Signs of a dying trans ?

[TravisAe86]

What are the signs to look for? Has anyone here had a experience with a dying trans or changed one out ?

[rusty9]

if you are lucky, it will start to slip.

[zythr]

It will start "drag". This is especially noticeable when you're starting to accelerate from a stopped position ( traffic signal, stop sign, etc)

[TravisAe86]

Is drag and slip the same ?


My car goes in 2nd extremely hard when I accelerate hard.

[zythr]

It sounds like yours possibly is slipping. To tell, when you accelerate do you hear the engine rev up a little, before the tranny engages second? If your tranny was "dragging" you could be accelerating, but it feels like the car is slowly or barely moving.

[Manny1337]

whens the last time you drained pan and changed fluid?

[JohnGD]

I would say that in a normally aged transmission, the wear and tear in the clutch packs (like brake pads and rotors) will lead to clearances exceeding the maximum specified. The clutch packs can no longer tightly engage. They start to slip and wear even more quickly. The next thing you know is when you step on the gas the engine just revs.

So new clutch discs and steel plates (plus other items like brake bands, gaskets, seals, etc), you're back in business.

Normally, drain/refill the transmission and differential every 7.5-10K miles if you use dino D-III. Drop the pan 12-15K miles to clean off the wear particles in the pan and on the magnets. Add an external filter like Magnefine (similar Delco or Wix also available). And use something other than dino Dexron-III ATF (~$2.5/quart at Walmart), like Walmart SuperTech Mercon-V that's D-III suitable (~$3.77) or synthetic blend Castrol Import Multivehicle ATF (~$4.5 Walmart).

Of course, for those who trade their cars in every 3-4 years. Do nothing more than book scheduled.

Magnefine example:
http://www.v6performance.net/forums/...ad.php?t=60257

See also this DIY:
Transmission Swap Write-Up and Photos

Originally Posted by TravisAe86

What are the signs to look for? Has anyone here had a experience with a dying trans or changed one out ?

[JohnGD]

Right on.

Originally Posted by rusty9

if you are lucky, it will start to slip.

[TravisAe86]

Thanks guys. This site is always helpful.


Not to long ago someone told me that I could either get a new trans (well not new but from another camry) or the Mechanic can re-man the one I have.

Or I can do what JohnGD suggested and buy new clutch along with other parts. Just yesterday the car shut of on im in traffic...the rpm drop really low, car started to shake then off. It turned back on but I had to do the ol gas and turn key thing.

[TravisAe86]

Originally Posted by zythr

It sounds like yours possibly is slipping. To tell, when you accelerate do you hear the engine rev up a little, before the tranny engages second? If your tranny was "dragging" you could be accelerating, but it feels like the car is slowly or barely moving.

I believe slipping is whats been happening on and off. I believe drag happened before but I didnt know what it was so now I can be on the lookout for it.

Since this is now happening what do you suggest I do ?

[TravisAe86]

Originally Posted by Manny1337

whens the last time you drained pan and changed fluid?

The engine old has been change but im not 100 percent sure I changed the transmission fluid tho...

I took a look under my car engine bay and underneath the car is very moist...there hasnt been any rain so I believe something is leaking. I haven't had the time to get the car up and inspect further yet.

[73sport]

Tell Tale Signs:
- Slow engagement, delayed engagement between Rewind & Drive; hint time is greater than 1/2 second.
- Engine flares between gear changes
- only moves in Low gear
- Loss of lockup in the torque converter. (generates CEL)
- excessive slip in forward and reverse gears. (generates CEL)
- harsh engagement (worn and/or leaker)
- highway: drops out of gear (generates CEL)
- highway: car shudders during upshift
- highway: shifts hunting (shifts up then down for no real reason)
- doesn't shift automatically
- shifts feel different when cold compared to warm
- smoking, burning, clouds of oil fumes (leaker)
- large pools of ATF under your car and those adjacent to it (leaker)
- spots all over the bumper and trunk (leaker)

[Camry LE 94]

Before the first shift, my tranny seems to drag if the throttle is open more than 50%. However, it doesn't drag if the gas is pressed only slightly. Is this normal for a Camry? The tranny is rebuilt, but the fluid isn't exactly red. It's slightly brown as well... I know the Camry is built to shift for comfort instead of performance...

[Camry LE 94]

Originally Posted by Camry LE 94

Before the first shift, my tranny seems to drag if the throttle is open more than 50%. However, it doesn't drag if the gas is pressed only slightly. Is this normal for a Camry? The tranny is rebuilt, but the fluid isn't exactly red. It's slightly brown as well... I know the Camry is built to shift for comfort instead of performance...

[BlueGoat]

standard swap! ^_^