Transmission Question

[Maniacmous]

Alright...the short back story - yesterday I let my parents borrow my car which was in flawless condition the day before. It returned to me with about the worst transmission slippage issue ever seen by man. Following a transmission flush, it was/is still screwed, so its pretty obviously going to need rebuilt or replaced.

My question is: does anyone have any idea what that should cost for a 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis - 4 speed automatic transmission w/overdrive? Never had to deal with anything like this before...and if it hits a certain point...I'd be better off just getting a new car, and I'm just curious what its gonna run.

[egarrard]

http://www.automotivehelper.com/topic253052.htm
http://www.automotivehelper.com/cat339/
Drive Train / Driveline Malfunction When driving Always
Q: Driving at 70mph on interstate yesterday. Perfectly fine until then. All the sudden, it won't shift out of second. Just revs. Will work in reverse fine, but when it does shift into second, it's rough and jumpy. Do I need a whole new transmission?


A: Sounds like the kick down cable needs adjusted the adjustment is right next to the throttle cable on the throttle body i had a 87 with the same problem.
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Around here, the shop priced it at $250 to pull the transmission and diagnose it. He figured $700-1000 to rebuild one.

[Maniacmous]

http://www.automotivehelper.com/topic253052.htm
http://www.automotivehelper.com/cat339/

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Around here, the shop priced it at $250 to pull the transmission and diagnose it. He figured $700-1000 to rebuild one.

Ouch...big ouch, but thanks.

If it hits about 1000 around here...I'll just say forget it and get a new beater, although I hate to see the tank die.

[eire1274]

I agree, sounds like a kickdown problem.

The flush and fill was a good idea, but an automatic (hydraulic) transmission really won't "suddenly" have slippage due to fluid loss unless you have a leak the size of Niagara Falls; it'll generally be a gradually worsening problem.

Also, I believe that that is a vacuum assist kickdown, so check your vacuum lines for leakage.

Added: Certified Transmission here in Omaha quoted $400 part +$150 labor for your car. They stock rebuilt transmissions: http://www.certifiedtransmissions.com. Website prices are higher than shop prices, unfortunately, due to core fees, shipping, etc.

[Maniacmous]

I agree, sounds like a kickdown problem.

The flush and fill was a good idea, but an automatic (hydraulic) transmission really won't "suddenly" have slippage due to fluid loss unless you have a leak the size of Niagara Falls; it'll generally be a gradually worsening problem.

Also, I believe that that is a vacuum assist kickdown, so check your vacuum lines for leakage.

Added: Certified Transmission here in Omaha quoted $400 part +$150 labor for your car. They stock rebuilt transmissions: http://www.certifiedtransmissions.com. Website prices are higher than shop prices, unfortunately, due to core fees, shipping, etc.

Vacuum assist eh? My mom said something about when she was driving it yesterday (before it started acting up apparently) that when she wasn't on the accelerator that she heard what sounded like air moving, but the sound disappeared when she would start to accelerate again. Could that be another indicator of a vacuum leak?

[Maniacmous]

Update: The vacuum was the problem...not the lines though, it was some stupid little plastic cap under the hood by my air filter...apparently it had just degenerated and broken off, 5 dollar repair and about an hour of my time...can't argue with that one bit. :cucumber :beer :cool:

[coldstatic]

well first off u shouldnt have flushed your tranny. Their are chemicals in new tranny fluid that clean it and if it is already slipping then this only makes it worse. but i am glad to hear it was only a vaccum line.

[eire1274]

well first off u shouldnt have flushed your tranny. Their are chemicals in new tranny fluid that clean it and if it is already slipping then this only makes it worse. but i am glad to hear it was only a vaccum line.
Yeah, unless you're dealing with viscosity slip due to burned fluid...

Flushing is not always a bad idea in the case of an immediate problem like this. On an old dying tranny, that's another story.
Update: The vacuum was the problem...not the lines though, it was some stupid little plastic cap under the hood by my air filter...apparently it had just degenerated and broken off, 5 dollar repair and about an hour of my time...can't argue with that one bit.
Sorry I didn't get back to you very quick. Glad I could help.

See... I do know stuff other than computers...

[ansaarkhan400]

Im thinking about $850 for a rebuilt one installed.

I have a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the transmission was totally gone after a year of off-roading.

If you find a good mechanic or transmission shop, they should be able to do it for around $800 including labor.

My total cost was $900 including labor.

Anyways, good to hear you fixed it and it was only a minor problem. :thumb

[Maniacmous]

Im thinking about $850 for a rebuilt one installed.

I have a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the transmission was totally gone after a year of off-roading.

If you find a good mechanic or transmission shop, they should be able to do it for around $800 including labor.

My total cost was $900 including labor.

Anyways, good to hear you fixed it and it was only a minor problem. :thumb

That's the beauty of it...I did find a good transmission shop...5 dollars is the part and labor, lol. Thanks for the advice guys. :thumb

[coldstatic]

Yeah, unless you're dealing with viscosity slip due to burned fluid...

Flushing is not always a bad idea in the case of an immediate problem like this. On an old dying tranny, that's another story.
.

but with burnt fluid it is not as bad of slipping as he described. Besides the only time i have seen someone run a tranny hot enough to do that was a malibu that was running 9 sec quaters and he did it with a line lock.

[eire1274]

but with burnt fluid it is not as bad of slipping as he described. Besides the only time i have seen someone run a tranny hot enough to do that was a malibu that was running 9 sec quaters and he did it with a line lock.
Nah, I burned the stuff in the Turbo 400 3-speed in my old Pontiac, and the fastest I ever ran in that was a low 13. Incidentally, I also cooked the tranny pan seals. Replaced it all with silicone gaskets, a race pickup/filter, Redline synthetic fluid, and a bottle of Z-Max... that tranny will outlive the car, now.

[ansaarkhan400]

My tranny fluid has been burnt for months now lol.

Instead of it being pinkish-red, it is dark brown.

I am trying to get rid of my Grand Cherokee anyways so that I can get a Wrangler. It already has 150,000 Miles, the transmission has been replaced and rebuilt (2 years ago), and now I am getting ready to change the whole front axle.

The funny thing is, this car takes TONS of abuse and still runs great.

I think i burned up the tranny fluid by throwing it in First Gear and flooring it up hills, whipping it around, and going back down in drive.

Still whoops most Civics and the "low class" rice cars out there.

After reading this thread, I think i will go change my tranny fluid and transfer case fluid now....dont have anything better to do.