So Fix it

Buick introduced the LeSabre Marquee as a concept car in 1951. The nameplate officially became part of the Buick lineup in 1959. Before discontinuing the model in 2005, Buick had sold over 6 million LeSabres, and for 12 years it was the best-selling full-size vehicle in the U.S. The Buick LeSabre has sold with a number of different transmissions, all of which are prone to problems. Signs of a bad transmission in a Buick LeSabre arent difficult to detect.

Leaks

Look at the ground under where the Buick LeSabre is normally parked. Puddles of fluid, stains and spots are all signs of a leak. If the leak appears red in color, there is a good chance the Buick LeSabres transmission is leaking.

Fluid

Even without a noticeable leak, the transmission fluid is possibly getting dangerously low. Use the transmission fluid dipstick to check for proper operating levels. If the fluid is not translucent red or smells burnt, change the fluid.

Vibrations

Vibrations and shuttering of the vehicle during gear shifts is a clear sign that something is not right with the Buick LeSabres transmission. The transmission is designed to shift smoothly and easily; vibrations are a sign that shifts are not happening as intended.

Noises

Grinding, whining or any other unusual noises coming from the transmission are a clue that something is wrong with the gears or transmission valves. Transmission noises usually come from the floorboards and near the center of the vehicle.

Overheating

Overheating of the transmission is a severe sign that something is wrong with the Buick LeSabre transmission. Overheating is caused by internal breakdown or during heavy towing, rocking the vehicle, racing or stop-and-go driving in high-heat environments. Signs of overheating are smoke, burnt transmission fluid and excessive heat near the shift lever.

Same as New

A transmission rebuilt by a competent mechanic should be as clean and serviceable as a new unit. Check the service interval recommendation for your vehicle, and follow it. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle, the recommended service interval may range from 25,000 to 100,000 miles; some cars may never require this service.

Change at 5K

Transmission rebuilds can become expensive; replacing your transmission will cost even more. For peace of mind, if for no other reason, change the transmission oil and filter in a rebuilt transmission after 5,000 miles. Some shops require a 5K oil and filter change as a condition of their warranty and will include this work at no additional charge.

Bottom Line

Change a rebuilt transmissions oil and filter at 5,000 miles---especially if not doing so will void the warranty. After that point, rely on the manufacturers recommendation for maintenance intervals.

The first automobiles produced did not offer automatic transmission. Using a clutch, drivers had to manually shift gears to operate the vehicle. As cars grew bigger and more people acquired them, an "automatic" transmission became the focus of future vehicles. Transmissions, whether automatic or manual, are made up of many parts, including several gears. Manual transmissions use needle bearings to help mount the different parts. Both transmissions work differently.

Torque Converter

In an automatic transmission, the torque converter takes the place of the clutch in a manual transmission. A torque converters purpose is to increase the turning power that the engine provides. This is completed by the rest of the parts in a transmission.

Pump and Turbine

The engine and transmission never physically touch. It works by hydraulic coupling, in which the transmission fluid is caught by blades of a fan, causing them to spin. The impeller, or pump, and the turbine are these blades. Once one fan starts spinning, the other spins. Powered by the centrifugal force, the transmission fluid moves to the outside of the blades and is sent back to the turbine side through the third fan, the stator. Steady transmission fluid flow causes the engines turning power to multiply.

Planetary Gear Set

In an automatic transmission, there is a planetary gear set. The planetary gear set was designed after the model of our solar system, hence the name. It is made up of different sized gears that are circular in shape and revolve around a "sun gear" which is the central gear. Planetary gear sets differ by type of transmission, but as of 2010, the basic design has not been changed for nearly a century.

Clutch Pack and Transmission Bands

Some vehicles use multiple clutch disc systems, which consist of discs placed between steel plates. The clutch contains one piston and return springs. When the clutch pack is under pressure due to the transmission fluid, the piston locks the assembly together, and when the car is not in gear, the piston disengages. Sometimes a transmission band, a metal ring designed for flexibility, is used instead of the clutch pack. The band sits around the clutch. Engaging the gears requires the band to tighten and loosen to disengage.

Output Shaft

The output shaft connects the transmission to the wheels. The output shaft is attached to the axles in a number of ways, which allows the transmission to turn the shaft and ultimately spin the axles.

Manual Input Shaft

In a manual transmission, the input shaft is mounted in a gearbox at the front. This box is very durable. The front end of the input shaft slides perfectly into the clutch disc. The rear end of the input shaft fits the drive gear at the end of the layshaft.

Layshaft

The layshaft, also known as the cluster gear, is a single unit consisting of the number of gears that the transmission has (three-speed, four-speed, five-speed or six-speed) and often times, a gear for reverse.

