transmission problems? help!

[s6arface]

well this happened twice today, at different times of the day. once when i was coming home from school, and the other time when i was leaving bestbuy.

well here is what happened...

from schooolll...
i come to a compelte stop because of the light, and when the light turns green i try to make a turn but the car just starts to rev, and the car is in D (drive), so i put it in park and put back in drive, and it still revved, so i left in park for a couple seconds again and changed it back, and thankfullly it started to catch the gear and i drove off.

from bestbuy..
i start to leave, and soon as i get out of my parking space and star to leave, it starts to rev in D. so i try to put it in park and put it back into Drive 2-3 times, and this didnt work, so i start to drive in L...which works fine, but only goes up to 25mpph (duh)....so i try to see if 2 works, and it revs there as well. so eventually i feel a big clunnk type thing, and the gear catches in D...and I drive home.

i think its the transmission, but i asked one of my freinds and he said it could be the gear shift. does anyone know what the prooblem could be? if it could be a costly repair? any thins that I could check?

thanks

[500KCamry]

Did you check the transmission fluid level?

[Toysrme]

Check the fluid level. Anything this happens out of the blue with no history of problems you've just lost some fluid.

[virtualkuz]

If you are low on trans fluid put some in there as fast as possible. If the trans fluid level is ok then you are going to need either a new transmission or a rebuild of the one you have. There are no "simple" automatic transmission problems. Someone is probably going to tell you to flush the fluid, but with symptoms like that it it is just going to be a waste of fluid and money. How many miles do you have on the car, and how many miles are on the fluid in there?

[Toysrme]

Well that's about the smartest thing posted of-late.

Spending $100 to have someone flush shitty fluid, and replace the filters instead of spending $1500-2000 isntantly for someone to change an entire transmission is not the way to go...

[500KCamry]

The transmission pan comes off easily. Draining the fluid and taking it off won't cost much other than time and a gasket. You can remove any metal filings/particles that are held on the pan by the magnets, and I think you can change or clean the internal filter. If you put er back together and fill it, and it still slips, you've got bigger problems.

[virtualkuz]

Problems like that are the result of major mechanical failure. A $100 trans flush isn't going to fix wiped out bands or bad internal components like this 92 camry probably has. Therefore the flush is a waste of money. The car needs to be driven to a trans shop.

[s6arface]

i havnt got a chance to check the fluid yet, and the car has 88k miles.

i know that i need to get my valve cover replaced, because thats the only thing the guy said when i got my last oil change back in july (i didnt really drive over the summer, and havnt drove that much since then besides school - im still 2k under till the next oil change ). i got him to check all the fluids and all the other good stuff, and transmission oil was fine. and my uncle is a mechanic but lives like 40 minutes way or so, so i havnt got a chance to run it by him either. (mid terms blow)

[karugs]

On other cars there are shift linkage bushings that go bad and these are the results. You could try looking to a mechanical problem rather than a low ATF level. I would also check for the neutral safety switch

[ArmyofOne]

Originally Posted by s6arface

i havnt got a chance to check the fluid yet, and the car has 88k miles.

i know that i need to get my valve cover replaced, because thats the only thing the guy said when i got my last oil change back in july (i didnt really drive over the summer, and havnt drove that much since then besides school - im still 2k under till the next oil change ). i got him to check all the fluids and all the other good stuff, and transmission oil was fine. and my uncle is a mechanic but lives like 40 minutes way or so, so i havnt got a chance to run it by him either. (mid terms blow)

you guys are having midterms already? sheesh...

with only 88k miles and regular tranny service, there shouldnt be an internal tranny issue.\

a Neutral Saftey Switch problem wouldnt allow the car to start i dont think.

[s6arface]

ah, it happened again today. this sucks
im taking it in tommorow to get it checked

[95camguy]

let us know how it works out

[Toysrme]

Me and Army are telling you man. That mileage... You better pull that dipstick and check it.
Transmissions don't just go bad over night.

[500KCamry]

At 470K km my 85 needed auto transmission work because a bearing on the shaft driving the differential went. $30 to get one from a junker and some sweat from me and the 85 was back on the road. Did it cause I wanted to get some repair experience on an older car. My 95 is at 500K km without any noticed transmission problems.

Your mileage seems really low to be having problems. If it was a fluid level problem causing the slip, and you have been driving it without checking and filling it, your problems might be worse now, or can become worse by continuing to drive it. Check the fluid level ASAP and eliminate that as a source.

[Your Uncle Moe]

I had this problem with my 89 Eagle Premier before it burned to the ground. If yo fluid is low, put some more fluid in there. If the fluid level is fine, then you will need a new transmission. THe worst thing you can do right now is flush the tranny. Because that dirty fluid is thicker than clean fluid and its whats holding yoru tranny together. If you do flush it, your tranny will completely die after a short while. I know from experience.

And having a tranny blow while your on the highway is an amazing experience!