i screwed up.

[robin_amber]

I'm SO mad at me. I think I destoryed my baby, my 89 caprice classic that was running perfectly. I'm so stupid i forgot to check my oil. So, when i finally did, there was none in it. So i put some in, and now its a piece of crap. It takes forever to get up to speed, and going up hill it wants to stay at 30!!!!!! Am I doomed? Or could it be something else. Transmiton fluid? Antifreeze? anything??? help me!

-worlds biggest idiot

EDIT: Title and content edited for profanities.

This forum is accessed by many people of every persuasion, ages and from all locations. using profanities in posts and titles may be considered offensive, and may trigger filters in many network servers. We don't want to offend anyone nor get anyone in trouble for viewing inappropriate web pages from wherever they log in. I'd not be pleased if my boss were to tap me on the shoulder to inform me that open internet privileges were suspended because I was viewing inappropriate pages.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by robin_amber

I'm SO mad at me. I think I destoryed my baby, my 89 caprice classic that was running perfectly. I'm so stupid i forgot to check my oil. So, when i finally did, there was none in it. So i put some in, and now its a piece of shit. It takes forever to get up to speed, and going up hill it wants to stay at 30!!!!!! Am I doomed? Or could it be something else. Transmiton fluid? Antifreeze? anything??? help me!

-worlds biggest idiot

Is it making noise, sputtering, clanging and sounding like it's about to scatter? If so, new engine. If not, then look at something else.

Generally on the SBC, if the oil pressure gets dangerous, the lifters will all collapse and it will sound like a diesel (for a little while, then it completely quits making ALL noise - no more rotation). If you encountered this, then you might have a damaged engine. I've run engines real low on oil (to where there was NONE on the dipstick) before, but never to the point that oil pressure was affected. Of course, this was in a car that used more oil than gas (no joke). Man, that old car had LIQUID OIL coming out the tailpipe, just spraying out of it, through the dense smoke. But back to topic -

if it seems like it's revving okay but you're getting no speed out of it, that sounds more like tranny slip - check the oil in that, too. If you hear a tapping, chattering sound coming from under the car while the power isn't making it to the wheels, that could also be a torque converter issue - personal experience here.

[robin_amber]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Is it making noise, sputtering, clanging and sounding like it's about to scatter? If so, new engine. If not, then look at something else.

Generally on the SBC, if the oil pressure gets dangerous, the lifters will all collapse and it will sound like a diesel (for a little while, then it completely quits making ALL noise - no more rotation). If you encountered this, then you might have a damaged engine. I've run engines real low on oil (to where there was NONE on the dipstick) before, but never to the point that oil pressure was affected. Of course, this was in a car that used more oil than gas (no joke). Man, that old car had LIQUID OIL coming out the tailpipe, just spraying out of it, through the dense smoke. But back to topic -

if it seems like it's revving okay but you're getting no speed out of it, that sounds more like tranny slip - check the oil in that, too. If you hear a tapping, chattering sound coming from under the car while the power isn't making it to the wheels, that could also be a torque converter issue - personal experience here.

Thanks. Hmm, im not sure about clunking sounds or chattering, the way it sounds to me, when going up hill or trying to go faster, it sounds louder almost as if the engine thinks its going fast, but it isnt going fast. hard to explain. Sounds like its going 90 when really its only slowly going past 30.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by robin_amber

Thanks. Hmm, im not sure about clunking sounds or chattering, the way it sounds to me, when going up hill or trying to go faster, it sounds louder almost as if the engine thinks its going fast, but it isnt going fast. hard to explain. Sounds like its going 90 when really its only slowly going past 30.

Check your transmission fluid level and appearance. If it's red and clear, and it's low - add some. If it's a little orangish, but still clear, then it needs to be changed but otherwise ok. If it's dark, murky, brown or black, then the fluid has been overheated and could indicate internal damage. If you see metal in the fluid, you need a new transmission.

[robin_amber]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Check your transmission fluid level and appearance. If it's red and clear, and it's low - add some. If it's a little orangish, but still clear, then it needs to be changed but otherwise ok. If it's dark, murky, brown or black, then the fluid has been overheated and could indicate internal damage. If you see metal in the fluid, you need a new transmission.

i will do that! thanks for the advice. I really hope its going to be ok, i love that damn car.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by robin_amber

i will do that! thanks for the advice. I really hope its going to be ok, i love that damn car.

What, may I ask, exactly is your car? Is it a Brougham or a 9C1? If so, then it likely has a 4L60/TH700R4 transmission in it. If not, then it likely has a TH2004R trans in it. If you do have to do the trans, I'd suggest the 700R4 if you don't already have one. If your car has the 2004R in it, you will need to replace the driveshaft with one from a 700R4 car (or have yours shortened) as the 700 is about 2" longer than the 200. You will also need the proper dipstick tube and the proper crossmember as the 700 also has a different mounting place than the 200 (about 5" further forward) OR get one of the 700 extension housings that has the mount on it (will mount directly to the 200 cross). The TV cable is the same between transmissions, so you can reuse it. The TCC cable hookup is also the same.

[capriceowns]

If you find out the trans is good, i'd change your oil and get a new filter and see if that helps.

is what I do so i know theres enough good oil in it and stuff

[robin_amber]

Originally Posted by silicon212

What, may I ask, exactly is your car? Is it a Brougham or a 9C1? If so, then it likely has a 4L60/TH700R4 transmission in it. If not, then it likely has a TH2004R trans in it. If you do have to do the trans, I'd suggest the 700R4 if you don't already have one. If your car has the 2004R in it, you will need to replace the driveshaft with one from a 700R4 car (or have yours shortened) as the 700 is about 2" longer than the 200. You will also need the proper dipstick tube and the proper crossmember as the 700 also has a different mounting place than the 200 (about 5" further forward) OR get one of the 700 extension housings that has the mount on it (will mount directly to the 200 cross). The TV cable is the same between transmissions, so you can reuse it. The TCC cable hookup is also the same.

woaaah. Ok, i hve no idea what transmission it has. All that I do know, is that I am a young parent, and i have about 300$ to my name. So if the transmission needs to be replaced.. well i'm gonna have to kiss my baby Big Grey goodbye because unless its 300$ and under which I know its not, I cant afford it. But i dont even want to think about that, I'm hoping it will be ok. I have to wait until tomorrow to check it because i am out of town and I had left my car with my boyfriend.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by robin_amber

woaaah. Ok, i hve no idea what transmission it has. All that I do know, is that I am a young parent, and i have about 300$ to my name. So if the transmission needs to be replaced.. well i'm gonna have to kiss my baby Big Grey goodbye because unless its 300$ and under which I know its not, I cant afford it. But i dont even want to think about that, I'm hoping it will be ok. I have to wait until tomorrow to check it because i am out of town and I had left my car with my boyfriend.

If you live near a cheap, you-pull-it junkyard such as Ecology or Pick'n'Pull, and have an afternoon's worth of time, you can pull one yourself for around $100. There's ways to tell if the prospective transmission is any good. Law requires these places to drain out all fluids from the cars, so it should be cake to drop the pan and look inside. Basically, a little clutch material is normal, but if you see a lot of it (piled up), or any large (read: discernible) size metal particles or flakes, avoid and look at the next. Also, if the residual fluid isn't a nice red to orange-red color, avoid. If your car has a V8, stick with a transmission from a V8 car. If your car is a V6, any trans for it will work, though a V8 trans will be a little more durable.