Worried about my car...
 

1997 Eagle Talon, Auto, NA

So I'm really worried about my car. It's been doing a lot of wierd stuff lately and I'm thinking I might have to end up selling it to avoid fixing the problems, considering I don't have that kind of money.

So here's the issues:

I'm pretty sure the transmission is slipping. Switching gears [not all of them, but in one, I think going from second to third, I attempted to count but you know..] it revs up a bit before it actually switches gears. Normally the RPM's get to about 3k then it switches gears, but going into this one gear I will be going steady and then it gets to 3k and then revs up to 4k, and THEN switches gears.

I already told you guys about the whistling noise, which is steadily getting louder, and needles to say, more annoying.

This morning I got into my car and started it up. I started to drive away from my house and I have my foot on the gas, and when I would start to go it would bog a little bit before it actually got moving. Mostly this happened aorund corners. But it hasn't happened the rest of the day, so I'm hoping that it's just a matter of it was cold out and the car wasn't warmed up at all yet, though it's never done it on any other morning.

The main thing I'm worried about is the tranny. My last car had tranny problems and I ended up having to sell it before the tranny went out so that I wouldn't have to spend a bitch load to get it fixed. I deffinately don't have money to fix a tranny on the talon either. I'm worried that the only way out is to sell the beast, because we all know how much I love my Glorified. Although then I'd be up $6k and could go for a TSi ;) But I really don't want to sell it.

I guess my main questions are:
1. What is this bogging? Was it just the cold, or is it having problems?
2. What do you guys suggest as far as the tranny issue and selling it?

Re: Worried about my car...
 

What's the maintenance history of your car? Have you ever changed the plugs & wires?

Re: Worried about my car...
 

I'm not sure. I've only had it for a few months, and the guy before me was a dumb ass and didn't leave shit for records with me. I haven't done anything on it except change the oil since I bought it. But I can check out the plugs and see what they are looking like.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Change the transmission fluid (im assuming its an auto) and the filter. If that doesn't fix it, report back for more diagnosis.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

To me the bogging sounds like a spark plug and/or wire issue or a partially clogged fuel filter. How many miles are on your car?

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Change the fluid or tranny flush & fluid change?

Re: Worried about my car...
 

71k

I'll do the transmission stuff this weekend, as I have to do an oil change anyways. I will check the spark plugs and change them if they need to be changed. As for the fuel filter, I wouldn't have a clue. I'll talk to my boyfriend and have him figure that out, though.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Perferrable a flush (so you get all the stuff out of it) with a high grade fluid and a new filter.
Auto trannies are suspose to have this done every 30k or so.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Personally I'd change the plugs either way since they're pretty cheap and you won't hurt anything by changing them whether they're the reason behind your issues or not.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

You can get NGK plugs for 12-14 bucks. Change the wires while you're at it - not too expensive. Tranny fluid - my personal favorite is BG Synchro, but not sure if that's good for an auto though. I never have messed with autos. A lot of the other guys on this site can tell u in a flash though.

If you have a datalogger try using MMCD to see if the injectors are OK. I'd lend you mine but I have a 1G OBD1.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

So I just got off the phone with a transmission shop and before that I talked to my boyfriend about it. Here's what I got out of it:

Boyfriend:
Theoretically, a flush and new filter would do so much as just prolong the tranny going out. But most of the time, if the tranny is slipping the damage is generally already there, and there's not much you can do to fix it.

So then I called the transmission place, pitch all of your ideas and my boyfriends idea to him, and this is what he had to say:

What my boyfriend said could be true, it depends on how the previous owners drove it. [The kid before me was about 20 or so, and let other people drive it, people I know, and people who I know would beat on it.] Also, on you guy's ideas, he recommended checking the fluid. If the fluid is full, the damage is most likely already there. If its low, I should get a flush.

