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Maintenance & Repair Transmission Traumas?
2411 messages, Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 1:19 PM
You are in the Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright
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Replying to: citoboy_7 (Oct 09, 2007 12:54 pm) |
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Apparantly GM thought it would be funny to mix and match all kinds of funny stuff throughout the mid late 90's. I don't doubt urs came w the 4T65-E, but i checked, this one is definitely the 4T60-E (it says in big ol writing on the bottom of the pan lol) However, i found out what my mistake was. Since the LeSabre comes with a 3.8, the gear ratio is different (as the Monte comes w a 3.4) a friend who works at a trans shop (stupid i know, i shoulda talked 2 him first) told me the difference in gear ratios is throwing the computor off, an causing it to fall into a default mode (like a limp mode) where it's locked in 2nd gear just 2 get u home or off the road at least. So i'll proly have him change the ratio, and pay him the labor an stuff. I don't want 2 drop that thing again. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS ME!!!! -Aaron-
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Replying to: citoboy_7 (Oct 10, 2007 9:52 am) A. You may not have a 98 leSabre from which you took the transmission. B. The car may have had an older transmission put in. C. The transmission may have had a different oil pan put on it. The transmission RPO Code on the trunk sticker should be MN7. The axle ratio is 2.93. Final drive ratio is 3.29 |
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My buddy called me yesterday with his tale of woe. 1994 Cadillac De Ville Concours - Northstar engine 70,000 babied miles. So the transmission starts doing strange things without any warning. It seems to go into neutral, and it skips gears, check engine light came on. He nursed it home. Next morning, no check engine light and transmission operates perfectly UNTIL it warms up. Check engine light comes back on and problems return. He nurses it into a trusted (?) shop that he has used many times. They try replacing a solenoid etc and end up telling him the transmission is shot to the tune of 4000.00! Does this sound possible? Any good transmission shops in Orange County CA a person would suggest? I just can't believe a transmission would fail without warning and 4000.00??
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Replying to: isellhondas (Oct 10, 2007 10:21 am) |
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Replying to: isellhondas (Oct 10, 2007 10:21 am) I would imagine that it may be a shift solenoid code, but without knowing, there is no point in guessing.
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Replying to: 0patience (Oct 12, 2007 5:07 pm) My buddy nursed it to a long time trusted shop. They pulled the codes...I don't know what they were but they said they would try replacing the solenoids. This is a QUALITY shop that is well respected. It does, however have new management since the death of the long time owner. Anyway, the next morning, they called and pronounced the transmission DOA and they gave him that HUGE estimate to fix it. So, he called me. I asked my resident transmission guy for a referral in Orange County and he gave me the name of an ATRA shop that he said was an honest and capable shop. At thiat point, my buddy called shop number one and told them to hold off. He told themhe would take the car home and park it while he decided what to do. Three hours later, they called him... " Hey, we decided to try ONE MORE thing...we installed a "update kit" of some type and now it works fine!" Very interesting.... I guess a cynical person could think that just maybe, they planned to simply install the "kit" and charge him for a total rebuild....or....they would have simply farmed it out for the 4000.00 rebuild that turned out not to be needed...or...they were being totally honest? I guess he will never know but 450.00 is a lot better than 4000.00. It works just fine now. Opatience, what do YOU think?
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Replying to: isellhondas (Oct 13, 2007 1:11 pm) I think that you were a good friend and your buddy owes you one. To be honest, I wouldn't be letting that shop do the work. I guess a cynical person could think that just maybe, they planned to simply install the "kit" and charge him for a total rebuild....or....they would have simply farmed it out for the 4000.00 rebuild that turned out not to be needed...or...they were being totally honest? I try and give places the benefit of the doubt, but this one, I have to agree with your call. It sounds like they saw him coming and figured they could make some money. They bad thing is, most the time, the mechanic in the back is clueless that this happens. Transmissions are easy for some shops to condemn, as they can give folks nightmare stories about how the entire transmission is ruined. Before plunking down $4k, it is wise to get a second opinion. Protect yourself. A reputable shop will have no problem with you wanting to get a second opinion. Another thing. Transmissions log trouble codes too. If they condemn the transmission....... Ask what the troublecodes were. Did they check and see what the shift solenoids were doing? What part of the transmission, EXACTLY, failed? Sorry, got off on another track. 
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Replying to: 0patience (Oct 14, 2007 9:52 am) Don't most transmission shops have to pull apart a transmission to determine the extent of damage and give an accurate estimate? Once they (trans. shop) have you in for $300-$400 for diagnostics, it would be a bit hard to tell them to put it back together (or put it in a doggie bag) you want to take it somewhere else for a second opinion.
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The invoice said..." A filter between the solenoids had fallen out of place" It sounded like this is a common problem on these. A "bracket kit" was installed to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again. Jipster, In the "old days" all a mechanic had to do was drive the car in order to determine what was wrong in most cases. They could feel the transmission slip between gears etc and pretty much know what they were going to find. It's a new world today and the "old school" guys either drop out, retire or they are forced to learn a trememdous amount in order to keep up. |
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