Trans rebuild

Ryan from Ohio · 05-21-2010, 08:07 AM

Has anyone ever done a trans rebuild yourself?

Ever since I changed my trans fluid 2 years ago I get a "surge" while driving. It seems to happen while accelerating slowly with slight stress. On very fast accelerations it will surge but big lumps of surge and very fast.

Now Im thinking of doing this myself. I see a few sets on E bay.

Any comments?

Can this be rebuilt in the car, or do I have to pull the transmission?

Im half tempted to just sell this car off and be done with it. So the degree of difficulty and expense will play a huge part in my decision. I dont have love for this car anymore- Im tired of it and want a different one. However finances are not the best right now... so thats what is keeping me in it (at this point).

zzyzzx · 05-21-2010, 09:22 AM

Are you sure that it's not fixable? I'm inclined to think that you used the wrong fluid, have the wrong fluid level, or something like that.

How many miles are on the car?
How many miles when you changed the transmission fluid?

Are you sure it's a surge, as in high transmission oil pump pressure or is it slipping and then catching as in maybe low fluid level?

colonel6632 · 05-21-2010, 09:28 AM

to rebuild your tranny, you have to pull the tranny, and it is quite hard i'm sure. so you can probably do it, but it'll take a while.

Ryan from Ohio · 05-21-2010, 10:19 AM

I changed the trans fluid at about 120K

Im at 155K now.

When I added fluid I guessed at how much. Turns out I had to much fluid when I finally figured out how to check it a month ago...

All I know is when Im accelerating or climbing a hill the tach will surge. On regular driving its just a bit. With the hammer down its pretty extreme. The transmission doesnt feel like it is slipping. I dont know how to describe it really.

After the last response Im more inclined to just unload the car and be done with it. Im not in the mood to pull the transmission, spend upwards $300 to rebuild it and "hope" I did it right and it all works.

Bottom line is I pretty much am tired of this car.

Guess its new car time and just run this into the ground, wait until she lets go totally, or pay the piper to fix it.

I just dont understand how transmission shops charge $1500 to rebuild a transmission in a $2,000 car... I wont be doing that.

zzyzzx · 05-21-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan from Ohio

All I know is when Im accelerating or climbing a hill the tach will surge. On regular driving its just a bit. With the hammer down its pretty extreme.

It's supposed to downshift when climbing a hill or when you "put the hammer down". I don't see a problem here, assuming that you put the right type of transmission fluid back in when you did the change.

I think you are looking for an excuse to get rid of the car.

Ryan from Ohio · 05-21-2010, 11:59 AM

Im not really ready to buy another car. However if it makes more sense than dumping money into my current one then I will.

I know how it should shift and its not right. Trying to describe what its doing is not easy.

I will see if I can get a video of the tach for you guys. That will tell it better than I can.

As far as fluid goes, I used what I was supposed to. Im not incompetent. However I wants sure where to check it and guessed at the fluid amount. When it started doing this I figured I was low so I added more fluid. I probably drove for 2 years with 3 quarts mroe fluid than i should of had...

heineck · 05-21-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan from Ohio

I just dont understand how transmission shops charge $1500 to rebuild a transmission in a $2,000 car... I wont be doing that.

its just all labor, cuz theres a lot of hours just to get it out, on my other car i was quoted 1600 just for a HG, and 1800 for replace the tranny main pump seal on my sisters taurus, the seal was only 12.50. so i did it myself and it only took 2 days to do. its just all labor

u replaced the tranny filter when u changed the fluid right?
do u have the 3400?
get a vid so we can see wats goin on

zzyzzx · 05-21-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan from Ohio

When it started doing this I figured I was low so I added more fluid. I probably drove for 2 years with 3 quarts mroe fluid than i should of had...

As long as the fluid level is fine now, I would not worry about previous overfilling.

Ryan from Ohio · 05-21-2010, 12:35 PM

^ 3400 yes. I will work on a vid this weekend.

