Attn: kilroypr....Transmission problems

[dirkdiggler66]

I have a 2001 SE with the 3.1 and 95000 miles. My problems is like an earlier post about his car doing jerks and tugging. This is what my car started doing about a week ago. I thought I needed to change my tranny oil & filter because is was on the brown side, but did not smell burnt. There was no shavings in the pan or on the magnet. As I drove it about 100 miles the next day, the 1st 50 miles drove OK with a little tugging but hardley noticeable. The last 50 miles was awful. The transmission would shift from OD to 3rd non stop. My fuel mileage dropped in half. The speedometer was jumping all over the place or wasn't reading at all. My cruise control not longer functions. I check the tranny oil, everything (level) was fine. Last few days though, the car has been running fine. Only once did it do the herky jerky. Only for a short period of time. I tried what you said in the earlier post and disconnected the round wire set that plugs into the transmission directly beneath the air intake. It really felt like the transmission is slipping driving like this but it did not tugg or jerky in any way. I only drove it around the block because it felt terrible driving like that. Also for about a month my SES light came on. I haven't had it scanned because all the shops charge anywhere from $60 to $80 so I bought a OBD II scanner online. I should get it on Fri or Sat. Autozone no longer does free scanning in California. You mentioned that it sounded like the TCC soelenoid. Are these very hard to replace by a shade tree mechanic that has the time and patience the to this? My mechanic is about 2 weeks behind on his work and can't fit me in. Any replies or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks
Gil

[kilroypr]

Well, it might have slipped a little but should not have been really bad. On the old days the auto transmission was coupled to the engine by means of the converter (still does) and never the engine engaged completely to the tranny input shaft like the std vehicles where the clutch engages completely the engine flywheel to the tranny input shaft (no converter in the middle), that is why back then std vehicles got a lot better mileage than the auto ones. Today to get better mileage and power the Torque Converter Clutch engages the tranny converter to the tranny input shaft ALMOST in the same manner a std transmission would engage the engine flywheel to the tranny input shaft, which is why auto trannys today have better mileage than older ones. If you disconnect the TCC then would make sense the tranny to slip a little between shifts because the converter is not engaging as hard to the tranny input shaft as if the TCC is working properly.
Having said that, to get to the TCC take the left tire out and the engine covers if any. Drain the transmission since taking out the side cover would make a mess on your floor. Then when the side cover is out you would see where the round connector is located and you should see on the inside the screws that are holding the TCC Solenoid to the tranny.
Undo the bolts, take the TCC solenoid out and install the new one in the same location and bolt it to the tranny body. Replace the side cover, if the cover has gaskets replace them, install the linning and tire. Refill the tranny fluid and check for leaks.

[dirkdiggler66]

Thanks a million kilroypr! I really do appreciate what you do for this forum. You rock!


Thanks again
Gil (dirkdiggler66)