Eclipse A/T End Clutch Repair

[dzimmerman83]

Hey everyone,
My g/f has a 95 GS, automatic... lately when driving, the car will seem to run normally, but out of nowhere downshift into 3rd (causing a "klunK"), and then won't shift into any other gear. She said she pulled over, started the car again, and it was fine. So I drove it the next day, and the car seemed to run fine, then as I pulled off the freeway, it did it again... It sucks because the car wouldnt shift, and I couldn't drive it over 40-50 because I didnt want to drive it at high rpms. So I nearly cried when i thought we needed a new tranny or a rebuild (not in our budget).
I searched these forums, and found that others had similar problems, but were told that it was the end clutch, which is a hell of a lot cheaper. So what I'm wondering, will this fix my problem? Do I also need a shift kit? We don't plan on keeping this car, and if it needs a rebuild we would probably just sell it as is. So if its only the end clutch, that would be perfect.
Any expert opinions? Anybody repaired their end clutch? Is a shift kit necessary? We just moved out of state, no tools, so I'll have to take it to a mechanic anyway, so I guess we could install a shift kit if it will help. Thanks -David

[RiceRocket18]

does it do it when you have the O/D on? what happens when you turn the O/D off, does it still doe the same thing. if turning on and off O/D makes a difference then very likely is your end clutch. but it could also be your TCU going in and out of the limp mode.

[dzimmerman83]

i just drove the car with OD off, and it seemed to run fine (shifting normally through normal traffic, and freeway driving at 60-70mph, for about 45 minutes, and ran fine until 5-10 minutes after i exited the freeway, i felt a slight "bump" of the engine, and the car wouldn't shift anymore(lower or higher), it stayed in the 3rd gear..... so basically it did the same thing, only that with the OD on, it's a more noticeable "klunK" when it happens. After this happens, whenever i shift from Park into Drive, it klunks, putting it directly into 3rd. But if I shut off the car, wait a few, then start it again, it runs normally. I'm hoping its still something relatively simpler than a rebuild, but just moved here (away from the guy i take my car to) and feel like mechanics will dishonestly tell me that the poor eclipse will need a tranny rebuild regardless.

[91_TSI_TALON]

wow that sounds alot like a problem i had on my talon only it was a pulse genorator sensor, but i have a 91 and thats a 95 the 2ndgen so i dont know.

[RiceRocket18]

when was the last time you flushed the fluid and change the filter.

a dirty filter can prevent you from shifting into gears. it could as well be a malfunctioning TCU. the best way to eliminate the possibility is to pull the TCU code.

as shitty as our DSM A/T could be, the actual gears itself are in fact pretty durable. chances are you just need to replace some components instead of doing the whole rebuild.

[dzimmerman83]

thanks for your replies, i actually just changed the fluid about a week ago, when the chaos began. It didn't help though, oh well, since I don't know much about engines I guess it's time to take it to a mechanic. I'm not sure how to check the TCU to know if its not working properly, either.

[RiceRocket18]

when you change the fluid, if you dont' change the filter, the gears will tend to stick, meaning hard to shift. pulling the TCU code isn't all that hard, it involves some screwing and unscrewing. here's a link on how to do it. but you're gonna send it in to the mech anyway, might as well let them do it. it'll just let you know in advance if your TCU has problems or not.

[dzimmerman83]

Originally Posted by RiceRocket18

when you change the fluid, if you dont' change the filter, the gears will tend to stick, meaning hard to shift. pulling the TCU code isn't all that hard, it involves some screwing and unscrewing. here's a link on how to do it. but you're gonna send it in to the mech anyway, might as well let them do it. it'll just let you know in advance if your TCU has problems or not.

Thanks for replying, but I actually don't see the link. I'd like to find out if its the TCU for myself, because I'm probably going to get rid of the eclipse

[RiceRocket18]

sorry... here's the link http://www.plymouthlaser.com/tcucodes.htm