^^ Well I never had any of these surge issues until after the fluid/filter change.

zzyzzx · 05-21-2010, 12:36 PM

I'd also test the TPS and the VSS since they are inputs to the transmission. I'm not sure about this car, but on most the TPS is just a variable resistor and can be easily tested with a multimeter set on ohms and a spare wiring harness piece (with the car off and you moving the throttle manually). The only way that I can think of to test the VSS is if your cruise control works fine than assume it's fine. Based upon your symptoms I would definately check the TPS and not worry so much about the VSS.

zzyzzx · 05-21-2010, 12:49 PM

In case there is any doubt, I don't think you need a rebuild your transmission. I suspect you have a problem with your TPS, the fluid itself, or maybe the transmission oil pump, or the transmission oil pump pressure (which on some cars is easily adjustable). You might have high transmission oil pump pressure, which is the opposite of what I would expect on a car with that many miles, but if you did something like put in the wrong fluid and that made the transmission oil pressure higher, I could see it happening. Furthermore, you could have done the fluid and filter change right, but somehow accidentally adjusted the trasnmission oil pump pressure up.

I can say for a fact that at least on my 1995 Escort:
VSS fails = not upshifting
TPS problems = sometimes not shifting where it's supposed to
Low transmission oil pressure = soft shifts
High transmissiin oil pressure = harder shifts (which is not necessarily bad)
Externally adjustable transmission oil pressure via a cable.
Transmission shifter linkage could get confused if motor or transmission mounts are bad (I.E. - You have it it D, and it thinks it it's in 3
Electrical corrosion on connectors on outside of transmission, which causes intermittent electrical connection to valves in transmission.

You may even have some sort of other valve body problem, given the number of miles on the car. The solenoids do go bad. Nothing that you wrote about suggests that it needs a rebuild, or is anything you can't fix yourself.

Redog · 05-21-2010, 05:27 PM

A transmission is not an easy thing to rebuild esp today's transmissions with all the elertonics and what not.

I know to rebuild a simple TH-350, you need speical tools.

All I would do would be put a shift kit in an old school GM tranny and even that's questionable for me

Cliff8928 · 05-22-2010, 02:05 AM

Actually I think the newer transmissions are easier. There isn't really as much to them.. You just need to make sure you keep your solenoids in order, and be meticulously clean!

I dropped the valve body in my mom's 4L65-E, replaced the accumulator pistons (3), the servos (2) and the boost valve. I had it done in the better part of a sunday, along with the driveline fluids.

Fuzzyspudkiss · 05-22-2010, 02:09 PM

is what is happening to your car similar to this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4kUJIlGPk4 it happens the most at :30

because this is what my car is doing...and i'm curious to why, It even sets off the SES light...but then the light goes off after a while of just driving. When i take off from stops it surges as well...but it is always off and on, not a constant problem...

Ryan from Ohio · 05-22-2010, 09:56 PM

Either the sound is messed up or my computer is. Couldnt make your vid out to well.

I dont think thats what mine is doing though.

Cliff8928 · 05-23-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzyspudkiss

is what is happening to your car similar to this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4kUJIlGPk4 it happens the most at :30

because this is what my car is doing...and i'm curious to why, It even sets off the SES light...but then the light goes off after a while of just driving. When i take off from stops it surges as well...but it is always off and on, not a constant problem...

You totally have a misfire condition there... Definitely not good for your cat.

Weazel · 05-23-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzyspudkiss

is what is happening to your car similar to this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4kUJIlGPk4 it happens the most at :30

you hit VTACCC

Fuzzyspudkiss · 05-23-2010, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weazel

you hit VTACCC

What does that mean?

TheEdgeofSanity · 05-24-2010, 10:57 PM

Ryan, my car has been doing the same thing forever as well and nobody ever seems to understand. by any chance does it do it less when the car is cold compared to hot?

Cashdollar2009 · 05-24-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzyspudkiss

What does that mean?

It's a joke, ignore. lol