transmission woes! please help!

[listentillithrtz]

I have a recently puchased 94 passport W/135k miles that was in fine shape when i got it about three weeks ago. since then we've been through the timing belt, timing tensioner, water pump, plugs, wires, valve cover gaskets(eek), spark plug tube seals. all was great until i took it to the same lube shop i've always gone to for an oil change and tranny flush. since then the transmision has been slipping like crazy and has me worried. i checked the fluid level and it was a bit low, i added more to correct the problem but is was with no avail. i don't know the history of the vehicle but it ran fine before hand. any help would be appreciated for this stressing college kid. thanks.

[listentillithrtz]

sorry, its the auto trans

[Cat Fuzz]

Did you check the fluid level with it at operating temp with engine running? If not, your fluid level is lower than you think. Either way, take it back to the lube shop and complain. Sounds like they mucked up something.

[Ramblin Fever]

Unfortunately you may have endured the same misfortune I did some 4yrs back now.

I had roughly 58K miles or so, and took it to a Goodyear shop - which I thought had been good to my vehicles. Didn't know where else to take it for recommended service, i.e. timing belt, water pump, fluid flushes, etc. The dealership wanted some attroctious amount of money.

Well, I ended up, in the long run, probably paying more to fix Goodyear's F-up's then I would've paid the dealer to due the service.

This includes a "somehow" mangled Power steering pump; leaking Valve cover gaskets (they had put in WAY too much oil), Spark plug boots cause they were full of oil, fan shroud, fan blade - from forcing it back into position, braking half of one blade.

And the terrible thing is, they returned the truck to me this way, saying it was all ready. Of course, I didn't notice all of this right away, cause they had done service on my previous car and I didn't think to have to double check anything.

By the end of the 1st day, I KNEW something was truley wrong! Truck sounded like a bag of marbles - fan blade finished braking off, hitting all the drive belts.

In the end, there was damage to all belts, radiator hoses, fan shroud, fan blade, power steering pump, valve gaskets, spark plug boots, and Auto transmission (for, you guessed it, too low on fluid).

Thank goodness I was still within the powertrain warranty, and I played a squeeky "dumb" wheel, if you know what I mean. To this day, I don't know exactly what the dealership did, they never really said - it was all like a "hush, hush" thing, in regards to the transmission.

Even though the transmission was the only thing I brought to their attention, I wonder if they knew, sensed that it had been serviced by someone irresponsible.

It's been 100K miles since, and transmission shifts like a charm - I have the feeling it may have been replaced.

All of this occured just before moving back to Colorado, in which I had all belts, hoses, fan shroud, fan blade fixed at an "Import shop" in Las Vegas, NV at Goodyear's expense. Upon arriving in Colorado, I quickly went to an old family friend mechanic in which I had a thorough inspection completed.

I fought and fought with Goodyear, but ended up paying for the remaining repairs at my own expense, let me tell you a "mangled" power steering pump bracket, and a bad pump can lead to a $$$$ bill REAL quick.

NEVER again will I trust anyone but myself, or Vern, my "Import mechanic" to work on this truck.

[todds21]

How did the transmission fluid look before you flushed it? I know with automatic tranny's I have always heard not to flush them at a high mileage or they fail when all the crud that is keeping it together is flushed out.

[amigo-2k]

Originally Posted by todds21

How did the transmission fluid look before you flushed it? I know with automatic tranny's I have always heard not to flush them at a high mileage or they fail when all the crud that is keeping it together is flushed out.

I've heard that too .... I'm guessing that is what has happened......

[listentillithrtz]

weel, i took it back to the guys at the shop and they reflushed it and drove it. they said tit was fine but when i drove it home it did the same thing immediatly and the "check trans" light came on for the first time blinking. do ya'll think that dropping the pan and changing the filter would help the slipping?

[listentillithrtz]

oh yeah, the fluid was fairly dirty when i brought it in the first time. that was why i figured i needed to have the flush done

[amigo-2k]

Well with the check trans light now on, you have a reason to head to autozone and have the codes read.

Sometimes the tranny will do strange things with weak charging systems (battery, alt). Also, I would clean the ground points too (there should be 2-5 of them around the engine bay).

[listentillithrtz]

i just went to talk to the shop on my lunch break and they said that the filter was not changed and they would do it for me saturday. should i make time to do it myself, let them do it, or shop for rebiult 4L30e. the electrical is fine and i really don't think that is the problem because there was never a problem before the flush and nothing electrical has changed. i don't know anything else to try so all input is apreciated guys. thanks for the help. think ill go to autozone when i get off today