He also said if I take it over there they will test drive it and look at it free of charge so after I check the fluid I will go from there, and if needed I will take it to them after I get the title on my Mazdarati.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

You could get a tranny for that car from a junk yard for faily cheap I would be willing to bet though. I would think they would be pretty common, if you do end up getting a different tranny for the car in the future a tranny cooler would be a good thing to buy. Most trannies like an operating temperature of under 200 degrees, when it gets hotter than that the fluid sludges up and doesn't do its job with makes it even hotter. You can get a decent cooler for about 50 bucks and they are easy to install. Personally I wouldn't own a auto tranny vehicle without a aftermarket tranny cooler. Just ask JET why the only reason his work truck hasn't took a shit yet?

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Craig,
Is it posible to hook up a tranny cooler to a 1G AWD? How long to do it?

Tauni,
My buddy priced a tranny from a junkyard for 400 bux (thats only one place he went to though), but tuners has them a bit cheaper.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Just get a turbo manual DSM. Be done with it already!

Re: Worried about my car...
 

I would definitely get an opinion from an auto tranny specialist. Have them drive it and look at the fluid. Tranny flushes can accelerate a problem if the car has been too neglected. Like someone said above trannys should be flushed regularly not when you start having a problem. Call an Aamco or other tranny specific shop.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Dont know where you are going but Ive heard only good things from Master Transmission in Rosemount and my dealings with them have been good.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

No offense but getting bent out of shape about whistling noises and a checking tranny fluid tells me she is not ready for a turbo dsm... we all know the hastles involved and if you cant fix simple things how are you going to deal with turbo issues?

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Yes. Not very long, you just need the fittings and the cooler. And if it were me I would upgrade the lines as well.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Eclipseturbo: None taken. I was going over that in my head today, thinking a bit more realistically as far as my money goes. I wouldn't consider myself getting "bent out of shape" about these issues, I'm just trying to get shit taken care of before the problems get to out of hand. I could handle a TSi, just not financially.

Khadgar: I was planning on taking it to Kennedy for the test drive but I will check out that one as well for a second opinion... as long as it won't cost me anything for the opinion, it wouldn't hurt!

I looked at the fluid yesterday. It's not low at all, it's right where it should be and on a white paper towel, the color looked just about right, maybe a TINY bit dirty, but not bad at all. But I will still have the tranny guys look at it, just for safety's sake.

Like I said, I don't have money. Like, none at all, at the moment, becuase as soon as I get my check I am going to be paying a bitch load for a title and tabs on my mazda., plus other bills. So I will probably be broke again. This is why I need to know ASAP if the tranny is bad, or if it's just a matter of the fluid needing to be flushed, because if the tranny is bad, I just want to sell it, and get as much as I can out of it, since clearly I can't afford even a $400 tranny. Besides, I don't think I could trust a used tranny, esp. out of a junk yard.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

I normally hate mechanic in a can stuff, but TSI (a transmission shop) by my work said that this stuff is good . http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/lubegard.htm
could help the car shift right.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Sweet, I will check into that!
It really comes from a whale? Wiiiierd.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Years ago, sperm whale oil and its derivatives were used not much anymore, I think Honda has it in there power steering systems still. I would not flush the system, I would change the filter put in some LubeGard top the tranny off with stock ATF.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Hmm, Ok, I will look into that as well, haha.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Now if you and a brand new or rebuilt transmission, Than I would do a shift kit of some kind, run some Ford F type ATF and see if some improved clutch packs are available. But even changing the fluid on an older neglected automatic could kill the thing, (and Im sure you have Heard this by now) over time varnish and dirt build up by the shift valves, than when you change the fluid with new ATF you have all new detergents that clean the build up off then the valve so thay cant control the fluid, hence poor shifting if at all. But you have a problem starting so what the hell, try something.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

:( If I could afford all that, hell yah. Buuuut, Since I can't, I am going to have to sell it if the tranny is about to take a shit.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Alright, lets think about this for a second. Say for some reason, the tranny is effed and my dumb ass is to attached to sell the POS... Ok? How much harder would it be to ditch my current tranny [take it out, sell it, ya know] and get a manual tranny. I've been told that kind of swap would be very difficult but possible. Opinions, comments, suggestions?

