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Transmission problem with my beater car

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wapenn

02-18-2003 17:58:09




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I have a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier (beater car) 217K miles, 4 cylinder with automatic overdrive. I've never had a bit of trouble with the transmission until yesterday. I was cruising around a neighboring town looking at machinery. When I came to a stop sign, the engine died. It was as though it was locked in gear and couldn't automatically down-shift. What's wrong ? Is it an "overdrive valve" ? It's been fine since then, but it did bother me. Should I take it into the trany shop right away ?

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Tim

02-20-2003 18:28:53




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 Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to wapenn, 02-18-2003 17:58:09  
The torque convertor solenoid was sticking, causing the torque convertor to stay engaged. Yes that makes the automatic trans act like a manual transmission. Have the solenoid, fluid and filter changed.



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tim(ny)

02-19-2003 15:04:21




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 Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to wapenn, 02-18-2003 17:58:09  
I had the same thing with my '92 Skylark. It acts like you have a standard transmission and forgot to put the clutch in when you stopped. Its a "kickdown solenoid" (I think I remembered that right) and cost me about $300 for a tranny shop to fix. Good luck.



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Ray M41

02-19-2003 06:38:18




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 Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to wapenn, 02-18-2003 17:58:09  
I have an '89 Dodge Dakota. V6, with a lock up torque converter on the automatic transmission. It has 195K miles on it. Every so often when I least expect it, the lockup will not engage. Driving at speeds up to 60 mph will not do it either. Pushing on the overdrive button doesn't work either. I've had luck by pulling over and reving the engine with the transmission in neutral. The first transmission grenaded under warranty. It has done this since day one. the Dodge mechanics are clueless.
Are these sympthons related?

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wapenn

02-19-2003 19:13:21




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 Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to Ray M41, 02-19-2003 06:38:18  
My 93 Buick Regal had a similar problem while it was still under warranty. It would occasionally go out of overdrive for about 1 second and then go right back in while at constant speed on level ground. It was an electronic valve inside the trany.



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Travis

02-19-2003 02:17:51




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 Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to wapenn, 02-18-2003 17:58:09  
As long as you have the 3-spd trans. it will be the TCC(torque convertor clutch) solenoid. Last I knew the thing cost about $30-$40 at GM. On a Cavalier they are usually pretty easy to replace. Pull the side cover off and may have to drop the cradle a few inches on that side. Unbolt the solenoid, there will be one wire that will be a bear to get out--don't try it, just clip the wire and do the same to the new one and use a heat shrink butt connector on there. I've done it on hundreds of them that way and lots of other mechanics do the same. You can just unplug the connector on the outside of the trans and get by, but will lose a little on MPG and the trans will run a little warmer.

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Tim(VA)

03-21-2004 07:21:49




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 Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to Travis, 02-19-2003 02:17:51  
If I want to disconnect the TCC seleniod on my 1991 Grand AM from the outsidee of the transmission how do I do it? Where is the wire? I have replaced O2 sensor and IAC motor and have come to the conclusion my problem is the TCC seleniod...slow down it stalls. PLEASE HELP!



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wapenn

02-19-2003 11:34:57




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 Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to Travis, 02-19-2003 02:17:51  

I only have D-2-1 on the selector, but it's got a 4th "gear" which must be possible because of the torque convertor lock.

I'm usually O.K. with most repairs, but auto tranys are still a little bit of a magic to me. I may have to still take it into the dealer just for peace of mind from knowing that it's done right.

What do you mean by "drop the cradle a few inches on that side" ?

What is a "heat shrink butt connector" ? Could I get by with twisting the ends, soldering, and then shrink wrap.

Thanks in advance.

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Travis

02-22-2003 05:58:40




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 Re: Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to wapenn, 02-19-2003 11:34:57  
What I mean by " dropping the cradle" is the subframe that the engine and trans sits on, sometimes the side cover won't clear when trying to remove it, so you have to take two bolts out on the drivers side(with the car jacked up--on jackstands--and be very careful) and lower one side of the subframe just a little bit with a jack. Yes you can twist and solder and heatshrink the wires. In the essence of saving a little time, we always use heat shrink butt connectors, they worked just as well as soldering on something like this. Also, with the D, 2, 1--you do only have a three-speed or the TH125 Transmission.

