QuestionQUESTION: We have had this vehicle since we bought it new. The original transmission was replaced at around 20,000 miles by a dealership, and three years ago we replaced it again with a rebuilt transmission at about 135,000 miles. A week ago, as I was driving home, the car was running fine at first, then would just go into neutral and stay there. I would have to turn the vehicle off, turn it back on, and then it would drive for about 40 feet and then go into neutral again.
We have limited shops to work on vehicles where I live, but the guys I took it into said now they have it so it will go drive forward, but will not go into reverse. They got codes on the computer that said something about the "clutch", but since they are not a transmission shop they are not sure how to proceed with it.
I know the car is old, but is good condition otherwise. We would like to fix it, but if it is going to cost $1,800 again for a transmission, my husband really doesn't feet it is worth the trouble again. Looking at your other posts I was wondering if there might be another option that might be considered.
Thank you for your time.
ANSWER: Hi Judy,
I have the shop manual for that transmission and if you can tell me what the original 2-digit fault code number was that the shop was able to obtain from the memory of the transmission control module then I can tell what the possible fixes are. Please also inquire as to what they did to get it to go forward (if not in reverse) and also ask if they will re-read the fault codes now in light of the servicing that they performed so as to give us an idea of what the controller now 'sees' as the reason for no reverse. I'll await your further information as it becomes available.
Roland
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QUESTION: I went down to the shop and talked to both the guys working on the car. They said they really didn't do anything to it except to put the computer on it. This is what came up on the computer. Code 36 - Malfunction immediately after shift. Code 52 - Gear ration error in second. Code 54 - Gear ration error in 4th.
I hope this information will be of some help.
AnswerHi Judy,
Unfortunately those 2 codes do not seem to have any possible causes other than an internal mechanical failure of some sore that appears to require removing a pan and opening up the transmission for servicing of mechanical parts. A 50 (reverse) or 51 (first gear) code would carry the possibility of something more simple (input or output speed sensor fault), but not when you have the 2nd and 4th gear faults. Interestingly I don't see a common mode source for those two codes except a 2/4 clutch problem, which is the clutch needed for both those gear positions. There is an outside chance that there is a problem with a part called the valve body which can be replaced without taking out the transmission, just dropping the pan. The shop could try the pan drop and look in the pan for the presence of debris which would be diagnostic of some sort of clutch/mechanical failure. If that were not present, then replacing the valve body might solve the problem. You could check into the price for that if there is no debris in the pan.
I assume that there was no extended warranty on the last rebuild but you might look at the paperwork.
Roland
PS Thanks for the rating and nomination. After I finished my answer, which you have read, I saw another possible approach (the valve body replacement after check for absence of debrin in the pan) so I trust that you will see this revised answer.
