Friend has Tranny Problems

sc2_ct · 04-09-2003, 03:23 PM

Okay, I know that this is a known issue since I've heard about it before. I am just trying to get some advice for a friend as to what should be done.

She has a 98 SL1 with Automatic transmission, and for the last couple of weeks when the car was put in reverse it would have a delay and then thump into gear. It has now started doing it when put into drive as well.

I have told her not to drive the car any more than is absolutely necessary and to make an appointment to get the car looked at. I'm thinking that it is the valve body possibly causing this but wanted some other opinions. The SES light is on (and has been since before the problem started), so I have told her to make sure that they give her a printout of the codes that the PCM is throwing while it is in, so hopefully I should have the codes by next week). Any information anyone can provide?

Also, if the tranny is pretty much a lost cause, please also let me know that.

Malice Racing · 04-09-2003, 05:31 PM

i've never heard of one pausing into drive...

even my tranny 9which is a lost cause BTW) slips right into drive.

**Ssicarman** · 04-10-2003, 02:11 AM

How does the trans act when driving? If the gear shifting is wonky then there may be an alternator problem in addition to a possible valve body. Do a search for Wolfmans "almost never fails " trans fix. Definately see if the codes relate to the trans though.

sc2_ct · 04-10-2003, 02:52 AM

I guess that could possibly be the problem, but with the fact that it's been going like that for about six months I'd think that the alternator would have failed completely by that point, which is what leads me to believe that it is the valve body.

tha-dood · 04-14-2003, 07:15 PM

i had that problem for a while in reverse... and then i lost reverse and 2nd gear completely. ended up with a new valve body and 5 new clutches (R,1,2,3,4) and a bunch of other stuff