Central Shaft

The central shaft runs inside of the layshaft. Needle bearings are used to mount the layshaft. The input shaft creates the power and sends it through the layshaft. From the layshaft, the power is sent to each gear, controlled by the shifter of the vehicle and to the output shaft.

Output Shaft

The output shaft is located at the back end of the gearbox with needle bearings. After the vehicle is shifted, the output shaft then goes into the drive shaft to get the car rolling.

Synchronizer

A ring with teeth on the outside of it sits beside the gear. When the driver chooses a gear, the shift hub does the work and the teeth lock itself into the gear. This combination drives the output shaft.

Transmission problems in cars can cost thousands of dollars to repair. The gears in your transmission provide the mechanism to allow your car to move at different speeds. If your car has lost all the gears in the transmission, you will have a major problem on your hands for several reasons.

Not Moving

You car will not move if you have lost all of the gears in your transmission. Your transmission is responsible for all of the forward gears along with reverse, park and drive. At best, your car will have died in some semblance of neutral and you will be able to push the car. At worst, your entire drive train will be completely frozen, preventing you from moving the car without physically dragging it or completely removing the transmission from underneath the vehicle.

Repairs

Replacing a transmission is universally expensive, regardless of what kind of vehicle you drive. Rebuilding a transmission is also expensive, though often slightly less than buying a completely new one. Expect to spend upwards of $1,000, and prepare to spend $2,000 or $3,000 on repairs before the car will operate again.

Time

If you have lost all the gears in your transmission, prepare to take the bus for a few weeks while your car is in the shop. Transmission replacements and rebuilds are not quick processes. Depending on your location, the availability of parts for your vehicle and and how much money you want to spend, expect your car to be out of commission for at least a week and possibly longer.

A transmission is a crucial part of a car. When a transmission breaks, the car is almost always inoperable. Replacing the transmission is an expensive repair, but the exact price varies based on the make and model of the car and location where the transmission is fixed.

Types

The cost to repair a transmission varies by the type of transmission. Replacing a manual transmission is cheaper than buying a new automatic transmission. Typically, according to Edmunds.com, a manual transmission costs on average $1500 to replace while an automatic transmission costs $3000.

Charges

The cost for replacing a transmission includes the cost of the parts and the new transmission. A charge for the time it took workers to remove the old transmission and install the new transmission is charged, also known as a labor fee.

Considerations

Replacing a transmission where labor costs are cheaper will make the overall cost less expensive. Additionally, the transmission parts cost different amounts in different vehicles. The cost to replace higher end vehicles tends to be more than in lower end vehicles. For example, replacing an automatic transmission on a Mercedes can cost between $3000 to $6000, while replacing a manual transmission on a Honda can be done for around $1000.

Prior to the invention of the automatic transmission flush machine, a transmission service was nothing more than removing the pan, replacing the filter, reinstalling the pan and adding five or six quarts of fluid back into the transmission. While this was better than ignoring your transmission altogether, it really only allowed for the replacement of 30 percent of the transmission fluid. Fortunately, transmission flush machines do exist, and theyre in the hands of trained transmission technicians.

Instructions

1

Fill a 5-gallon bucket with the recommended amount of transmission fluid for your vehicle. Make sure to use the fluid specified by your vehicles manufacturer for your type of transmission.

2

Insert the suction hose from the automatic transmission flush machine into the bucket and turn the machine on to the "Fill" setting. Fill the machine and shut it off when done.

3

Disconnect the transmission cooler lines from the transmission with a box wrench. Attach the suction and discharge hoses from the flush machine to the cooler lines with a socket set.

4

Start the vehicle and turn the flush machine to the "Flush" setting. Wait for the new transmission fluid to empty into the transmission. Shut the machine and the vehicle off.

5

Remove the suction and discharge hoses from the cooler lines with the socket set. Reconnect the cooler lines to the transmission cooler with the box wrench.

The Pontiac Montana is a minivan manufactured by General Motors. If you start to feel your Montana jerk when you put it in drive, you could have an issue with the transmission. Most of the time the issues you have with your transmission are because the fluid level is low. Low fluid can cause your Montana to jerk and make all kinds of weird sounds. You can troubleshoot the transmission before you decide to take it to the transmission shop.

Instructions

1

Open the front hood on your Montana.

2

Start the engine.

3

Remove the transmission dipstick and wipe it with the terrycloth. The dipstick is located on the side of the engine and has the word "transmission" on it. Stick the dipstick back in and then take it right back out. Look at the fluid level. Make sure that it is filled to the line indicating cold level. Low transmission fluid will cause the vehicle to shift hard and make a whining sound.

