| Subject: | 3rd gear transmission issue |
| Question: | I have a '94 eagle talon
(an eclipse for all intensive purposes), non-turbo, with automatic transmission.
recently, when the car shifts from 2nd to 3rd, the engine will rev up to
about 5k or 6k, then shift. and only in the upshift from 2nd to 3rd. i changed
the trans fluid, and it was very dark in color and really smelled bad, almost
like it was burnt. other people have told me that my transmission is probably
starting to go, and that the 3rd gear is the first thing to go bad in those
transmissions. any other cause of that problem, such as the governor? if
it really is the transmission, what is necessary to fix the problem? a rebuild?
a whole replacement? if the rebuild is not too difficult, i'd like to try
it myself, but i am certaintly no mechanic. also, as long as i've had the
car (bought it used with 7k miles on it in 95, probably was a repo.. now
its up to 120k), i've wanted a manual transmission instead of an automatic. now that my tranny seems to be going bad, what is involved in the auto to manual conversion? does that involve astronomical costs, or is it comparible to getting a new one anyway? thank you so much in advance for any advice you can give me!!! sincerely, chris |
| Answer: | Chris, Getting a rebuilt tranny installed will probably save money and time in the long run if your tranny is indeed the problem. Before you start spending money on a transmission, I'd recommend having the Overdrive inspected by a qualified transmission mechanic. Your local garage mechanic may not have the right skill set or tools to work on an automatic tranny. A tranny speciality shop (or the dealership) will be your best bet. If the overdrive function is the problem, then it just may be a sensor or switch that needs to be replaced. Otherwise, you may need a tranny rebuild. Automatic trannies are VERY complex, even for mechanics. I would highly NOT recommend you try rebuilding one on your own. The cost and hassle with doing an automatic to manual swap is not worth
it. You'd be better off selling/trading in your current Talon/Eclipse
for a manual trasmission model. You'll be happier in the end. |