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Sounds like a big waste of money to me. But yes it is possible. I would look into a whole different car if you really want a manual, then you might as well go turbo.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

I would have to agree with tim. If the transmission goes south on ya ,get a junkyard unit installed than sell it. A used trans installed around $1200 convert to a stick $400 used trans, $250 clutch, you need a flywheel, pedal ASSY, cables, master and slave cylinder, shifter ASSY plus labor. :-(

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Alright, well tomorrow I am heading over to Kennedy Tans. to have them look at it and such. If indeed they tell me its fucked, well then a Glorified Neon will be up for sale. I see your point on the fact that it would be a waste of money. Anyways, wish me luck tomorrow. This could very well determine the rest of the Glorified's life! :eek:

Re: Worried about my car...
 

RK has a 5-speed.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Talk about a shitty day. I took the damn car into Kennedy and the guy pretty much laid it out for me. He's going to drive it again Tuesday early morning while the piece of shit is still cold, but he says the thing is pretty much effed up. So it's for sale now. And I'm sad. :(

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Sad over a gourmet neon? Nonsense! You should be happy since you can upgrade now! :-D





I don't expect you to actually be happy, but there's some good in everything eh? Sucks for your loss nonetheless.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Yes I'm sad about my GLORIFIED. We will just have to see what I end up with next spring?!

Re: Worried about my car...
 

go AWD Turbo and name it underrated Evo :cool:

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Change the fluid and filter, use stock tranny fluid. Three out of four times I've done this on older autos, it's fixed the problem. If you can do it yourself, you're only out $100 if the tranny is for sure bad.

I wouldn't always trust what a tranny shop says, just think about what keeps their shop open and the guys paid. Bring in a car to the same shop with a known good tranny and see if they give you the same diagnosis.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

I definitely agree with both of your statements but a tranny shop is not going to tell you to have them do a flush and then have you come back bitching when it didn't do anything to fix it. Even though they have a business to run any reputable shop will not tell you something that will hurt their reputation.

I agree with the fluid and filter change; if it doesn't fix it then you are only out a little cash.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

The car is effed, I found more shit wrong with it. I'm just going to fix the cheap shit and sell the POS as is. Fuck it.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

I was thinking of a Jiffy Screw or doing it yourself. I'd never have a tranny shop do a simple fluid and filter change.

Steve

Re: Worried about my car...
 

Update:

I was getting ready to do an oil change and I decided to check out the spark plugs. Right away I noticed the whole area around them was drenched in oil. So I started pulling out plugs and every single one looked great except the very last one on the drivers side. At first I was confused because I didn't see anything down there. I knew it had to be there, though, because the car was not misfiring at all. So I look at it with a flash light and notice that its completely barried by oil. I notice that the boot is drenched as well. So I had the valve cover gasket replaced and this weekend I am replaced that spark plug and spark plug wire. Then everything should be good to go, other than the tranny issues.

Oh yah. About that. I took the car back to the tranny shop as I had said I was going to do and he said he thought it had something to do with a thing called [and I doubt I will spell this right, but..] a Prindel Switch. I'd never heard of it before and neither had my boyfriend. So he started looking for it on the computer's at work, seeing if it might be in the warehouse, and I started looking around on line to find out what it was, what it did, etc. Neither of us found anything that even came close. So I was wondering if any one has heard of it.

Re: Worried about my car...
 

P R N D L In an electronically controlled tranny if that switch or sensor goes bad your tranny can be trying to switch gears or not know what gear it's supposed to be in which leads to some very strange tranny behavior. At least thats the way it is with birds, and I have no idea how the trannys work in DSM's.