'93 Le Sabre Vacuum Hose Issues

[jeremiahvedder]

I'm a complete know-nothing when it comes to auto-repair, including my own '93 Le Sabre.

Now, my car starts just fine and runs, but it won't shift. It used to, but would have intermittant phases where it just wouldn't. Now it won't shift at all. I've talked to several people and they've said I probably have a loose vacuum hose, and it's a relatively quick fix.

The thing is, I'm so noobish that I don't even know what the vacuum hose looks like! Or, once I find it, what I'll have to do to fix it! Do I just push it in?

Somebody... Anybody... Help!

[mcqueary]

Well your transmission has only one vacuum hose and it's connected to something called the vacuum modulator. In the engine compartment vacuum hoses are usually black rubber hoses that range in size from about 1/4 inch diameter to about 1 inch in diameter. The vacuum modulator hose is on the low end of this range. It's located low on the front driver's side of the engine compartment and connects to the vacuum modulator which is mounted on the transmission.

But I doubt that this hose is your problem. Even with the hose completely disconnected, the transmission should still shift - it just shifts rougher since the vacuum in this hose controls the pressure of the transmission fluid which controls the harshness of the shifts.

I suggest checking the fluid level using the dipstick near the back of the engine compartment. It looks similar to the oil dipstick near the front of the engine. With the engine cold the transmission fluid level should actually be about 1 inch above the full mark on the dipstick. It should be bright red in color if it's in good condition. If the fluid is low and / or dirty that could explain your problem. If low, you'd want to check for leaks. If dirty you'd want to change the fluid and filter. Let us know what you find.

Unfortunately a fluid and filter change is often not enough. These older transmissions frequently fail internally. I just had to rebuild my 93 Lesabre transmission.

Tom