'96 Sunfire 2.4L, Auto tran. Is this a problem worth fixing?

[cheryle96]

I have '96 Sunfire 2.4L engine, Automatic tran. It's got about 145,000 miles. It's problem started with a loud and rough rattling noise underneath the rear of the car. It did it a few times in a span of about a month. But it lasted a short time each time it happened. I thought maybe something was loose on the exhaust and I would get tightened up soon. Suddenly when I started to drive one day, it was running rough and losing power. It took forever to get to 20MPH and it was sucking gas like mad just to do that. It's still like that. It's pretty much undriveable right now and having it towed to a mechanic just to get it checked out would be a waste of money if it was a huge repair. I'm a full-time student and can't afford major/expensive repairs.
My dad called his mechanic to see what they thought and they told him it was the transmission. It doesn't kick into second gear but that could be due to it doesn't have the power to really get up to that speed.

It's been good to me up until now. I have regular maintenance done. Oil, fluids, filters, plugs, etc. I had just got done doing those things and replacing the breaks before it went out on me. Any ideas what problem this could be? Would it be reasonable to fix? I would appreciate any help with what the problem is.
Thanks!

[ragtopman]

Any reliable transmission shop or auto repair garage should give you a free inspection and give you a much better idea then us just guessing. If it's at all driveable and you live close to a repair shop, drive it in (that way you can save on towing) and have them inspect it. It truly could be as major as a trans. or head gasket or blocked catylitic converter or as simple as a broken vacuum hose (hope for the vacuum hose or converter). When you described the noise from underneath in the rear, that might not even be related to the major problem. Good Luck

[batman13]

it sounds just like the same problem I had. I don't recommend driving it. I was near home when it totally went, i could only go reverse.
I pulled it to my tranny shop, I needed a new tranny. $1048 for a used one.
whereabouts are you located? I might be able to lend a hand.

I just re-read your post, the rough rattling you were experiencing, did it happen mostly when you were accellerating?
if so. DO NOT DRIVE IT! sounds like your timing chain might have snapped. I was driving on the highway when mine broke and I blew the engine a mile from home. {not a cheap or quick fix.} the only good thing that came of this was that I got my truck waiting for my 'ninja' to come home

[hotbug1776]

Originally Posted by batman13

it sounds just like the same problem I had. I don't recommend driving it. I was near home when it totally went, i could only go reverse.
I pulled it to my tranny shop, I needed a new tranny. $1048 for a used one.
whereabouts are you located? I might be able to lend a hand.

I just re-read your post, the rough rattling you were experiencing, did it happen mostly when you were accellerating?
if so. DO NOT DRIVE IT! sounds like your timing chain might have snapped. I was driving on the highway when mine broke and I blew the engine a mile from home. {not a cheap or quick fix.} the only good thing that came of this was that I got my truck waiting for my 'ninja' to come home

if the timing chain snapped, the motor wont work, also, it would never start again. the 2.4L is a zero clearance motor, if the timing chain breaks, the pistons WILL hit the valves, causing severe damage.

first off check the CAT, it sounds to me like your working real hard to move and using alot of gas doing it, restriction may be the thing here. I need to change/remove mine as well. take it to a muffler shop to get the work done. the car shifts electronically, and is monitored, so a code might be thrown if the tranny is going bad. I would suggest a trip to the mechanic for a look over, explain the symptoms, and let them know that you are on a budget. try to do as much of the work at home as possible, and get a haynes manual, it's not the best manual, but it shows enough to do simple things that will save you lots of money.

Also, try to find a local car club, I've found that some clubs, the members are willing to work together, just for the enjoyment of the hobby. Of course, you would have to be willing to join and be a productive member.

[brentp987]

well i just put a 5 speed trany in my wifes car and only spent 500 so if it is the trany i would swap over a manual for am automatic but thats just me