All kinds of tranny proublems arrise for me once the temp gauge reads past 90 celcius or when the car has been driven for a long time and the trannys been hot.

Problems like splippings, shifting from p-d or r-d problem (theres a hesitation there and it takes about 3 sec for drive get clicked in) and now shuddering rite after it switches to second and going easy on the gas.
let go and gas it again and the shuddering stops.

Fluid was changed last summer with an additive added to the tranny recommended by the mechanic

Tranny drives really, REALLY smooth when easy with it and the tranny is cool or at normal operating temps.

MY QUESTION IS, how much would a rebuild be and would it be worth it (98 2.4Z 160 000KM) or should I sell the car as is rite now. Car runs like new (if not driven the @!#$ out of) and looks like new.

MY LAST QUESTION IS, if these problems only happen when the tranny is hot. If the car is driven easy, is there a chance of the tranny lasting a long time? Shuddering just started, but the slipping and p-d shifting problems are year old problems.

WHAT do you guys Think? REALLY SORRY about the long-ass post




2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd

1000-2000$

prices differ in each place.


worth it? you tell us? is it a car you plan to keep? have any sentimental value? do you have the money for a new car and new payments? hows your insurance--can you upgrade or downgrade--liability or full coverage? those are all factors you are gonna have to weigh out and figure out is it worth if for yourself.

sounds like some worn bands and clutches. slipping will occur. you can try some transmedic, but its a temp fix.

chances are, you prob dont have a temp guage and most auto transmission die from excessive heat failure. you can add a cooler, but more than likely, with that much mileage... its time for a rebuild

thanks for the advice Dam. Damn tranny troubles suck, so totally suck.



2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd

try the cooler it may help, dont put anything but Lubeguard in your trans, you can find it at any trans shop, its the ONLY stuff you should ever put in an automatic. the shudder is your torque converter clutch, if you have overdrive it gets much more complicated, OD trannys from 98 on have an EC3 control system which modulates apply and literally slips the tc clutch at lower rpm, the tc clutch material is woven carbon and holds up to slip very well. most likely you have a worn tcc modulator valve, which requires the valve body be reworked and updated, if your trans is running hot this will cause all the above regardless of worn valves etc. look at your fluid is it brown and smell burnt? if so your done, your most likely due for a rebuild. look to spend around 1700 and up. i've been in the trans business for 11 years. its never good news. as for it lasting for awhile thats anyones quess, trans problems are progressive, things will only get worse. if someone tells you they can do it for less than 1700, stay away. 90% of tranny shops in any given area are within 100 bucks of each other. a 1000 job is junk. one way to save $ is to pull it out yourself, on a cavalier its unbelievably hard to do it in your driveway. sorry for the long reply but your question warrants it.
Kyle

thanks for the advice and the detailed responce kyle. I really appreciate it. What sucks is that it is my brother's car, so ill have to warn him about it very soon. This stuff doesnt happen to him for some reason, and i drive just like him (very easy).

Im learning a lot about auto trannys in my tranny lab in college. My teacher practically told me everything you told me about the tcc valve and the burnt brown fluid to watch for.

I dont wana do a tranny flush and find out its brown and then put new fluid in becuase i dont want all the cantamination to be washed off the case walls and then having a much sooner tranny failure than i need. what sucks about these cars is there is no friggen dipstick. the only way i can check the fluid is hoping some will come out when i take the check screw out and check the color on friggin tissue paper, the same tissure paper that i will be crying on when i see the brown color on it which i can already pridict it will be.

I did learn something in class as a way to lower the heat of the tranny which will help avoid some of my troubles

*****AUTOMATIC TRANNY TIP FOR EVERYONE****

In stop and go traffic and stand still traffic, i've learned that if you put the car in NEUTRAL instead of leaving it in drive, your coolant and tranny fluid will stay down.
Lower heat of engine and tranny can help reduce wear and prolong the life of your car.

Your torque converter is byfar the hottest part of the transmission. When the car is in drive, your converter is still spinning at engine idle speed which is still gonna gonna get the convertor steaming hot. Having the car in neutral disengages the tc which will let it cool off.

Sorry for the long-ass post again, kyle thanks for the rebuild advice, i really appeciate it.




2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd