1994 Bonneville SE

I left my house this morning, went to pick up my car-pool buddy. I was headed towards his house and stopped for a stop sign... everything normal up to this point. I go to drive away from the stop sign and then it feels like I'm getting no power to the wheels. Boom, the Service Engine Soon light is on (it has never come on before this in the time I've owned it). I can best describe how the car felt by telling you that it felt exactly as though the car would not shift down to first and would not shift up to third. I had to get to school so I drove it at 2600rpm 60mph the whole way - I tried 65 and I was up to 3200rpm (usually at approx. 2000rpm at 65mph).

It was suggested to me by a professor here that the cadillidic converter may be cloged, but I don't know if this is going to be my save-all. Does anyone have any experience with this problem? Any suggestions?

I won't be able to bring it to the garage until tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks for the help

-William

should I try to use regular drive instead of overdrive?
I need to go to work from school in approx. 4 hours from now and have to go highway again. Let me know what to try please - I can do light work, but I don't have the experience necessary to judge this problem - Thanks!

If the engine is seeming to provide power and rev as usual, however the wheels simply don't appear to be getting the power or you notice the car not shifting. That is probably a transmission issue.

It is possible that you are badly in need of a transmission service and the fluid was restricted. A restart may return things to "normal" for a while.

Check the fluid level and color.

Fluid level definitely low, and I will make sure I fill it. I couldn't get enough on the dipstick to accurately give you a color, but it rubbed off on the paper towel a dirty red.

I will be able to fill it up as soon as I get it to work; what is the best suggested course of action? (like a flush, service, etc.)? I am fairly broke and would be doing most myself.

I'll let you know what happens with the restart later - I actually never shut it off and restarted it this morning. I was afraid the car would die and I would be screwed to get to class.

Thanks

ATF has many different responsibilities in a transmission. A big one is keeping the transmission cool. If you run it extremely low, or just low for a long period of time, this leaves the rest of the fluid to get even hotter, hence oxidation occurs rendering the fluid nearly useless. Just adding the fluid wouldn't be the greatest long term idea. I definitely recommend flushing it. Since you don't have alot of money to spend, I will suggest what worked for me. Add SeaFoam Trans Tune, then fill up to the full mark. Then go drive around for a while, 50-100 miles recommended, but if not possible, just be sure to run it through pretty well. If its not shifting/operating well enough to do so, skip this step. Next step would be to just go ahead and drain the fluid, refill, drive around for about 10 minutes. Return home, drain again, watch out, the fluid is hot as heck, replace the filter and gasket and add in a bottle of Lucas Transmission additive, then refill the trans and go out driving. Mine was misbehaving terribly, and after that treatment, feels excellent. Thats about as budget as it gets for a worthwhile fix. If you have the money to spend, I recommend going to a reputable shop and having it flushed and having the filter replaced.

That sounds viable for my cash situation, but what can I do to be sure this is the problem? If I put in some tranny fluid temporarily will I be able to tell if thats what it is? I know I need to add some fluid, but in your opinion is that the most apparent answer to my problem?

IMO, its either the fact that your car'* transmission has just not been serviced in a LONG LONG time or something is cooked internally. I'm telling you that a fluid change/flush is the best way, and most cost effective way of finding out which it really is. If it helps a bit but not totally, well thats just telling you that the trans is on its last legs, if it helps 100%, thats excellent, but any time a trans has gotten to that point, its never good. I'm hoping you have a chance to prolong it

Just adding new fluid to old fluid might help a *little*, but very doubtful, and almost certain that its not gonna solve the problem.

how did you check the Level? with it running or off?

Just making sure

Yes, make sure its running on an level surface, put it through all the gears on the gear shifter and then back in park. Then wait at least 2 minutes while idling, then check the level.

well make sure the it warm all the way. it will change the level also