I have a pretty good-sized problem.

Prime First · #1 08-16-2005, 02:08 AM

Hey guys, I got a problem. Hopefully someone can help me out.

I have a 1999 420A Eclipse. I've been having some minor engine problems here and there, mainly with the ignition...misfiring cylinders and such. But tonight my car stalls out and the oil light comes on. Of course, my power steering is gone and I'm stuck in the middle of a turn. So I get out and add some oil, since my oil consumption has gone up alot. I start up the car and head down the road after making sure that everything is ok.

But then my speedometer wont work and my transmission is stuck in first (4sp auto). Shifts into and out of gear are real hard, and engine revs change real slow. I drove the car to an Advanced Auto Parts and left it there. Because it's about 2 in the morning right now.

Anyways, I hope someone can tell me what's wrong. I've never had problems in the engine, transmission, and instrumentation all at the same time. I had added synthetic fuel injector cleaner into the gas tank recently to see if that would help out the misfiring. But that's basically all I've done different.

Thanks for the help.

l_eclipse_l · #2 08-16-2005, 02:27 AM

Ummmmmm....ok well the first thing that comes to mind is checking the plugs and wires. Pull the plugs and make sure they are gapped to around .045-.050" and are not all corroded. Check the wires for cracking etc.

If that all checks out, check all your belts. It sounds like you might have snapped the main belt that runs the power steering and alternator. You have a lot of shit going on all at once, it's best to just try and diagnose them one at a time. Check your oil level while your at it, and your transmition fluid level. I don't know what else to tell you man, good luck and give us updates.

Prime First · #3 08-16-2005, 02:33 AM

Thanks for the advice, Eclipse. I'll check all that tomorrow, since it's pretty dark right now. I don't think it's the main belt though because I lost the steering since the car cut off. I'll get the engine codes tomorrow and post updates. Thanks for the help!

Prime First · #4 08-16-2005, 06:47 PM

Okay, I got the engine scanned today.
I have a P0700 transmision malfunction and a P0731 gear ratio read.

We did a transmission oil and filter change in the parking lot. The oil was unbelievably dark, probably from the first owner because I don't run it hard enough to do that. Anyways, 2.5 hours of work, and the car is still the same.

I'm stuck in first and the transmission is really rough, poppin in and out of gear. And my speedometer/odometer still don't work. Torque converter? Thanks for any suggestions.

mitsu_eclipse95gst · #5 08-16-2005, 07:18 PM

for the tach and spedo see if the sensors are good? Tranny you might need a new one or a rebuild

Prime First · #6 08-16-2005, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitsu_eclipse95gst

for the tach and spedo see if the sensors are good? Tranny you might need a new one or a rebuild

haha, damn. I was hoping for a solution other than that. Thanks

l_eclipse_l · #7 08-17-2005, 12:31 AM

Maybe your ECU is going bad? That would seem a little far fetched, but you have so many problems going on at once that that might seem logical. The ECU controls everything the car does, and if that goes crazy, so does your car. Check that and get back to us.

spyderturbo007 · #8 08-17-2005, 08:40 AM

The ECU has nothing to do with the tranny....it is controlled by a seperate computer, the TCU.

l_eclipse_l · #9 08-17-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyderturbo007

The ECU has nothing to do with the tranny....it is controlled by a seperate computer, the TCU.

My bad.

Prime First · #10 08-22-2005, 01:44 AM

Guys, I pretty sure that my torque converter is messed up. Does anyone have any experience with torque converter problems? My transmission is stuck and it keeps stalling the engine.

Also, I have the habit of shifting the transmission into neutral at stops. I do this to reduce friction at the brakes and all the moving parts in the transmission. I don't see the point in having the engine engaged at a stop and having to hold the car in place with the brakes. Not many people do this...so do you think this led to my premature TC problem?

l_eclipse_l · #11 08-22-2005, 11:41 PM

It really isn't wise to do that. Theres really no reason. You are putting more stress on the tranny by doing that rather than leaving it in gear using the breaks, because thats just one more shift into drive that you have to do at every stop. Just keep it in gear, that's how it is designed.

Prime First · #12 08-23-2005, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l_eclipse_l

It really isn't wise to do that. Theres really no reason. You are putting more stress on the tranny by doing that rather than leaving it in gear using the breaks, because thats just one more shift into drive that you have to do at every stop. Just keep it in gear, that's how it is designed.

oh dammit Thought it was a taxi cab driver's trick.

ae9803 · #13 08-24-2005, 07:10 PM

Not much of an expert but when i drove a 2000 celica i had the same problem and believe it or not it was the wiring harness... a fucking rabit ate up some wires underneth the car... Maybe you have the same deal? Dunno thought id bring that to mind

Prime First · #14 08-25-2005, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ae9803

Not much of an expert but when i drove a 2000 celica i had the same problem and believe it or not it was the wiring harness... a fucking rabit ate up some wires underneth the car... Maybe you have the same deal? Dunno thought id bring that to mind

Hmm...I'll keep that in mind. I'll probably take the car to Cottman's this weekend because it's the closest place to campus. And proximity is really important right now. Anyone heard anything about Cottman's? Thanks for the suggestions.

Prime First · #15 09-14-2005, 06:28 PM

So, I got my car towed to Cottman's. They diagnosed and replaced my output shaft sensor. I went to pick it up and took it out for a run. I could tell once I got in the car that something wasn't right. I asked the manager why my car was running so rough, and he blamed it on my misfire, which I had before the transmission problem.

I took it back out with my friends following me. I ran the car at near-full throttle to make sure that the car shifted-properly. After less than a minute, my speedometer goes crazy and the car stops shifting again.

I took it back to the shop, and picked it up 3 days later. AE was right, it was the wiring harness. They replaced the wires, and now I'm back on the road.

Now for my new problem. Misfire in cylinder 4. It used to be cylinders 1 and 2. Then it was just 2. Now it's cylinder 4.

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