Don't really know if this is a bad thing or not, just remember it didn't use to do this.

Strange actually. I'll see if I can describe it.

I'll be driving along the freeway with the shifter in 3rd, doing about 65mph at around 3000 rpm. I'll take my foot off the gas to slow down and the rpm's will drop to just above 1000 pretty quickly but the car will continue along its merry way doing 65mph. It'll just coast down the road. It does seem to slowly slow down but not like before. 3000 rpm in 3rd isn't a very natural place for the engine so in the past if I took my foot off the gas at this point it would definately slow down and the rpms wouldn't drop all the way to 1000 so fast. Now it almost feels like when I take my foot off the gas the engine disengages from the wheels and the engine takes a break but the wheels keep going along their merry way.

Then if I give it gas the engine roars back and once the rpms reach about 3000rpm again then the car will speed up.

What the heck?

Its very strange. Doesn't really seem like a problem but its a little scary to see that the car just keeps going even with the foot off the gas. And I definately don't remember this behavior happening before.

I've also been noticing somehow that at freeway speeds (and sometimes in stop and go traffic) if I give it gas it seems to spool up a bit before engaging. I dunno. Maybe I'm crazy.

Am I?

 

Does the car have cruise control?

 

Actually, it does. Never use it. But I noticed awhile ago that the labeling on it wore off. What's the off position? I think right now its all the way to the left.

Damn, if that's it I'll feel so dumb. But at least I won't have a broken car.

 

Your transmission is dying. The clutches are wearing out and they are slipping. Bring it to my dad to have him rebuild it.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

Really? The Formula had a slipping transmission so I know how that feels. This feels different. I can almost describe it as though for a moment the car slips into neutral because I can actually give it gas and it'll rev but it won't engage.

I guess that's what a slip is isn't it?

I'll check the cruise control though. I really hope that's it

 

Sorry. I agree with Kevin. I really have no clue what I'm talking about.

 

It should gear down in third and it will feel-wheel so to speak in OD. It might not be going into 4th or the convrter is not locking up.

 

that's just it, the car is in Drive (3rd) not Overdrive. I know in the past when in OD its pretty smooth at those speeds because its already in 4th. But when left in Drive at those speeds it doesn't really like it (3000rpm for 65mph) so when off the gas it slows down.

Its not doing that.

I think it might be the converter. In stop and go traffic the car feels like it has a higher stall converter.

 

Juan,
I agree with Kevin. I think your trans is letting you know that it's on the way out. In third gear you should be seeing some engine braking when you let off the throttle. I run around in 3rd gear all the time in my car since my tranny rebuild and the car definitely slows when I let off the gas.

I ususally don't cruise the freeway at 65+ in 3rd gear though. That's a bit too much IMHO. I drive surface streets and canyons in 3rd, but when I get on the freeway I'll run it up to 3500 then shift into 4th. My car responds real well to this and gildes right into 4th gear and cruise mode. If for some reason traffic slows down, I'll drop it back into 3rd.

 

Yeah I know, freeways are for 4th gear. But I drive the 10 and 5 freeways. Lots of traffic. So I keep it in 3rd. If there's a break in traffic I can speed up and get to 65 mph or so but its usually only for a short while so no use shifting to 4th.

Well, I guess I need a new transmission. Just an opportunity to get a stronger one isn't it? Ha!

Not much of a chance that it will just fail though right? It'll get worse before it fails? Cuzz I don't have the cash to fix it now and I don't have another car to drive. Basically, I have to drive it until right before it dies.

 

Sounds like you converter is not locking

 

No, if the converter wasn't locking up then the RPM's would just stay high. It would still engine brake.

The tranny is on its way out. My does the same thing. Developed a leak on the highway (rather big one from the Governor inspection plate) and I lost nearly half my fluid.

Now its fried and it just free wheels in 2nd, and 4th gear. But I've experienced the problem before. Tranny rebuild time.

