half of a turn (straightening out the wheel) causes the transmission to disengage. At least, that's what it feels like. You make the corner, push on the gas a little, begin to straighten the wheel and all of a sudden there's no torque and the engine revs freely until the wheel is nearly straight again, then it latches on and you go.

3.) This phenomenon also occurs from a rolling stop. If I make a complete 0 MPH stop, nothing strange happens aside from what was detailed in #1. However, making 1-2 MPH stops where I'm still slightly moving forward causes the effect in #2 with the following addendum: The engine revs freely as soon as you press the gas pedal, and does this for about second before suddenly going into gear.

This happened all at once. There was no gradual involved. One day the SVX was running fine, the next I have (I'm hoping not..) tranny problems. Anyone experienced this before, knows what's going on exactly?

It COULD be an axle IS disconnecting inside the boot.

Trevor · #10 05-22-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxfiles

It COULD be an axle IS disconnecting inside the boot.

Lucky Chris is providing space, free and N/C.

Nomake Wan · #11 05-22-2007, 06:37 PM

My dad's explanation for turns and rolling stops is fluid shift within the torque converter. It sounds... well, sound.

I can put more fluid in to get the car somewhere, right?

Hocrest · #12 05-22-2007, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomake Wan

My dad's explanation for turns and rolling stops is fluid shift within the torque converter. It sounds... well, sound.

I can put more fluid in to get the car somewhere, right?

Depends how fast it's leaking??

Many times, the problem will be at the end of the hose. Check the clamp (8mm socket), if it's tight, pull the hose and remove 3/4 - 1" and reconnect and clamp it.

dcarrb · #13 05-23-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomake Wan

My dad's explanation for turns and rolling stops is fluid shift within the torque converter. It sounds... well, sound.

I can put more fluid in to get the car somewhere, right?

No expert here, but I'm pretty sure low ATF could cause the sort of hesitation you've described. And yes, if the fluid's getting onto a hot surface, it would smoke (tho' this wouldn't explain it coming literally from behind the timing belt cover; maybe it's actually coming from the exhaust header). Whatever; you really should fix that leak before going far. If that's truly all that's wrong it sure would be a shame to burn-up the tranny for want of a new clamp or length of hose, both of which are cheap and can be bought anyplace.

dcb

svxfiles · #14 05-22-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by svxfiles
It COULD be an axle IS disconnecting inside the boot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor

Lucky Chris is providing space, free and N/C.

I am not sure what you are saying, Trevor, but I have personally seen three SVX axles disconnect inside the boot, and slip.
This would explain why it would rev up in the turns.

Trevor · #15 05-22-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxfiles

Quote:
Originally Posted by svxfiles
It COULD be an axle IS disconnecting inside the boot.

I am not sure what you are saying, Trevor, but I have personally seen three SVX axles disconnect inside the boot, and slip.
This would explain why it would rev up in the turns.

Sorry, sorry, if you had been more specific I would have understood your meaning.

"The" boot". Luggage boot? Universal protection boot.