Hi all,

I am on my 4th erratic shifting problem. Same thing as when my gov press solenoid went out last time. Sticking in gear and not being able to find the right gear. Called a tranny shop and they said its a solenoid problem again, and if there were any metal shavings/sludge in my tranny that the solenoid will continue to be clogged. I asked if a flush would help me out and they said absolutely not, that they dont recommend flushing at all.

Their recommendation was in order to get rid of the sludge and whatever is causing all of the metal shavings I had to get a rebuild...is this correct? If so, what else do I want to upgrade on the rebuild besides a 47RE drum, torque convertor, transgo jr and aftermarket cooler?

I have to drive 800 miles to New Mexico at the end of this week. I will drive it as is and if it blows up, just get it towed. I dont think any shops can get all the upgrade parts and have it rebuilt by wednesday this week.

Thanks guys. By the way, I just hit 96k miles

 

have you tried the tps?

 

Tranny is toast. Didnt make it 40 miles into a 250 mile trip back to school today and she blew up. Kept sticking into gears like it has been doing, but also at hwy speed, without going up a hill or touching the gas, it would jump all around. While doing 70 mph, had a huge clunk/jolt that bout made me **** my pants, then revved up to 4500 rpm and got a metal clunking noise.

Sitting at AAMCO now, will have an estimate tomorrow. Looking into shift kit, t/c, aftermarket cooler....will see what else they would recommend. Has anyone used AAMCO? I have never used them, but I know they are nationwide, and I am moving to NM on Wednesday, so I didnt want some hole in the wall shop to do it, without having somewhere I can drive to if **** hits the fan. Should I get an extended warranty? They do an automatic 12k miles/12 month warranty, but I think I can bump it up a little, and they also have a lifetime warranty.

Thanks guys

 

AAMCO is the wal-mart of transmission shops. Some are better than others.

One thing you want is the Sonax Sure cure valve body kit. (instead of a shift kit. the PCM controls the shifting in any event.) Don't go with a 'stock replacement' torque converter either.... get something a bit more heavy duty, and a slightly higher stall. Trans cooler is never a bad idea. (well, maybe if you lived north of the arctic circle......) If you are feeling really froggy, there are hard part upgrades available as well, but, if you don't do heavy towing/loads, probably not necessary for you. Extra clutches/steels. Better bands than the stock. If you look on page six of montec's trans thread, he has a list there of recommended parts for a member that regularly towed a 7000 pound trailer. Go that route, and you would have a bulletproof trans. Buy the lifetime warranty, and you could wail the tar out of it, and never have to worry. (and the lifetime warranty may not even be necessary. )

 

from the time being here, and the threads ive read...ive pretty much seen that AAMCO isnt the best place to have it done...

 

I feel for you man. My tranny blew when I was on a long distance trip as well. My OD unit blew and when it did, it felt like I got rear ended real bad. Scared the crap out of me. If you lived close to me, I'd help you rebuild it. With all the parts, it takes about 5 hours to put together and install. What ever shop you choose, best of luck.

 

Yeah, I got on here after I got back and saw not so good reviews about AAMCO. If I was closer to St Robert, which is where I have been staying for school for the past 3 months, I would have taken it to a reputable shop. I didnt know any places around KC to have it done, so I went with the place that has nationwide stores in case it gets messed up. I will just hope for the best and expect the worst.

Also, if I didnt need to drive to New Mexico on Wednesday, I would have some more time to do it myself, or do some more research on shops....

DAAAAMMMMMMITTT

 

Got the 'bend over and grab your ankles' quote of.....drrruuuummm....$3100 effin bucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turns out, the factory cooler inside the radiator was gummed up with metal flakes and sludge and stopped lube to the overdrive unit. Needs a new overdrive unit and radiator cause they cant flush the radiator out its so packed with ****. They said the overdrive unit is pretty much welded to itself.

They will be installing an upgraded torque converter, aftermarket tranny cooler, and the sure cure kit. I wish I would have just taken it out a month ago and had it rebuilt, and put it back in myself to save a tow bill ($250) and labor. Live and learn and bite the bullet.

Anyone heard of the factory cooler getting so gummed up that it wont flush out? There isnt much I can do since it is 4 hrs away and I need to drive to New Mexico on wednesday...I cant do a tranny in 3 days with class from 8am-5pm when the auto hobby shop on base closes at 6 and isnt open till wed.

FML!

 

Actually, it isn't the cooler itself that gets plugged, its the check valve in line to the cooler. (and they may be misinterpreting that... might wanna ask about it.) The check valve tends to accumulate crap, and stick, thus NO fluid flow. Trans gets hot, and takes a dump. (I got the first couple parts of this, but, trans still seems to work ok. Fixed the problem as soon as I became aware of it.)

For the kind of money they are asking to rebuild yours, you could buy a performance transmission, and have them install it.... something to consider...

 

Check valve was completely removed, and I had a new line made. I know I could get a Dr Evil tranny and have it installed, but I leave tomorrow so Im stuck between a rock and a hard place. They are rebuilding it now, and it is supposed to be done tomorrow.

Will let you guys know how it turns out.