Tranny on my 94 corolla seca :(

[ashlea]

Having some problems with the tranny on my 94 corolla seca (at least I hope to god it's still just the tranny)

Problems started about 3 months ago, the engine stutters in higher gears and rpms drop by about 200-300 each time (RPMs are actually dropping as you can hear it too, not just see it on the tacho) and rise back up within a split second. It's hard to describe so I hope somebody knows of the issue and can understand my explanation. Earlier on in the issue, I could let off the revs a bit, let it change up a gear and it would be fine.

Mechanic saw it then and told me to keep driving it lightly, tranny would go eventually and I could fix it then.

The same thing is happening now except it's much more persistant. It starts once the engine gets warm, so after about 5-10 minutes of driving, and there's not much I can do to stop it anymore. Sometimes letting my foot off the accelerator will still slow down the issue (but it will still do it for at least another 30 seconds) and other times the car will stall.

Today when it stalled, it took me about 4 tries to get it started. Each time it started (slowly, but it did), but as soon as I put the car into drive, it would stall again. It's running again now after the 5th attempt but obviously I don't want to be driving it in traffic in this condition.

When the stuttering starts I've also tried putting the car into neutral and keeping the revs up... USUALLY it will fix it up for a while, sometimes it will still stall.
This is what makes me worry it might not just be the transmission, but I really don't know much at all, haha.


Can anybody around here help and let me know if they think it's still just the tranny or possibly something else wrong too? Any help at all will be greatly appreciated!!

[GSS123]

Auto or manual trans.? Have you checked the fluid levels? Does the fluid have a burnt smell? Have you done any routine maintenance on the tranny or just drove it without period trans flush?

[usedranger]

In general what maintenance have you done on the engine? Air filter, PCV, Cleaned the throttle body? If you have not done some of those in a long while you could do those yourself. Check for vacuum leaks as well, or have the mechanic do that.
Just some simple things and not very expensive. See if the symptoms improve and post back.

You could also change the tranny fluid {am assuming automatic} yourself. There should be a easily accessible drain plug on the tranny pan. Read the thread;
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=943045
For some other information on tranny fluid changes. Even if your tranny is going it may last a little longer with a little help. Fluid changes are not going to solve major problems but its not expensive and pretty easy to do. Good luck!