Just went out and did my weekly routine of checking over the tranny, power steering, and coolant fluid levels. Oil gets check at pretty much every fill of 92+ octane.

The checking over was going good until I got back from warming the car up to check the tranny fluid. Had been giving delayed 1-2 shifts yesterday afternoon, but this morning on the warm-up drive all seemed fine.
Arrived back home after the 10 minute drive, and popped the hood, pulled the trans dip stick. OH$#!*!!!!! CHUNKS!!!! BIG FRI**IN CHUNKS. So that'd explain my delayed 1-2 shifts. Looks like I severely damaged the clutches.
So now I looked up trannies on car-part and found one with 8k out of a 1998 SLE in Michigan for $700. A rebuild is going to cost $1200+ according to the shop that redid the 4T65E HD in my 1999 SSEi.
I also found a M15 code trans at a local yard (local being about 120 miles from me or within 10 miles of Jason) with 57k that was tested before they pulled it -asking $290.
Another option I don't really want to do but if it comes down to it I will get it, but IT is a trans out of a 1998 Bonneville SSE with 70k on it for $230 and it'* only 35 miles from me.
Which should I do?
The rebuild is really outta my price range, and 8K trans is a really :?: Because I my limit is under $1K including install ($300).
I personally would like to find a junk car with one in it and be able to test drive it BEFORE it is pulled, but the odds of that are very slim.

thats sucks about your tranny...sorry man!

57k? No way. We've seen them fail sooner than that, especially after they sit in the yard for awhile. Welcome to the club, bud. I'm missing alot of my second gear. Still nursing it.

ugh, that really sucks. Flush it, change the filter, put some magnets on the pan, and hope for the best. That'* the only advice I can give.


-justin

That'* gained me 2 months on a trans that should already be dead. Limp it and save up. I'm doing another transfusion again today. 1st is starting to slip when warm. I'll swear by my magnets. They're the key to my success. They kept it from getting worse.





But OldBlue'* failure may be entirely clutch material, in which case the HD magnets won't benefit him as much as they did me.

You should be able to install that tranny on your own Martin. It'* possible for sure.

Finding one cheap in MN will be easy. Post on MNCGP bud.

Jeez were goin through trannys like a Mitsubishi!!!!

If you have a lift available, maybe. I considered this for a very short period of time, but you have to get the car so high up in the air and remove part of the subframe to get the sucker out the side, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the car. I can't find a jack capable of lifting it that high in the first place.

It'* worth paying the 300 to a shop. The only person here that I can say did this is jr's3800, and he'll tell you it was no picnic.

I did the trans in my 95 SSEi without a problem.....No LIft, no problems, just a few jack stands and some tools.....and quite a few beers.....had it out of the car in about 3 hours and new one reinstalled in about 4 1/2 - hours. We just got a 98 SE in not to long ago at work.....I'll have to check on a trans tommorow.....Might be able to get a lil nicer of a price.....Possibly.

Needs to be RPO M15. Also, check the mileage.
I appreciate the help.

Will, JR, I at first considered doing it myself, but I figure for $300 being my only hassle of installing it I would much rather shell out $300.
Also, should I get a purge canister solenoid put in it? I will no doubt have a new filter and fluid put in as well as a side pan gasket, so I figure as long as the side pan is coming off I might as well do it now while access is easiest.