92 lesabre problem

[jrlugo45]

HI guys, i just bought a 1992 buick lesabre limited with 160,000 on it, motor runs perfect and was checked by a professional and is in perfect condition. i paid 900 cash for the car so i expect some issues. heres the thing, some times while driving when i come to a stop light it seems the tranny slips into neutral i have to tap the shifter and it pops back into drive, and some times in the morning on the first start up you have to rev a little to get it to pop into gear. i also lose about a quart of tranny fluid in a week. i have had to tighten the tranny pan bolts atleast 3 times since i have owned the car. it seems that after about a week they losen themselves agian. any ideas on what needs to be done?? thanks guys

[Scrapper]

can you see tranny fluid in the place where you park it? and if it's using fluid it could be your tranny module to see pull the hose off the module and see if it has fluid in the hose if so it is the module. do you ever see white smoke coming out your tail pipe? you may also want to change fluid and filter in tranny if it hasn't been changed.

good luck.......

[jrlugo45]

there is never any smoke, yes i see fluid where i park. where do i locate the modual. fluid and filter was chaged 5,000 miles ago.

[HotZ28]

Robert, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you have a trans engage problem during cold start, (which usually becomes more obvious when temps drop below 50 deg F); you have low line pressure, which is due to an internal input shaft/drum seal leak.

This problem was quite common with the 4T60E during the early 90's & until which time GM redesigned the lip seal; which IIRC, was around 1995-96. In addition, it sounds like you may have an external output shaft seal leaks. Where are the external leaks located; front, back, right side, left side, or center of the car? I have never heard of the pan bolts that "loosen themselves", but if you are in a rapid changing temp environment, I suppose anything is possible.

BTW, I think Scrapper was talking about the Modulator, rather than the Module. I don't think the problem is that simple, you will need a complete trans rebuild to totally overcome the problem you described. In the interim, when you first start the car, shift to reverse (R) or select 1st gear & let it idle in the one, or the other for about 30-secs then select drive, or (OD). This little trick will allow the trans to obtain full line pressure sooner, which should help overcome the low pressure cold start.

[Jrs3800]

The first thing I would do first is replace the filter and pan gasket, get some fresh fluid in the trans... Its also possible that the filter can be clogged slowing down the fluid flow..

The other is as HotZ28 stated, a possible bad lip seal, again a common problem for the 4T60E.. I believe that they were updated for 94..

[Scrapper]

it's on r.f drivers side it looks round with hose running to it and like i said there would be tranny fluid in the hose that will make tell you it's bad. you can also go on autozone.com or call and it will show you where it's at.if you been slipping it the trannys probably shot. i hope not but it only takes you about 5 mins. to change tranny module.

good luck.....

[big white bufflo]

the modulator is located in the front right of trans look just buy the fan moter i have a 92 w/186 ooo on it the cheepes thing to do is change the fluid and filter and subsitute a qt of tran medic for on qt of tran fliud you can pick that stuff up at autozone or orillys it cant hurt the tran any more than it is in michigan it cost 1400 to rebuild that trans

[jrlugo45]

Well guys thank you very much for all your help, i have decided to sell the car and try to get back atleast some of my money, i paid 900 for the car and if i get most of that i will be satisfied. i bought a new car yesterday a 2000 merc grand marquis.thank you all for your help but even 600 for a used tranny is more than the car is worth to me.