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Transmission gone, options???


SimonStern

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89 Buick Regal Limited 2.8L

 

OK my transmission started slipping not too long ago (something wrong with these transmissions?) then about two weeks ago completely stopped doing anything. It died on me at a stop sign, wouldn't go at all though it made nice reving noises when the gas was pressed. I pushed it to the side of the road where it started to spew white smoke from the tail pipe. I shut it off ad sat there till the smoke cleared started it up and it moved, I made it home going very slow and stopping every few minutes when it stopped responding.

 

Since then it has been working a little, it rarely goes into second gear, can't really go over 20mph, stopping about twice a mile, no fun :cry:

I put some lucas in it just a little earlier and now nothing, every gear is neutral.

 

I'm correct in assuming the trans is completely toast right? I am always weary of a mechanics word so I'm sure they'd say it is. One mechanic said if I found a trans for it and had it delivered to his shop he'd put it in for $500, good deal?

 

Anybody know where could I find a trans for cheap? I'd rather not spend more than $900 or so because I'm broke, also I don't have that much invested in this car and I could get another one just like it with a 3.1 for around $1000.

 

Sorry for the long post but I'm trying to explore all options and I wanted to supply as much info as I could to hopefully get some help with this, thanks in advance...

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sorry man...your trans is probably toast.

 

Most people don't ever change the fluid on these...so you're lucky if they last more than 120,000 miles. In comparison to most FWD 4-speed automatic transmissions, these are actually very good. I would much rather have a 4t60 variant than the ford AXOD or Chrysler A-614

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What does the fluid smell/look like?? What would have caused this white smoke?? Is there any fluid in the tranny, as in, did it burst a hose and push all the fluid out???

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The fluid is brown like the color of watered down pepsi I guess would be the best way to describe it. There is fluid in there, as well as about 12oz of lucas now. Forgot to smell it but when it stopped working before I could smell something like burning fluid. And I don't know where the "cooler line" is but I don't think anything like that is busted, not that I saw anyway.

 

Update: I just went out, started the car backed up a couple inches, pulled back forward... I shut the car off to come inside for a minute went back out, backed the car out of my parking spot (about the length of the car) put it in drive and it didn't move for a few seconds then it slowly started to kreep a couple feet than gave up, I pushed it the rest of the way... :?

 

So is the concensus that it is fried beyond repair/overhaul kit and will need to be totaly rebuilt/replaced? Also is $500 to put in a new one a good deal? Where could I get one of these trans's if I do need a new one? Thanks again for the help...

 

P.s. I just ask if these trans have problems because this is my second regal and the third time the trans has gone kaput :bawl: And I don't race or anything.

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Most people don't ever change the fluid on these...so you're lucky if they last more than 120,000 miles. In comparison to most FWD 4-speed automatic transmissions, these are actually very good. I would much rather have a 4t60 variant than the ford AXOD or Chrysler A-614

:werd: The tranny in my regal is at 238 xxx miles (384 xxx kms) and it has never been touched, except for fluid changes. Other than it needing a new vacuum modulator, its still got a lot of life left in her.

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...Anybody know where could I find a trans for cheap? I'd rather not spend more than $900 or so because I'm broke...

Too bad you're so far away. I don't want to put the money into fixing the brakes & other stuff for the state inspection on my '89 Grand Prix, so I'm going to sell it. The transmission (440T4) has maybe 20K miles on it and shifts real nice - none of that 1-2 slip that the originals have. If you could find a way to get it there, I'd sell you the whole car for a good price.

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Well, last night I drove it a couple blocks slowly, it was doing a little better. It even found second gear eventually :lol: , it only took about three seconds to find it :mrgreen: . Some days it'll move some days it won't, I'm confused. I think it has something to do with the temp, if I start it up and move emmediatly it goes but after it runs for a few minutes or gets up to 20+mph it doesn't want to move, got to let it sit a couple, hmmm...

 

So far I've called a few junkyards and the cheapest I found was $300 for a trans, they will pull it and inspect it before they give it to me to make sure I have a good one. With the $500 that the mechanic wants to put it in I'm looking at $800 as long as no other costs pop up. Even at that it's going to be 2 weeks or so before I have the money so... To bad I don't have a beater to drive around till I have the money to do this one right. :|

 

By the way, how do I get an image to show up in my signature?

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Mine's doing that, minus the smoke. Has to get hot before the piston seals will seal. I'd be extremely wary of a junkyard trans... you might buy yourself three months for $900. I was quoted $1200-$1300 for a full rebuild with guarantee... I'd definitely go that route if you want to keep the car.

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If you go the JY route, make sure it is from one that was in some kind of accident that would have totalled it.. Because it was running and driving when it happened, so you KNOW that it wasn;t junked because of drive train issues.. At least you have a better shot at getting one that wont blow in 3 months..

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