Bob Hall Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 A few weeks ago my car was dropping out of 4th or not going into 4th. This happened about 3 times in a week. So, I checked the fluid and it was nice and brown and smelled burnt. Seeing how I purchased the car at 74k miles in April of 2005 and I now have 87k on it, I figured the fluid and filter needed changed. So, I had that done. Well, I get the car back and now it shifts funny. The most noticable thing is the sound. My car under any type of acceleration now has an 'electric' whining/buzzing sound. It reminds me of a golf cart. Also, my gas mileage has gone into the toilet. I have an appointment for Wednesday morning at a tranny shop for a test drive. I've been quoted from 4 shops for a rebuild. The price ranges from $1,400-$2,700. Does this sound right to you all? I paid $3,500 for the GP. Currently I'm trying to figure out if I should fix my car or not. I don't have this type of cash laying around or that much room on the credit cards. Another option is to trade it in. I really don't want another payment, plus the best trade in allowance I got so far was $1,100. Plus, to pour salt onto the wound, while pulling over to help an elderly man who broke down at a traffic light, I went to turn my flashers on and the switch/button snapped off. Thanfully, the flashers didn't turn on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigshynepo Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 That's super rough man, I'm going through some brutal tranny troubles myself (my post is a few down from yours in the powertrain forum). Your estimates sound aout right however 2700 seems pretty high. You may want to look at pulling a junkyard transmission if you have a good yard in your area. Good luck, it seems like Summer '06 really is a bad transmission season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastSE2DR Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 My car started doing the same thing and it was like that for a long time because I could get it to shift most of the time. Get it checked out and let me know what it is. Don't rebuild it for that price, just buy a used/Junkyard one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hall Posted August 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 I don't think I'll buy a junkyard piece ever again. I've purchased in the past on other vehicles a total of 2 engines and 1 tranny. None made it past 4 months. The shop I'm going to on Wed. quoted me $1600 for rebuilding mine. We'll see what he says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95oldsVan Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Man im so glad I dont live where you guys do...my tranny guy charges 850-900 bucks for the fwd rebuild,sometimes higher if any hard parts are totally gone or no good...also comes with 1 year,parts,labor,and free towing up to 100 miles for the warranty...in fact 2 years after the warranty expired and I had a TCC lock up problem again,he fixed it for free.When I lived in other states,I was always quoted 2000 or more for fwd jobs.The dealerships were even higher. Down here in KY,this guy I use does awesome work,and stands behind his work better than anyone I ever seen.He also changed the rear main seal and oil pan gasket for just the cost of the parts while the tranny was out of the car(he offered to,I didnt object,it had a nasty leak).I got really lucky finding a guy like this.Going always do my business with him.He really went out of his way to help me out and Im thankful for it.Hes also very successful too,and sometimes has a long waiting list of a month to get your car in the shop,however they do try and get you in asap. He also does bench rebuilds,where if you pull it yourself,and drop off,it will cost about 300 and change.My trannys going out in my 97 GP too and im going to pull the engine out to redo all the gaskets and then pull/drop the tranny off to get it fully bench rebuilt.Then when I get trans. back,gonna put it all back myself...Gonna kill 2 birds with one stone,and save myself alot of labor costs. I feel for you guys having to pay out so much elsewhere.Most of the shops pay less than 130 dollars for your entire rebuild kit to fix the tranny.They get their stuff cheap but location,overhead and labor costs drive it all up elsewhere. Good Luck and hope you find something good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatbob Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 I live in Cincinnati and drive thru Kentucky frequently. I'll be going thru Knoxville and Lexington tommorow. What city is your tranny in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95oldsVan Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 If you meant me,I live in Glasgow Ky but the guy that does my work is in Tompkinsville,Ky which is down near the TN border,about 30 minute drive from my house taking route 63 south/south east from Glasgow. Im about an hour west or so from the Interstate 75 if ya head for Cumberland parkway through london then somerset area.Im not sure,unless you google map it,what the better way to get to his place from the Interstate and back roads.If you want his contact number,or info email me at cleric100@aol.com If youd like and if you drive down through the area alot,not too far from this guy,you could drop stuff off and get possibly get a better price than most places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 I was quoted $1800-2000+ for a rebuild w/ warrantee, from a respected tranny place here in town. Damn FWD trannies... If I could get it done for under $1000 like 95oldsVan was talking about, I'd have it fixed by now (my tranny runs hot/burns fluid/hard 1-2nd shift). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 I was quoted $1800-2000+ for a rebuild w/ warrantee, from a respected tranny place here in town. Damn FWD trannies... If I could get it done for under $1000 like 95oldsVan was talking about, I'd have it fixed by now (my tranny runs hot/burns fluid/hard 1-2nd shift). I was quoted the same in US $ for my old Z34. Aparantly the 3.4 makes it just that much more fun to pull out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95oldsVan Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 It wouldnt suprise me if even down here the prices are higher than last time they did my work...everything goes up,gas,overhead,insurance etc,all come into play.Im hoping when I see him again he will still charge the same for the bench rebuild.of course hard parts or severe damage can make things more costly. I did see him a few months ago so hope since gas hasnt gone up,the prices dont go too high.Im noticing the prices jumping everywhere due to gas prices and the customers paying out the difference.Even our local Napa has a sign that says due to increase in gas costs,theres an additional non refundable 5 dollar charge or something on special order parts.I guess the customer always pays no matter what goes up. Anyways,if these cars were easier to pull the trannies out like in rwd cars of the old days,the average spark plug changer/shadetree home mechanic could manage it over a weekend and get a bench rebuild to save themselves some cash.These FWD cars are just more of a PITA to take apart in a driveway or home garage without a lift. Use caution though,some of them tranny shops that do bench rebuilds,(most all do when work is farmed out to them by other mechanics or shops)wont offer a warranty to a guy off the street alot of the times.Only with the shops they work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hall Posted August 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Well, I got bad news of course. The noise I described earlier is caused by the transmission pump. The tranny guy said that the TC is bad as well as the clutch. Complete rebuild will be $1600. Getting this news caused me to make a rash decision. Seeing how the tranny needed repuilt, the turnsignal/flasher/multifuction switch needed replaced, all four struts need replaced and new exhaust from the cat-back is needed, I've decided with a heavy heart to walk away from the GP. That's right, I got rid of it tonight. It's a damn shame, 87k miles on it. This is my 3rd 'old lady' car I've had that's gone to shit on me at around this mileage. I've learned that while these cars look nice and were kept clean, their 'deep-down' maintanance was ignored. Sure, they got the oil changed and the tires rotated, but that's where it stopped. Being old ladies, they forgot about the other shit that needs to be taken care of like suspension, exhaust and least of all, transmissions! Good bye 1995 Grand Prix SE. I hardly knew thee........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990lumina Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 sounds like Lumina....car was washed daily, but as far as maintence mechanicially...yeah won't even go there because it never happened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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