OK, I bought a car on ebay. Stupid of me but hard to find decent 1989 Formulas just sitting around the corner.
Here comes the questions. I have had the vehicle for about a month now and the transmission had supposedly been rebuilt sometime within the last year. The fluid looks dark so it needs to be changed but here comes the immediate problem. Yesterday when we took it out for a drive it would not shift from second into third. I had to drive with it in second revving into the 3k range while going 35 mph. Reading through posts it sounds as if it could be the governor. Can anyone out there give me any more info or if I am on the wrong path? If the transmission is shot I may have to shelve the damn car for a while since I am getting tired of repairing what was supposed to be a tight car.
Thanks

 

check and make sure your tv cable is hooked up properly and in good working function.

 

If the TV cable is adjusted correctly, and the fluid level correct, then your 3-4 clutch pack is gone. This is very common, but will require the transmission to be rebuilt. Let me know if I can be of help? Dana

 

The TV cable is tight and seems to be working fine. If the trans needs rebuilding I may be parting it out and starting over with another vehicle. I planned on the trans being cool for a few years and rebuilding the engine sometime soon (149k miles). I am not going to do both.

 

using your '89 trans as a starting point, it's worth rebuilding. by then GM had gotten enough of the fixes into the 700R4 there so that a rebuild of your trans is worthwhile. if it was 87 or earlier, it wouldn't be worth a rebuild.

 

A little more info. I was going to take it to a local transmission shop today and noticed that it drives A-OK when it is cold. It shifted and ran great all the way through to 75mph. Once it got to 200 degrees though the problem came right back. The transmission shop told me to bring it in tomorrow morning for them to play with it. Any idea what could make it do like this? If it was bad wouldn't it start screwing up as soon as you cranked it? Thanks and wish me luck for not having to trash the vehicle. My wife is growing very upset about my little hobby car.

 

I bought my rebuild kit and convertor for my 700r4 from PRO Built and it rocks. I would recommend them anytime.

 

Well I'll be finding out for sure tomorrow. Needless to say the transmission shop will use whatever parts they warrant in the rebuilding. If it is in need of a complete rebuild the car may sit in the garage for a while before it happens.

 

if i were u i'd let the car sit and have it rebuilt. it's alot cheaper to rebuild a tranny then to buy a whole new car. work w/what you have and go w/it.
sorry to hear your wife is upset, but she'll have a change of heart once she see's u happy again when it's running right.

good luck,
kelly

 

Well this vehicle is just a weekend fun car. I thought I was getting a car with a good drive train but some cosmetic interior problems. I now have a car with a cracked block and a transmission that needs rebuilding. The two things I can't do myself were the first two to go on the car. Sucks.

 

well, for starters you can look for a block. sometimes those aren't too hard to come by. sorry to hear bout the not so great luck your having. once you have it fixed you'll have a blast.

good luck
kelly