Aw crap...blew my transmission...(95 Trans Sport)

[Rickkins]

Gonna try my hand at replacing it on Saturday...

Any thoughts, tips, advice or other such nuggets of knowledge...???

Thanks.

[Jrs3800]

You are in for a surprise as its a PITA...

ask all the questions you like and i will try to help answer them...

I have a lot of advice for you... But its way way too much to type it all..

Getting to this point is a nightmare and a battle.. LOL... I had to do it twice so far... The the motor decided to tank a while after the 2nd trans...This gave me an excuse to upgrade to the newer 3800... ha ha

[Rickkins]

Cool man.
Any tips on, for example, the best sequence, would be most welcome. I have a buddy helping me, and he's a pretty good wrench...helped me change a tranny on an old taurus years ago.

Any pics too would be great...
Is there a gasket that needs to be changed too..??
How long should the job take..??
How much fluid should I pick up..??
Is there a way to drain it from the old one so it don't spill all over the place..??(I know not to re-use it)

Thanks.

[PDESORM]

Changed mine on my 93 two years ago. Mechanic said it was a big PITA. Do you have a new trani? My van is off the road but still has a great engine and the 2-year-old transmission.

[Jrs3800]

Originally Posted by Rickkins

Cool man.
Any tips on, for example, the best sequence, would be most welcome. I have a buddy helping me, and he's a pretty good wrench...helped me change a tranny on an old taurus years ago.

Any pics too would be great...
Is there a gasket that needs to be changed too..??
How long should the job take..??
How much fluid should I pick up..??
Is there a way to drain it from the old one so it don't spill all over the place..??(I know not to re-use it)

Thanks.

1) Drain the trans... I like to use a large Rubbermade short container, you know the clear storage tote thingies... I buy those now for catch pans as opposed to the other junk thats too small to begin with...lol.... Unplug all of the electrical connectors to the trans.. also remove the holder bolts for the wiring harness on the front of the sub frame, also unbolt the power steering pump cooler..

2) while its draining you will need to pop the axles, I usually mark the strut to knuckle relation unbolt them and yank the axles..

3) remove the starter/flywheel sight shield ( 3 10mm bolts )

4) yank the 3 18mm torque converter to flywheel bolts


5 )The trans is held to the motor with 5 18mm bolts... One is an opposing bolt, you will need several feet of 1/2 extensions to get to the opposing bolt... To get at the last bolt from the passenger side, you will have to remove the Diff cover bracket to block bracket( attached to the top 2 bolts on the diff and 2 more bolts on the top of the block bracket... The oil pressure sending unit needs to be removed( you might break it no matter what you do )... The oil filter will have to go as well... from this point you should be able to shine a light up in there and see the last opposing bolt, remove this bolt.. Go back and break the other 4 loose, do not remove them yet..

In this pic you'll see the ear on the block for the 5th bolt ( opposing )


6) The engine will need to be supported,

7) you will need to remove the sway bar, the center bushings have 4 15mm bolts attaching the plate to the sub frame, the sway bar to lower control arm bushings are attached with 2 15mm nuts..

8) The subframe is next on the list... The whole time you do this pay very close attention to the Rack and Pinion, you may have to undo the pinch bolt and separate the rack from the steering column to avoid any damage to the column... You will also need to remove the bolts from the rear motor mount to trans, and remove the bolts for the front trans to subframe mount.. The sub frame will have 2 18mm nuts to the body, on the passenger side ahead of the compressor you should find 4 bolts( memory is a little fogy weather its 4 or 5 )... You will remove those bolts( Do not remove any sub frame to body bolts on the passenger side...

This is the section of sub frame that will come out..


A couple of the bolts that will be removed.. There is also another on the bottom, and one more pointing forward...


This is the area that the sub frame bolts to on the passenger side ahead of the compressor..


With the Trans removed


What the trans will look like, its a pretty good size for FWD..



I would pick up a case of fluid... Chances are you will use the better part of 8 quarts for a pretty dry trans.. So might just as well have a case..



I get the feeling that you guys can figure out the rest.. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask..

[LMP]

Excellent info, JRS. Saved....

[Jrs3800]

Thanks LMP... Its what I could throw together at the time...

I have a couple of questions for the OP tho...

1) do you have a replacement trans for it?

2) If you do have a replacement trans for it what are the numbers on the tag?


Is your 95 TS a 3800 powered TS with the 4T60E or do you have the 3.1 with the 3T40?

[Rickkins]

Originally Posted by Jrs3800

1) do you have a replacement trans for it?

2) If you do have a replacement trans for it what are the numbers on the tag?


Is your 95 TS a 3800 powered TS with the 4T60E or do you have the 3.1 with the 3T40?

I have a second hand tranny, don't have the numbers in front of me.
My engine is the 3.1

[Jrs3800]

Well the remove will be about the same for the 3.1.. The trans will be a bit smaller... Been a while since I have replaced a 3T40 in a U body.. The 3T40, even hauling that van around was a pretty tuff trans..

[Rickkins]

Yea, we noticed it was a wee bit different today. Got most of the crap off today(thanks Bob...)

Hopefully the engine support will come out easy tomorrow morning, and we shouldn't have much trouble after that...

[Rickkins]

Well...we got the whole thing done...everything back in place etc....but now it won't start. I mean nothing...starter doesn't even engage, spin, click...nada...

Thoughts...???

[Jrs3800]

Did you guys mess with the starter...

[Rickkins]

Dayum...that was fast...

Nope, we never took the starter off, never disconnected it either. (we did disconnect the battery)

Thanks

[Rickkins]

I should perhaps also note, that there was no issue starting before replacing the transmission, even after the transmission blew.

Also, we were able to manually move the flywheel, causing the cv's to turn with new transmission installed.

[LMP]

Originally Posted by Rickkins

..we did disconnect the battery..

Sure you did connect the battery back..no?....well yes of course, but I'd pay attention to the neutral switch that's part of the tranny..may be linkage adjustment..