It was misbehaving.

It was probably hiding in the trunk, sucking it'* torque converter and whimpering like a beat puppy knowing what it'* gonna be hooked to. Did it wet itself while in the trunk?

Ya, a little, good thing I put plastic down first.

You know Mike..it'* tough to thread in the bolt with one hand while holding the trans in the other. They tend to be slippery. It'* not too heavy, just slippery..ya ya..

I was going to leave it at that, but WOW Dan. You better think your posts out a little bit better.

What makes you think I'm not thinking them threw?

Something about a Tranny in the trunk...

Today I opened up the transmission, and here are my findings. Open to thoughts here.

First I pulled the bottom pan. Was happy to find no chunks or shavings. It was very clean.


Looking inside I was able to see the bands, they all seem OK, as far as what I can see. nothing seems broken.


So I closed up the bottom and flipped the transmission to open the side pan. Again I see nothing odd here.


Pulled the oil pump/valve body.


Now the 4th gear input shaft and clutches.


Right is the shaft from my transmission, left is a new hardened shaft. Although worn, it really don't look like it failed.


Pulled the gears and input shafts. Still see nothing wrong.


Installed the new 3.29 gears and hardened input shaft. Will need to pull them again when the new hardened input shaft gets here, not a big deal.


Had a new diff from a 98, so out with the 97 diff.


After removing the clip, the diff comes right out.


Make sure you pull the output shaft out the drivers side of the transmission or you will damage the seals.


New output shaft. Again, install from the drivers side of the transmission.


Here'* the new diff.


Takes a little effort to line everything up.


Got the clip in. I'm sure there'* a special tool for this.


And now the new diff cover. So now I have a 97 hybrid transmission.


Putting in the speed sensor. When the transmission tipped over last night looks like I caught the sensor. Only the outer case was damaged. The plug looks OK. I'll have to look in to replacing this.


Put the valve body back on just to protect it.


So, at this point I haven't found what failed. Was really hopping to find something broken so I could say, yep, that'* it. So at this point I have two possibilitys. A solenoid failed, but which one. Or, the torque converter went out. I'm leaning towards the TC failed. I've been suspecting it was on its way out for a while now. Also need to look at the 4th gear solenoid, at times it didn't shift in to 4th.

Did you cut open your filter Dan? That thing can hide some chunks like mine did a couple years ago.

I have not yet, but I will do that.