Hey I have a 1997 Avenger ES. I live in Daytona Beach FL, and recently I just took a road trip to South Carolina. When I got on I-95 it was good nice ride I need new tire rods, so a lil shakey. I drove straight at a varying speed from 75-80 mph. At about 90 minutes after crossing the SC state line, I exited to get gas. After filling up, I jumped back into my car expecting for it to start right back up....WRONG. It wouldnt start, it kept stuttering and wouldnt turn over. I lifted the hood, and let it sit for about 15 minutes while I prayed, then it started up. Back on I95, the ride wasnt the same, seemed as tranmission was struggling. I had recently used the Lucas Tranmission Lubricant, could that have messed it up, and also I know I need a knew thermostat? Can anyone tell me whats going on, is this normal or common. I am still in SC, and I fear getting back on I95. HELP!!

 

What do you mean by "seemed as tranmission was struggling"? Is it trying to shift gears while accelerating (up or down)? Is it staying in gear too long before shifting? Is it bouncing around trying to find the correct gear? Is it dropping into second then back to the correct gear? Or is it just slipping? Heat can do that to your transmission and without the proper or even recommended fluid that heat can cause the tranny to either go into limp mode or just have a hard time finding the gear to be in. I'd have it all flushed out and replaced with the correct fluid. Check your tranny stick for metal flakes, big or small.
Also, tap your EATX relay on the firewall (the one farthest right), it could be sticking too.

That Lucas oil isn't the best thing for our tranny either...straight MOPAR ATF+3 is all that it likes

 

it might be the same problem i had. it seemed my tranny was "struggling" (throttle, but then rev would drop, then pick back up). its probibly the crankshaft position sensor (which is the easiest and the cheapest of the two sensors that check timing) if you have a haynes manual i suggest you check the crank pos sensor, the paper spacer probibly has sheared off. also, is it throwing a check engine light? if so, scan it and it will give you a much better idea with whats wrong.

 

What I mean by struggling, is while I was on the highway, I would press the pedal harder and it seems as the car wasn't going any faster and then even worse would slow down while pressing the pedal sometimes! Someone told me that it might be caused by the air running, but the air was off. When I do have with the air on, the tranny does get a little more crazier. My check engine light has not come on, to be honest it has never come on since I have owned the car, I don't know if thats good or bad. Also would the tranny cause my car not to start up after driving for abour 5 hours staright? In the mean time, my transmission fluid is black, and I am going to get that changed ASAP!

 

[8D] black tranny fluid is never good, lol. That could be the issue of it acting funny. I don't know if the tranny can cause the no start.

 

I just found this one and im sorry to post to it so late........but what is it with these cars turning fluid black!!!! My wife got stuck today in mine and it had sounded like it was an internal goof up...until I go there and found the fluid was black!!!! Just like when I had gotten it. Luckily I had an extra quart in the trunk and put it in...it mustve given it enough viscosity to push the clutches together. I made it home but the tranny would lock up when it stopped. It sounded like the planetary gears were all screwed up inside too!! This happened to me once before when I was on the highway and had the cruise on...I got off the highway and the tranny was all screwed up!!!
I parked it for a few hours...got in anticipating having it towed and it was fine!!! WTF?!?!?! Now my fluid is black again!!! Maybe it is the extreme heat down here or something......

 

So Todd, are you just filling the tranny with regular old atf+3 (w/dextron) because your tranny fluid disappearing? If so, there's one item that's not helping, the other would be it needing a tranny flush and filter change to get all that stuff out + it sounds like it really needs a flush. When you check your tranny dipstick, other than being black, does it have metal flakes in it?

 

No its not man...thats the crazy thing. I am using ATF +3 like I should be....I really think I need to get everything out of the lines also like I was talking about in that other post. Im gonna head out there and do it now...what a PITA!!!! I still havent posted new picks of the car after I painted it. I dont know if you remember, I got it for free and it was SOOOOOOOO beat. That link (that doesnt work unless you copy and paste it) is a picture before I did any body work. It is now black and silver two tone with 18" Racing Hart C-5s that i painted black. I love this thing, but it is really wearing on me!

 

Hey Todd, did you code it like "[img]the link[/img]"? Your sig that is
Does your car have bullet holes on the passenger fender kidding.