Please help. Just bought 95 Camry and found out it has transmission problem

[vgoretoy]

Hi guys.
Just bought this car and looks like I have a problem with the tranny. Hoping I can fix it without a huge repair bill. It's an auto tranny by the way.

Here's the problem I'm having.
I start and drive it and it drives just fine when it's cold. When it really warms up it has a problem that begins from 3rd gear. As soon as it shifts into 3rd gear it looses power and the rpms jump when I push the gas but no power. I have to downshift back into 2 and drive it like that from then on.

Have checked the fluid level and it seems to be fine. I stopped by a transmission shop and the guy told me that my clutches are going bad (it's an auto but he says there is still like 20 clutches in there). He says that when the fluid warms up it expands and goes into places it doesn't belong.

I'm wondering if possibly the previous owner used the wrong fluid or even if they didn't if it's worth me putting in some new fluid or some thicker fluid? Or maybe someone on here may have another fix? Or should I just pickup a used tranny from craigslist and swap?

Thanks guys for your input

[71Corolla]

First thing you should do is replace the fluid, seeing you have no idea the age, quality, or type of fluid in the tranny. Do a full fluid swap, meaning replace all the fluid (search the forum on the various methods of doing this). You could take it a step further by dropping the pan and cleaning it, and replacing the filter/screen at the same time.

If after doing a fluid replacement the transmission still shows the same problem, the the unit is indeed faulty and would need to be replace. What car do you have, 4 cylinder of V6?

[Yuko]

It sounds like the clutch packs are burned out. With automatics, the "clutches" are different from a clutch on a manual transmission. They are thin disc of fiber that engages different gears with the help of fluid pressure. The problem is that the clutch packs are worn out and the gears are starting to slip, the problem is worse as the fluid warms up and thins out. With is usually caused but wrong ATF, overheat, or lack of maintenance.

There is a possibility that the last owner use the wrong fluid but flushing out the old ATF at this point can destroy the transmission because the old fluid has bits of clutch material which are holding the gears in place. The only real fix is to rebuild the transmission which will cost anywhere from $900 to $1700.

You can try a couple of bottles of Lucas transmission fix to thicken the ATF (but I never held luck with them)

[71Corolla]

Originally Posted by Yuko

There is a possibility that the last owner use the wrong fluid but flushing out the old ATF at this point can destroy the transmission because the old fluid has bits of clutch material which are holding the gears in place.

I have heard this theory of a transmission being ruined by a flush, but I've never actually heard or seen it happen. My take on this is, if replacing the fluid causes the tranny to fail, then there is no way the unit was going to last much longer anyway.

[vgoretoy]

Thanks guys for the quick replies.
The car was state owned. It does have higher miles but it's showing the fluid was last changed 21k miles ago and I'm assuming they did all other maintenance on time. I'm gonna give that Lucas stuff a shot and maybe even change the fluid.

[Yuko]

Originally Posted by 71Corolla

I have heard this theory of a transmission being ruined by a flush, but I've never actually heard or seen it happen. My take on this is, if replacing the fluid causes the tranny to fail, then there is no way the unit was going to last much longer anyway.

Flush was the wrong word to use, exchange is more correct. Either way, I was always taught by many old mechanics not to change out very old ATF. But, many dealerships said that a pressure flush or a reverse flush can damage valve bodies and clutch packs as the machine most shops use might provide more pressure than the transmission can handle. A pan-drop or a simple ATF exchange should be safe.

Originally Posted by vgoretoy

The car was state owned. It does have higher miles but it's showing the fluid was last changed 21k miles ago and I'm assuming they did all other maintenance on time. I'm gonna give that Lucas stuff a shot and maybe even change the fluid.

If the ATF is not burn or low, I would change it out for some Dexron III. Knowing there's hundreds of different ATF today, a shop could have use the wrong type since it was recently changed. But do try the Lucas first.