4

Look all around the transmission for any loose, broken or frayed wires. The transmission works by hydraulics that are controlled with electric sensors. If any of the wires are not connected, it will cause transmission malfunctions.

5

Smell the fluid in the transmission. You can pull out the dipstick again and make sure that the fluid is clean. Dirty and burnt-smelling fluid can cause serious issues with the Montana transmission.

First used in the U.S. market in 1989, Subaru Justy, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a different type of transmission which, instead of using a number of differently sized gears, uses a belt connected to a pair of variable or cone-shaped pulleys. It changes the size of the pulleys to simulate gears, but, instead of having only five or six choices, it can move in a nearly infinite number of steps, since the changes can be done quite smoothly. The idea behind this is that it can always keep the engine in its optimal power band for the best performance or fuel efficiency.

Limited Power Handling

The original CVT transmissions could only handle engines of 1.2 liters or less because the belts that they used would snap under the load of a more powerful engine. Although modern CVTs have stronger metallic belts or chains, they still cannot be used with engines that generate a great deal of torque, or pulling power.

Special Transmission Fluid

To protect their relatively delicate belts, many CVTs require a special transmission fluid which is extremely expensive to replace. It also can require more frequent replacement than the fluid in traditional automatic transmissions.

Unnatural Driving Feel

CVTs constantly change their drive ratio, acting as the equivalent of an automatic transmission with thousands or millions of gears. Because the transmission changes are so smooth, they lack the shift feel that accompanies the process of shifting through the four to six gears on most automatic transmissions. Because of this, many drivers believe that they feel unnatural.

Limited Fuel Economy Benefits

CVTs, theoretically, should deliver significant fuel economy benefits since they can always keep the cars engine at its optimal operating speed for providing the most power with the least fuel. However, many modern engines have a broad range of speeds at which they operate efficiently, allowing even a traditional automatic transmission to keep them within an optimized power band.

When Toyota vehicles with five-speed transmissions are headed for the junkyard, owners can save money by replacing their cars engine. Engine manufacturers call the process "vehicle repowering" and owners add years to the life of the vehicle when they opt for repowering over individual engine repairs. Some automotive shops specialize in acquiring replacement Toyota engines from domestic and international locations. The kits come with all the equipment needed to bolt the engine onto the vehicle.

1990 to 1993 Celica

The Celica GT-fourth generation 5/all-trac 3S-grand turismo turbo engine is the all-wheel drive, five-speed transmission engine for Celicas manufactured between 1990 and 1993. The four-cylinder, 16-valve engine produced by Toyota weighs 600 lbs. with 225 horsepower at 6000 rpm. The engine produces 200 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3200 rpm. Redline levels occur at 8000 rpm. JDM Engine Depot supplies the engine for a suggested retail price of $1,099 (as of 2011). Engine heads, a power steering pump and all-wheel drive manual transmission are included with the engine.

1986 to 1989 Celica

Five-speed-transmission Celica vehicles manufactured between 1986 and 1989 are compatible with the Celica grand turismo-fourth generation 4/all-trac 3S-grand turismo turbo engine. The four-cylinder, all-wheel drive, 16-valve engine manufactured by Toyota weighs 600 lbs. The unit is capable of 190 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 190 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3200 rpm. Redline levels occur at 8000 rpm. The engine is available through JDM Engine Depot at a suggested retail price of $999 (as of 2011). Complete engine heads, flywheels, a wiring harness and an all-wheel-drive manual transmission are included with the engine.

1994 to 1999 MR2

The MR2 third-generation 3S-grand turismo turbo engine is compatible with the MR2 rear-wheel drive sports car manufactured by Toyota between 1994 and 1999. The four-cylinder, 16-valve engine is capable of 225 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 200 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3200 rpm. Redline levels occur at 8000 rpm. Total weight of the all-wheel drive, five-speed transmission engine is 600 lbs. JDM Engine Depot provides the engine at a suggested retail price of $1,999 (as of 2011). Engine heads, a non-limited slip differential transmission and fuel rails are included with the engine.

1991 to 1993 MR2

The MR2 3S-grand turismo turbo engine is compatible with second generation MR2 front-wheel drive sports cars manufactured by Toyota between 1991 and 1993. The four-cylinder, 16-valve engine is capable of 220 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 200 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3000 rpm. Redline levels occur at 8000 rpm. Total weight of the five-speed transmission engine is 600 lbs. JDM Engine Depot supplies the engine at a suggested retail price of $1,749 (as of 2011). The engine kit includes complete heads, sensors and distributor.

In May of 2008, General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a recall of certain Saturn Vue vehicles for transmission problems. Registered vehicle owners should have received notice of the recall by mail on or around May 5, 2008.

