95 SSE Transmission Problems

Since I am new to the forum, let me give a hearty thumbs up to all the great posters here, and to the administrators on running a great forum.

I recently purchased a 95 Bonneville project car for somthing to do.(Maybe should have tried root canal surgery instead.....just joking). The Bonney has 106,000 miles, and has the leaky intake, and also a malfunctioning transmission. The tranney has 1 foreward gear (I think it'* 1st gear), won't shift to any other gear. When placed in reverse the tranney makes a very light clicking noise but won't go into reverse.

Just was wondering if there were any things to check before I change out the tranny for a junkyard special. BTW- the car has the CW2 trannsmission,(3.06:1 ratio)

Thanks.

well, just to give you something to read, i know that my friend in the tccoa (thunderbird & cougar club of america) had a solenoid in his tranny go bad, and it left him with only 2 forward gears. it may be something like that. but i couldn't tell you for sure, and if it is the solenoid i have no idea how tough it is to get at. could i be any more vague??

I had a 1992 geo metro that had the same problem. It had a 3 speed automatic transmission, and eventually all I had was 3rd gear. If I put the car in drive, it would simply start moving in 3rd gear. If I put in in L, then 2, then D, it was fine. The problem was a clogged valve body caused by metal shavings coming from somewhere in the tranny. My tranny fluid was also badly burned. Needless to say, the transmission needed a complete rebuild. Try shifting through gears "manually" and see if it works that way. Also, check the condition of the transmission fluid. That is why I don't like automatic transmissions, so I junked the geo and got a 5 speed Toyota Tacoma.

Rebuilds are expensive.

Do you have any codes present? This tranny has to be told to shift. The PCM controls it...