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wapenn

02-18-2003 21:06:33




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 Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to wapenn, 02-18-2003 17:58:09  
Thanks for the replies guys.

Your descriptions were helpful. My service manual mentions that the emission contol system is tied into the tranny electronics too. I guess I'll have to take her into the shop. She's been a good girl and I'm not ready to part with her yet.



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Kevin

02-18-2003 19:39:47




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 Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to wapenn, 02-18-2003 17:58:09  
I don't think you have overdrive with the 4 cylinder. It is called lockup torque converter. The lockup didn't unlock. There is a two wire harness going to the tranny. If it causes a problem, disconnect it and the tranny will unlock. I could be wrong about your tranny, but thats how my '90 celebrity with the 2.5 works.It started out happening every 5k randomly, then one day, bang! at every intersection. Unplugged it and ran it another 10k. HTH

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Ludwig

02-22-2003 12:12:07




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 Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to Kevin, 02-18-2003 19:39:47  
Easy way to tell if it has overdrive or not, does it sound like a jet engine on the highway?
My Dad had a Ford Tempo with a 4 cyl and no overdrive, really wound up on the highway. Needed an overdrive gear bad, nearly got better around town mileage than highway. Like 25 town 26 highway...



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Gary

02-18-2003 19:04:00




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 Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to wapenn, 02-18-2003 17:58:09  
Probably your lock up converter locked up. If you will remember when the GM Turbo hydramatic 350 transmissions came out with a lock up converter, they woul jump in and out of lock up at about 35 mph. Most folks who owned one would put a switch in the wire ti completely disengage the lockup when driving in town. I have seen them mess up and hot wire it so itstayed locked up. when you stopped, it killed your engine. It works on vacuum with a green wire going from the switch to the transmission. Thetorque converter actually ha a clutch in it. I have even seen the clutch chatter when it went into lockup. It was definitely time for servicing. That usually takes care of it. In your case, yes it can happen again. If it doesn't unlock byitself, it can be a booger to drive intraffic and get somewhere.

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mwkellner

02-19-2003 09:00:28




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 Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to Gary, 02-18-2003 19:04:00  
Gary, Is there something like this on a 96 f150 auto w/302? I ask because when I am driving easy around town and hit between 35-40 mph my truck shudders and shakes until speed increases. This does not happen when accelerating quickly through that same range. It sounds to me like y'all know what's going on in this thread. I have not been able to get any answers on f150 forums. Thanks so much. -- Martin

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Ludwig

02-22-2003 05:52:48




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 Re: Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to mwkellner, 02-19-2003 09:00:28  
I had something like that on my '96 Dakota, lots of people told me it was transmission trouble. I had the tranny fluid changed and it helped a little, but not much. Finally I changed the plugs, wires, cap and rotor and the problem went away. I was running split fire plugs and I attribute all of the problem to them.



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Glenn(WV)

02-20-2003 19:35:05




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 Re: Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to mwkellner, 02-19-2003 09:00:28  
I agree with Gary; if you have not had the tranny serviced, now's the time to do it. My Ford dealer does a tranny service with new fluid, new filter, and new pan gasket for $80 and out the door. Tranny fluid does wear out and need replaced. It's money very well spent.



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Gary

02-19-2003 17:19:11




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 Re: Re: Re: Transmission problem with my beater car in reply to mwkellner, 02-19-2003 09:00:28  
I don't know about the 302 in the Ford p/u. It wouldn't hurt to change the fluid and filter. It sometimes does wonders. On my turbo 350 that I ran on the rural mail route for 10 years, 100 mile per day, I kept track of the need for changing fluid and filter by the change in the amount of time it took to "take" reverse first thing in the morning. I was told by a transmission mechanic that it took three times the VOLUME (not pressure) ot take reverse as any of the other gears. The first morning it took a little too much time, I would change filter and fluid. I made this transmission last 276,000 miles before having it reworked. Remember, this was on a rural route with 600 stops per day.

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