auto trans choices for 97

[silkydraws]

Well, after not being able to cheply repair the head on this car, I just dropped a junkyard engine in. Ran great for 50 miles, auto tranny locked up. I didnt even know an auto could that. Scary. I removed axles and tranny rattles like something(band maybe) is really broke in there. I have another spare trans from a 91 (3 spd) for parts. BUT really could use a 4th gear. 1997 Geo Prism w/ 1.6 Auto 3 spd. Anybody know the routine for upgrading this to a OD tranny? About the puter and gear activation for 4th? This of course is going to be whether I find one cheap enough. This car is already costing more than its worth.

[RedAE102]

The 4-speeders in the E10 require a computer, unless you get an A240L out of an AE92... Then the only complication is wiring up an overdrive switch (not exactly rocket science). Just a thought.

[silkydraws]

I guess by E10 you mean the new ones right? And Ae92 is my generation? Ok so I have to find one from a 93-97 1.8L And now..... the flexplate from the 1.6 or the 1.8? No balance probs w/ using the torque converter for a 1.8? And all tho its not rocket science to run a wire to dop 4th gear what does the wire hook to since the stock puter does'nt know about it? What puter does the 1.8 of 97 use in comparison to the 1.6? Same? No, I guess not because of fuel maps? but the 4 spd. was never avail for the 1.6 was it? Has anyone done this?

[silkydraws]

BTW I pulled the tranny today so now I gotta decide what to do.

[Dr Tweak]

You're in luck, I've got a nice auto tranny from a '97 Celica ST 7AFE. I'll hook you up with it for $250 shipped. I also have the Celica ECU if you need it.

Hit me up: drtweak@phoenixtuning.com

-Doc

[silkydraws]

Ygm

[RedAE102]

E10 is the '93-'97 here... AE101, AE102, etc. E11 is the '98-'02, and the E13s are '03+ (including Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Voltz)... and lest you think we skipped a generation, the E12s are alive and well nearly everywhere else in the world.

[silkydraws]

then whats a A240L out of a AE92. Is that older, I don't see the conversion for these names your giving me on the site. Just use the year model. So your saying even if I use a 97 4 spd I have to use a diff. computer? But the one from the 1.8 works or no? My issue is if this doesnt pay for itself in fuel savings over a few years its not worth it. I don't want to have to chase parts forever trying to jerry rig it in there. HAS ANYONE DONE THIS?????

[RedAE102]

AE92s were sold from '88-'92 here. The problem with using the '97 1.8 (7A-FE) computer is that the engine and transmission controls are integrated into the same computer, and the 1.8 ECU would have different fuel and ignition maps than the 1.6. A friend of mine put a 1.8 computer in his car equipped with a 1.6, and had a chronic knocking/pinging problem, as the 1.8 ECU uses information from a knock sensor to help it more precisely find the optimal ignition timing. The A240L (all '88-'92 4-speed automatics, save for the 4WD All-Trac models), like the A131L 3-speed that came in your car, is completely mechanically controlled, so it would need no ECU changes in order to make it work properly. The only electrical that would have to be added is an overdrive switch.

[silkydraws]

ah thats the info I needed. Thanks. I guess my best bet is to stay 3 spd save stumbling upon a fresh rebuilt A240L. Then I would have the problem tho of elec. speedo drive (in car) to mech. on the tranny. had I known the tranny was bad when I bought the engine I would have shopped for a complete 7 combo and got by with minimal headaches. Change the puter dop in and go. I just had hoped for the gas mileage of the 1.6 along w/ the o/d. Oh well, to the tranny shop and see if I can get my old ones put together for a workable 3 spd. Still if someone knows how to do this economically it could be posted to help out in the future. I thought I would get a tranny from Dr. Tweak(he offered a good deal on one) but don't know which puter is needed to make it work and then the question of the gear selector wiring and speedo wiring also.

[silkydraws]

OK fellas, getting to the point where I gotta decide what to do. I went to tranny shops in town, they said they only do full rebuilds. I pulled tranny apart and its got a bad Pinion bearing. (I see what happened). Still, I can replace the bearing (and hope I put this thing back together right) or buy from Tweak. It would help in the future if ya'll had a trader rating. If I go 97 4 spd. You guys think I can install a knock sensor from a 1.8 and wire it in and everything OK w/ 1.8 puter. I guess I'd need a wire from the sen. to the puter and then wire up the tranny to match 1.8 wiring, right? I noticed that the elec. speedo to mech. (or vice versa) was no biggie, just swap speedo drive. It is going to be necessary to go 92 vintage to get 4 gears. Or is the wiring an easy fix? BTW yesterday I hit the junkyard here no knock sensors there or 92 O/D trannies. Also, the old bearing galled on the pinion shaft pretty bad so it prob needs a new shaft. When I called to get a price on the bearing the woman said she had no listing for a pinion shaft bearing, that I needed the correct name or I should'nt be calling tranny supply for parts if I did'nt know what Im doing. Anybody know the correct name? Seems tranny people are asses sometimes. If they can't get a thousand bucks off you, they don't need ya.

[silkydraws]

Going to 3 spd. No luck on swap.

[redgtxdi]

3 spd is definitely the way to go if you can't do the other ecnomically!

I've got a '95 Prizm w/ the 1.6L & 3spd. Ya, it's gutless on the bottom end, but I've also got a '98 Camry 2.2L and that sucker shifts so intelligently and has so much bottom end, I don't know why they didn't put a 3spd in that sucker. It would have handled a 3 spd quite well.

Anywhoooo.............it's a reliable combo (imho) and I can still do 80mph on the freeway and the ole' 4AFE hums along like a crotch rocket motorcycle so I figure if it's done it for 130,000 miles, it can do it for 130,000 more!!