automatic transmission failure question

Well, did you even check the fluid level? Or the linkage?

If you checked the fluid and linkage and they're OK, I guess there's
still a *chance* that the transmission isn't gone... But on a 97 HONDA?
with 280k on an automatic? That chance is a near-perfect approximation
to "zero."

A good option to get a little more value out of the car (whether you
keep it or sell it) would be a low-mileage automatic from a wrecking
yard. If you sell it as-is, you're selling so much scrap and you'll get
essentially nothing for it.

 

Yeah. The price they charge for new cars is *highly* engineered....


Seriously, Toyota and Honda build very solid *engines*, no question.
But Honda automatic transmissions are the dregs of the industry,
especially back in the late 90s. The mere fact that they have no filter
should tell you a lot. Toyota buys their automatics from Aisin-Seiki,
(which they partially own) and they are quite good.

 

Baloney. I had an '88 Celebrity, '85 Cav, and still drive a 90
Corsica. Those are the most common GM cars of the era.
No trans problems.
You might find a specific GM bad trans, but they weren't common.
Baloney on a trans lasting forever too. They wear out just like
anything else, no matter what brand.
And they can all be abused.

Baloney on Ford trans. The Taurus were notorious for that plastic
piece breaking. My brother had 2 Taurus. Paid big money to get both
trans fixed. Both the same plastic piece.
Biggest bitches I've heard about transmissions for years is the Taurus
and Accord. But Honda at least made an attempt to do something for
their customers.
Now I'm going to get me a sandwich. Baloney.

--Vic

 

Hachiroku ãƒãƒãƒ­ã‚¯ wrote:

The AT in the old Cherokee was the Aisin-Warner AW-4, and yes its
related to the Aisin-Sekei automatics used in rear-drive Toyotas. But it
was ONLY used behind the 4.0 six cylinder in the Grand Cherokee (190
HP), never behind the v8 (220 HP for the 5.2 starting in 1992-3). The
early 5.2 Grand Cherokee v8s got the Chrysler 43RH, and then starting
with the 4.7L and later the Hemi, they the 45RFE and ultimately the
545RFE which is also used in Ram pickups.

The AW-4 was pretty solid and reliable, very well suited to serious
off-roading in the Cherokee if you give it a big enough fluid cooler.
But it was a bit weak in the knees for the added weight of the Grand
Cherokee, and in all forms it shifted like the true definition of a
sludgebox. Its the reason I went out of my way to find a Cherokee with a
5-speed (AX-15, also built by Aisin, but its on its last legs and will
be replaced by an NV3550 from a 2000 or newer Jeep).

 

I'm sure its nothing that straight 30-weight wouldn't cure, Jim.

 

Who's "brainwashed" here? Detroit iron used to be built so that you
could repair it inexpensively and keep it working at top notch
indefinitely (my daily driver is 43 years old). Nothing Japanese has
ever been like that except the Land Cruiser (because its original
engine was bought from GM after WWII). But most modern sedans are built
like "driving appliances." They reach an end-of-life point where its not
practical to keep fixing them. He should fix it for as little as
possible and then UNLOAD it ASAP. Its going to be a money pit from now on.

 

Front wheel drive. Need I explain the difference?

What "plastic piece?"

 

Let me remind the newsgroup ASSHOLE you and I are arguing with that he might
want to look at that "detroit iron" from the 40's and 50's on the streets
EVERY DAY in Cuba.

 

Just explain which late '80's GM auto trans were pure shit.
I don't care if it's attached to a transaxle or a drive shaft.

Might have been the VSS gear. Ask a trans expert. I'm not one.
The AXOD trans had a real bad rep. That's what my brother had.

--Vic

 

It wasn't the tranny being shit.

It was taking a modified 2-speed Chevette transmission and attaching it to
an Olds V6 or a Caddy V8-6-4 that was the problem.

At least when Toyota puts in a transmission, it usually has about 65HP
overhead when rated against the motor. Not a 40HP 'deficit'!

 

Aw, c'mon! Why pay $20 when you can spend $65-90 for a 'diagnosis' and
keep a Honda mechanic employed!? We all have to do what we can to keep the
economy up and keep people working!

12 year old car with that many miles is approaching 'beater' status.

 

If he takes Jim's advice and brings it to the dealer every time it hiccups!

I have an '88 Supra with about 225,000 miles. Want to talk about a money
pit? If I brought it to the dealer I couldn't afford to own it.

I had the same thing happen last year. No go in any direction. But, the
A340H has a pan and a screen. Drain, clean the screen and bolt it back
together and we're off terrorizing the neighborhood again!

 

Yeah! Beats towing it to the dealer!

 

You got that right. Funny thing is, first thing in the morning the shifts
are nice and crisp, but then get sloppy as the trans warms up.

I have the LAST trans cooler line in the WORLD for the MKIII Supra. It was
shipped from a dealer in Japan. Add that to the list of things to do...

Unless...will your 5-speed fit a 7M-GE???

 

The TH_400 is a good start. The ones they used in the Blazers and Jimmy
were TERRIBLE transmissions. Miine failed the day I bought in in 1989. It
was towed back to the dealership before I coulkd make it home wigth the new
cehicle. It took 6 months to get a new trans because GM was that backlogged
with replacements. When I got it back, it failed again within 3 months. I
gave it back to GM and bought a Dodge. Also the dash kept falling out and
the paint peeled. The 89 Jimmy was a DOG in every respect.

Everyone for years had problems with the trans in front wheel drive
cars.

 

I was thinking of that 4 speed monstrosity they put in the Blazers and
Jimmys. 3+ overdrive 4th. The damn thing was constantly shifting in the
city. Put it in 3 and your gas mileage went to shit. When mine failed, I was
always WAY back in line to get mine fixed under warranty. The owners would
hang out in the waiting room will the service manager came back and said the
trans was a gonner and they were getting a rental car for us. Often there
were anywhere from 6 to 10 of is waiting. NONE of us had even one kind word
for the cars. Rear main seals, paint sheeting off, transmission problems,
and the dashboards falling apart. Oh and on a hit Florida day you were lucky
IF the A/C could get the car below 90 degrees. Nice looking trucks but HELL
to own.

 

NO COMMENT.

 

So bad they had to rename it. To AX4S

 

If you think that trans (4L60E) was bad in a Blazer, think of all the
3/4 ton trucks stuck with it.

 

Fair enough. Never even considered a Blazer or other SUV.
Never heard anything good about them.
Except now and then a chick saying "I just love my Blazer!"
Or some feller saying he needed 4WD (yeah, allow GM to double your
drivetrain complexity) to prevent getting stuck on roads where I never
came close to getting stuck with my old RWD sedans.
Thought those SUV's were sucker plays from day 1.
GM fanatics term SUV popularity "Giving people what they want."
But GM marketing knows there's a sucker born every minute.

--Vic