it's already learned by now. it's going to take some serious knowledge and diagnostic equipment to make an appropriate assessment of the problem, I'd hate to see you throw parts at it without actually determining the necessity.

 

Thanks, I guess I'm off to the transmission shop in the morning.

 

do you know what to ask, how to tell if they just want to sell you a trans or if they actually want to fix your problem?

just the other day a guy came to me with a trans problem. a trans shop told him he need a trans ($1800 on a 1994 GCV). he dropped it off and later I spent 20 min checking the system. well I charged the guy $40 to fix his van. It needed a computer and I tossed in a good used one. he was happier than a 4 yr old at chuckie cheese

 

When I serviced it the fluid was nasty and smelled burnt but there wasn't any metal in the pan just the usual grim on the magnet.

I made the mistake of running the pump dry 3 times as I pumped all the old fluid out of the system and ran 12 quarts of fluid through it until it was nice and clean looking so I was hoping that a quick learn would fix the hard shifting.

I also replaced the leaking radiator with a new one and flushed the lines and aux trans cooler as well in the process and since I had already ordered the solenoid block and input/output speed sensors before I read your advice not to change them, instead of trying to return an e-bay purchase, I swapped them out as well. There was a little varnish in the solenoid pack but the input/output speed sensors were spotless.

If you have any good pointers on what to ask my local trans shop, I'd love to hear them.

 

I also forgot to mention that it's not posting any ODBII codes.

 

it wont have engine codes if it's working (even if harsh). did you try disconnecting the battery? that'll clear out memory. but really after 100 miles, the trans has already re-learned.

did you actually have radiator failure that put coolant into the trans? if so, that trans is on a short life no matter how well you pumped fluid through it. and what you did for flushing really didn't accomplish a lot. just a touch better then a simple drop pan fluid change.

 

I disconnected the battery but only for about a minute. The radiator wasn't leaking into the trans, it was weeping from the side and not holding pressure anymore so it needed to be replaced.
Do you think I should try disconnecting the battery for a while? It's funny, it feels just like a broken motor mount.... and once it's in gear no slipping at all, and no pump noise either.

 

that's the symptoms for 'bump stop' where it has a rough 1-2 or 2-1 shift which can only be fixed with a rebuild.

 

Ouch, guess my great deal on a used car wasn't so great after all.

 

IDK for under $100 and about 5hrs labor, I can fix that problem.

part of the joys of buying a used car.

I love finding these vans with bad transmissions. they feed my family