 

Juan,
My trans started telling me it was going bad when the converter developed a whine. Almost sounded like I had a blower. It did that for over a year, then the trans started to have trouble shifting. It was only on occasion at first.

THEN, one day it just said I'm done. The engine would have to wind way up before the trans would change gears and when it did shift, it slammed hard into the next gear. That was the end. A week later I dropped the car off at a local trans shop.

The shop I used was pretty good and asked what kind of driving I prefer to do and they set up the trans accordingly. They installed a larger 3 - 4 clutch pack, a higher stall Corvette TC and set up the trans so it down shifts from 3rd to 2nd quicker. In a canyon in 3rd gear, if I let off for a corner the trans drops into 2nd pretty quick and allows me to power really good out of the turn.

 

Ok, tranny rebuild time. So I have some very important questions:

1. Can I just let it go for awhile? I mean, do transmissions catastrophically fail or will it just get worse until its pretty obvious I shouldn't drive it anymore? I just started a new job after being unemployed since March and I simply don't have the cash right now.

2. For a person with a hotrodder mentality, everytime something breaks its a chance to make it better How radical can I get in the new tranny (converter stall mainly I guess) for an otherwise stock car that may see more modifications in the future but has to for the foreseable future be a daily driver?

I assume the consensus is that Dyno Dan is the tranny man?

thanks.

 

In my experience, transmissions generally start to go, and then start going downhill faster and faster. If they don't destroy themselves within a week then consider yourself lucky.

Parts for a basic overhaul will be about $150 from your local NAPA store. You can get a better set of clutches for $200, and a shift kit for $150. If you did the work you could probably do a REALLY nice transmission for about $600 in parts.

Then add a decent TC into the mix with a little more $$$

_______________________________________________
However, if you got about $1300 I'd go with a Pro-built transmission. I've NEVER heard a bad thing about them. ANd they are supposed to be one tough transmission. Plus you get a warrenty. And warrenties are always VERY nice things to have.

www.pro-built.net

 

Juan,
You can probably let it go for a little while, but one day it will just plain give up and most likely without any warning - i.e. one day it will be working okay, then the next day it won't shift or it will slip badly...etc.

As far as beefing up the trans, it really depends on how you plan to us the car. The shop I went to wanted to know specifically what my plans were. It's not good enough to say - well for now it's stock, but someday I'll put a bigger motor in. Without knowing exactly what that motor will be, a trans shop can't really beef up the trans accordingly.

Technically they could build it for a 400+ hp motor, but that might not work too well for your stock set-up in the meantime. Plus, will it be a drag car or a road race car? Lots of variables to account for.

For the TC, the Corvette unit was a nice improvement in my car. Very good for daily street use with some more oooomph! It's a higher stall than the f-body version, gives better of the line performance and is nice for buzzing thru the local canyons.

Since your car is still stock, I'd just beef up the trans mildly. It will also save your walllet. If/when you go big horsepower, then get another trans that compliments your engine and intended driving style.

 

Ha, didn't notice you had posted just a minute before I did. You basically answered my question there yet you answered again. Thanks.

Guess I'll add the transmission to the list of things to do and I'll cross my fingers in the meantime. This car is really in need of lots of repairs.

Maybe I should sell it instead. I need a reliable car to get to work.

 

I've heard plenty of bad things about him, but I'm not going to discuss them here, as I am biased.

Juan, my dad is Don, not Dan. Get in contact with him and see what he has available.

 

Doh! Dyno Don. I know that, keyboard musta slipped.

Car felt worse this morning driving in. I really don't think I should drive it anymore. Darn.

I'm gonna have a good long think about this. In my position it doesnt' make sense to have this car be my daily driver. I drive 25 miles to Santa Monica everyday. Stop and go traffic. I need a commuter car. Maybe I'll get one of those and fix the GTA when I can.

I'll think about it this weekend.

 

I agree with Kevo MAN messed up tranny Formula Style