I have a problem in my 94 SSEi with 174k'* on it. It doesnt shift into OD and sometimes when it does, if i just touch the gas it will come out and wont engage unless i take my foot off the pedal and am not giving it any gas. Then if i just give it a hint of gas it will come out of OD and wont go back in until i am not giving it any gas. Its more like ODcoast gear... Actually i noticed if i drive anything other than grandpa style, then im screwed out of overdrive until the car is off and has a chance to cool down a bit.. Also, when driving on the highway, and i am accelerating, and let off the gas, the RPM gradually decreases from about 3500-4000 down to about 1400 (which takes about 3-5 seconds which is pretty long i think) where it will suddenly drop to about 600rpm and quickly go back up. Kind of like it wants to stall but has not stalled. -- There are times when all of this doesnt happen, like when its a new day and the car is driven very very calmly..

I also have a SES light on as of last night, and the Traction Off light came on when i started the car back up to see if the SES light would go out, and neither will go off.
The RF wheel bearing was changed and before it was changed the ABS and TCS lights came on and wouldnt go off but after it was changed, this problem did go away (minus the overdrive)

I checked the engine oil levels, seems normal, oil is going to need a changing as its starting to get a little bit brown. There are no strange smells coming from it, and no strange sounds (that i have noticed).

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas of what may be the culprit??? What can i do myself to see what may be the problem? I will probably take it in to get scanned sometime today if there is nothing i can do myself. Any help from anyone is greatly appreciated!

~Matt

Sounds like your Torque Converter (the other TC) is slipping like a bad dog. A remote possibility that you have a faulty (touchy) TPS. Does your cruise control work?

What does your trans fluid look/smell like?

The tranny fluid is the normal red colour, and smells kind of like a wierd plastic smell. I dont know what its supposed to smell like
The cruise control works fine.

Another thing i forgot to note is that when the wheels spin, i hear a very bad moan noise and it gets louder as the wheels spin. (this is with TCS off)

This is going to equal $$$$$$$$$ right?

i am almost having the same problem as i stated in my help topic. my cruise does not work either. well, it works when it wants to, which isnt very much or very often. Again, not pirating this thread, but please help!!!!!!!!

Gold, I answered yours. Yours is alot more obviously a Torque converter. You both need to get scantools on these cars while driving. Both of you MAY benefit from a tranny flush (not a fluid change, a FLUSH), but this may only buy some time.

So your almost certain its the Torque converter?? How much would one of these run.. Do you think a tranny flush would help? what does it solve/do??

i need a p/n for it. also, where is it on the car. is it hard to replace yourself?

The TC is INSIDE your transmission. The part itself isn't spendy, but labor is.

thats what i thought. would that trigger SES. even though dealership says no stored codes, mys SES light will not go off. please advise!!

You can get to it by taking off the housing on the drivers side below the exhaust crossover. A new TC only added $150 to the cost of my rebuild.