Truck: '94 318, auto, 160k miles...

For the last week the trans has been acting weird. When I first start the truck in the morning after its been sitting all night, and I put it into gear, it feels like its not engaging, but when I step on the gas and bring the rpm up over 1000 rpm, it starts going. It acts this way for about the first 20-30 seconds, then it feels great after that. After that first 30 or so seconds I can drive forward all day long, but when I put it in reverse, the it feels like there is a lot of load on the engine. The engine sounds like its about to stall shaking pretty bad. If I pop it into neutral, the engine revs like a load was just released. I checked the fluid, and it looks bright red and perfectly clean. The trans fluid smells normal too. I went through all the gears before checking and made sure everything was at operating temp. Just now I was looking into the situation more, and a new sound has developed. When I put it in drive, 3-1, doesnt matter, a chattering sound comes from what I thought was the front of the trans. Chit, chit chit, chit chit kind of sound. Same thing when I put it in reverse, but feel like the load on the engine heaver. Its like when you drive a manual car, and you let out te clutch very slow with no gas, and you can tell the engine is loaded. It sounds kinda like that. Torque converter crapping out on me?

Any insight would be awesome. Thanks.


Man, I just got this truck like a month ago, and haven't stopped dropping money into this thing!

 

Sorry man, don't know what it could be. [:@]
Nice lookin' truck though.

 

Dang. I really need to get this fixed.

About how much is a trany rebuild/replacement? Im thinking Aamco? Any other suggestions?

And thanks for the compliment.

 

You know, that's a good question, and I don't know the answer. Prices vary depending on the strength of the transmission (for example, in 1996 Dodge had 2 automatics, the 42RE and the 46RE. The 46, which is built better, came behind the V-8s), and whether your truck is 2WD or 4WD.

 

daniel,

Has the filter in the tranny been changed? I had a 93 4wd exactly like yours. I found that the filter change made all the difference in the world. This usually involves changing the tranny fluid also. I used to change mine 1 time a year. As a result, the tranny lasted for the 208k miles I drove it, and was running fine when I sold it.
I would start with a filter change first. It could also be the converter lock up shaft hanging up, but it sounds like low pressure initially. That is what prompted me to change the filter on mine the first time I did it. If you are going to change yours regularly yourself, I recommend you braze in a 1/4" pipe coupling into the tranny pan to make the drain process a lot easier.

 

Thats what I was thinking after I read this also. Try changing the filter in the tranny. If anything it will help your situation.

 

Will it take away vibrations? There is a "new" vibration on the freeway at crusing speeds.

So I have this trans problem, and my grand prix brake booster is out. I hope this trans holds up until at least Tuesday afternoon when the brake booster should get in. It always seems to happen that way; all the problems with the cars hit all at once... Oh well, we'll get on.

 

If you shift the transmission into neutral, does the vibration go away? If it doesn't, I wouldn't think its the tranny.

As far as problems hitting all at once: ain't that the truth of it. My grandpa told me that a few years ago, and it sure seems to be true [:@].

 

lol i had this problem i heard the noise opened the pan and there was a smapp piece that pivots on like a ball and the sides blow out and it breaks off i have heard they tend to dothis when you run them hard