oh great, tranny just died

[yourgrandma]

With little to no warning my trans seems to have taken a crap. It feels like its out of fluid but the level sems to be fine, but its dark out so ill have to double check tomorrow.

do torque converters fail often enough that i should suspect that? I can only get it to accelerate by putting it in 1st and even then it slips a lot. It seems to shift into 2nd alright but still slips. Input shaft or something?

Great timing too. Just great. Im gonna go cry now.

[00Beast]

I apologize Randy, it was my fat ass in the passenger seat that broke it, lol.

That sucks. I don't think it's TC, I think something is just toast...

[yourgrandma]

Well what would cause slippage in all gears but normal seeming shifting? If i didnt know better id swear it just was low on fluid. No noises, just drives like the park brake is set.

[dpnewfie]

I'd say the trans is probably shot. Mine seemed great except it was slipping in 4th. However, when the shop tore it down, 2nd and 4th were shot. The guy told me he'd never seen a 4th gear that bad. I said 163k miles of me trying to put my foot through the floor may have helped. lol

[Jrs3800]

Well what would cause slippage in all gears but normal seeming shifting? If i didnt know better id swear it just was low on fluid. No noises, just drives like the park brake is set.

Could be a failure of the PCS solenoid... If this fails you will not have enough line pressure to apply the clutches... stupidest thing GM ever did IMHO...

I do think with what you have described the PCS may be at fault... You need to have it looked at by a good trans shop tho( reputable if you can find one )

[yourgrandma]

Is there such a thing as a good shop?

Id like to find out if its still under warrenty. It was brand new when i got the car and iirc they said it had a 50k warrenty.

[harofreak00]

I know its a long drive, but I would highly recommend BW Transmission in Eagle Bend. I would trust him with any of my vehicles... really knows his stuff.

[Jrs3800]

The trans was brand new when you got the car? 97-02 had a lot of issues with the PCS solenoid... I'd look into that warranty too as it may save you....lol

[yourgrandma]

Looks like sprag something or other failure. 1800-2200 good guy price. Save maybe 600 pulling it out myself.

So im at a crossroads: rebuild this trans and keep the car for a long time, which would mean id be fixing all the other issues and maybe more mods. Or put a used trans in and sell the car asap.

[yourgrandma]

I think im just going to have it crushed. With me in it. This sucks.

[00Beast]

Don't do it Randy!

[yonkerse]

Sorry for your luck on this....seems like trannys are the weak part of these cars.....

I still say keep the car and put in a new tranny, especially considering the work and mods u have done over the years....maybe that's just my ego talking and trying to avoid another Bonneville being destroyed...

[Jrs3800]

What exactly did they say about the trans?

[yourgrandma]

The drive band and sprag are most likely the cause, meaning it needs a total rebuild. If i pull it out myself, it will run between $1200 and $1800, plus the huge task of pulling it out and putting it back in. Add $600 if i bring them the whole car.

The alternative is to put a used trans in but i wouldnt trust is so id have to sell the car asap. Problem there is that nobody wants to buy a modded out bonneville for more than pocket change.

i dont know wtf im gonna do. Crap...

[Jrs3800]

Have you looked at the TEP Web site... http://www.tripleedgeperformance.com/Transmissions.html

[yourgrandma]

Their common problems section confirms the diagnosis. 17XX is a chunck of change for just the trans. Im sure i wouldnt have any problems though. Ive got a lot of thinking to do. Im not even sure how im going to pay for this at the moment.

[candybonne]

Keep Ya Head Up!

It sucks American made cars do us like this but I will say this. My Bonne really is growin on me. I first thought I could fix it up and sell it but hell its so much stuff wrong.

I have replaced:
-Hood
-Bumper
-Fender
These I took these to a paint guy asked how much to paint he said $400. I went to the paint supply gave them the color codes put it in spray cans cost $100. Now its not a factory finish but it works. I still get stared down in this car. It almost attracts to much attention for my tastes but the ladies love them.

also
-Hubs
-Shocks
-Windshield
-Supercharger
-Water Pump
-LIM Gaskets

I was I could return all of my craigslist cars. They are never as good as they seem

The moral is GET ER' DONE. I don't care if its middle of the winter! Jack her up drop that transmission and shove a junk yard one in there for now. Most of them give you a warranty anyway. FYI - Change the filter and fluid, look for low miles and smell the old fluid. Take your old one and rebuild it. Rebuild kits are not expensive and you can buy the factory manual on the transmission. This way if you f*** it up it wont matter that much.

Just my 2 cents. I don't even get quotes from shops any more because I am so hard headed I would do it myself any way. Hell Im broke.

[samples08]

hell in all honesty if you loved that car that much, you should do that, that way you have something to drive whiliest you are rebuiling original tranny and hey why not throw in a few performance mods whilest your in there?

[yourgrandma]

The tranny is getting a semi-performance rebuild probably next week.

[samples08]

thats great you should be a lil excited at least you will get some preformace mods into her