Transmission Problem

General Motors and the NHTSA recalled select 2008 model year Saturn Vues equipped with 6T70 6-speed automatic transmissions because of a manufacturing defect. In some cases, the transmission case side bore that holds the park pawl pivot pin could have a casting porosity that would lead to the driver being unable to put the transmission in "park."

Safety Risk

According to the NHTSA, this transmission problem could cause an accident or injury. If the driver is unable to put the transmission in the "park" position on a non-level surface, the car could roll without warning and hurt someone and/or cause property damage.

Solution

General Motors began notifying affected Saturn Vue owners of the recall on May 5, 2008, per the NHTSA. Recall notifications contained information on which authorized dealers to bring affected vehicles to in order to receive a free replacement of the transmission. Concerned Vue owners who did not receive notification or bought vehicles second-hand after the recall may contact the NHTSA or General Motors to determine whether their vehicles might have been affected.

Auto parts for a car, such as a 1991 Chevy Classic, are found at local dealerships, junkyards and online auto-part stores. Due to the complete renovation of this model, all auto parts for this car were created in 1991. There are only 217,462 known models of this vehicle, therefore, a transmission for this model, may be in a short supply. A 1991 Caprice Classic is either equipped with a 8 Cylinders E 5.0L TBI OHV or 8 Cylinders 7 5.7L TBI OHV engine; this must be located before you begin your search for the transmission.

Instructions

1

Call the Chevrolet dealership and ask if they have an available transmission for your car. When placing a call to the dealership, mention the year, make, and model of the car, as well as the engine type. If the transmission is available, set up payment and shipping options. If it is not available, ask the dealer if there are similar dealerships in the area that carry the part. If an adequate transmission is not located, ask the dealer to refer you to a junkyard.

2

Visit your local auto junkyard. Junkyards carry used auto parts with a different range of prices, depending on the condition of the part. Call the junkyard and tell them you are searching for a transmission. Tell them the make, model, year, and engine type of the car. If they successfully locate the part, ask if you need to take the transmission out yourself, or if it is already dismantled. If they require you to take it apart, bring adequate tools or a mechanic. If the auto part is not available, locate another junkyard or widen your search to an online shop.

3

Search for auto parts online. Go to your preferred search engine and enter "Auto parts online." Select a few of your results to browse through. When searching on the website, you are prompted to enter the make, year, model, and engine type of the vehicle. After locating your vehicle, a list of parts will appear. Select "Transmission." Select the transmission you are interested in purchasing. At check-out, payment options are given, such as a credit or debit card. Enter your information. Select a method of shipping and handling. One day shipping will arrive the next business day and standard day shipping will take three to five business days. Shipping costs may run you up to $300. You dont need to be a professional to buy a transmission online.

The TH350 transmission was developed by General Motors as a replacement for the two-speed powerglide transmission. GM used the TH350 in their vehicles starting in 1968 and was found in almost all rear-wheel drive GM vehicles through 1984. If you have a GM car that falls within these model years, there is a good chance you have a TH350. With a few easy steps, you can identify whether your car has a TH350 transmission or not.

Instructions

1

Place wheel chocks around the back tires to secure the vehicle from movement. Raise the vehicle using your jack. Place the jack stands securely under the frame rails and lower the vehicle onto the stands.

2

Crawl under your vehicle and locate the transmission. The TH350 is always used in rear-wheel drive vehicles, so the location is always the same, right at the back of the engine.

3

Count the number of bolts that hold on the transmission oil pan on. This is the pan bolted to the bottom of the transmission. If you count 13 bolts, youve narrowed your transmission model down to only two: a TH350 or TH400.

4

Look at the shape of the transmission oil pan. The pan on a TH 350 is square in shape, with one corner cut off, resulting in a five-sided pan.

5

Measure the length of the transmission from the front, using your measuring tape, where it bolts to the rear of the engine to the end of the transmission, where the tailshaft housing bolts on. Do not measure the tailshaft housing, which is the cone-shaped adapter bolted to the rear of the transmission. This distance will be 22 to 22 inches on a TH350.

6

Look for the vacuum modulator. It will be on the side of the transmission and have a rubber vacuum line attached to it. If this fitting is on the right front of the transmission, you have a TH350. On the similar TH400 it is attached at the right rear of the transmission.

7

Look to see if there is a cable running to the side of the transmission, close to where the shifter linkage is located. Verify that this cable runs up to the engine. This is a kickdown cable, and the TH350 transmission has this feature, where the TH400 does not.

8

Locate the stampings on the side of the transmission. The TH350 had part codes M33, M38 & M39. The TH350C, which is a TH350 with a lock up torque converter, had part codes MV4, MX2, MX3 & MX5.