Well here's the story. I was driving my 91 TA (LB9 with 700r4 trans) with a friend of mine less than an hour ago and I was pulling out of a parking lot onto the road. I gave it some gas when pulling out (maybe 3/4 to almost full throttle) and I hit a bump in the road that I didn't see (night time) while pulling out. Now the car makes a nasty clunk that you can both hear and feel pretty strong when you do anything more than feather the throttle when starting from a standstill/crawl.

If I give it gas very lightly (not letting it get above about 1800 rpm before shifting into 2nd), it drives like normal without the clunk. But if I give it anymore, it makes the clunk. However regardless of the throttle I give it, it still shifts normally. I also noticed that when I start off lightly and roll the throttle to full gently, there's no clunk, but I think I can feel a slip... not totally sure since I only did this twice since the problem started. The harshness of the clunk is related to the amount of throttle I give it (more throttle=harsher clunk).

If it's in 2nd or 3rd and I give it enough gas to kick down back into 1st, it'll make the clunk. However it kicks down just fine into any other gear.

According to the previous owner, the transmission was rebuilt 5000 miles ago, but who knows if that's true.

It only makes 1 clunk at a time, and other than that, the car feels normal; reverse is normal too.

Now I need to know what it could be, and how long the car might possibly last (if I'm gentle) before the transmission totally takes a dump, considering that this car is my DD at the moment. Again, it's a 700r4 transmission. Thanks!

 

trans mount... get a poly one from summit or a parts store

 

check your transmission mount, tq arm mount, and rule out any other suspension before you go tearing into the transmission. it sounds like a mount/bushing to me

 

I will check that first thing tomorrow morning. But if it really is a bad mount, why wouldn't it make the clunk in reverse?

 

because in forward, the tq arm lifts up on the tail of the transmission (where it's attached) and smacks the trans up into the tunnel, while in reverse the tq arm pushes down, so the mount gets smashed down on the crossmember and there's no clunk

 

Oh I see. Well the solution to the problem makes a lot of sense; especially considering that everything did look kinda dingy around the trans the last time I was under the car. I'll go in underneath and take a peak tomorrow to see what's going on. I'm guessing a mount isn't too difficult to replace on my own?

 

its not bad at all, two bolts hold it to the crossmember, and one to the trans iirc

 

Trans mount, buy a poly one at autozone for $25. Make sure you have a spare Jack so you can take the pressure off the crossmember to replace the bushing. But yeah talk about a messed up thing to hear in your car haha, I have had it happen on every thirdgen I ever had (two TAs and a camaro).

While your in there you should change your tranny filter/fluid. Because if your mount just went it's a fair chance your transmission is going to give up soon, just because of age. BTW, I have had to fix my 700r4 THREE times. Screw freeway milage, I'm putting in a TH400.

 

You shouldnt have any problems with the mount. Im a women and have done many. No muscle needed thank god LOL.

 

Oh jeez yeah, the noise literally sent a chill through my spine every time it happened... sounded ugly. And I checked the fluid... seems very clean, maybe the PO wasn't lying when he said the transmission was rebuilt 5000 miles ago. And you broke it 3 times? Wow, ever consider a T-56?

That's good to know lol.

 

Well I got in underneath to see what happened... I think I found my problem:



And here it is with the transmission jacked up a little:



I guess it's off to Autozone!

 

Fixed it!



Wasn't too bad at all, the worst part was freeing the rusty bolts that held the top of the mount; broke a socket but fortunately sears just replaced it for free. This cost me a total of $13.47. $8.47 for a duralast mount from Autozone and $5 for new bolts; I always replace rusty bolts that I take out with fresh ones.

Thanks guys! Dunno what I would've done!

 

I think I will go check mine in the morning.Im all for preventing the "HOLYSH@T,What just happened?" feeling from coursing through my veins.

 

I had this happen to me once. It smashed my speedo wires when it did it slamming into the floor board.

 

Why the hell didn't you get the poly mount?

 

That's all the local autozone had in stock and this whole car is still factory stock... I doubt that I'll be tearing it up anytime soon. Plus this thing didn't even cost $9. Soooo I won't go bankrupt if it takes a dump again.

 

Its pretty typical for these to break on these cars. Mine was broke when i bought the car. Very easy fix!