My VS Transmission - how bad is it?

[rock]

While driving 680kms from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs, about 100kms from the nearest roadhouse, doing around 120kmh at dawn, the transmission dipstick popped out and sprayed transmission fluid all over the engine.

Despite being low on transmission fluid, i continued to drive around 100km to the next roadhouse at under 100kmh before refueling and topping up the fluid.

Unfortunately, about 10km from the roadhouse, the automatic transmission started making some very nasty grinding noises. After topping up, i had to drive another few hundred kms - with intermittent grinding noises.

Now, in Alice Springs, the car drives fine, it changes gears ok, but in first gear, it whirs and grinds a lot. In second gear, it just whirs a little, and in third it runs fine.

Will i need a new transmission? Or can the existing transmission be reliably repaired for less expense?

How much longer will my auto last before it locks up or drops into limp-home mode?

Thanks for any ideas.

[FstStig]

Hey Mate,

Probably be best to go have it looked at by a Transmission Specialist. It may just need some new bands put in. If you are still able to get it into gear then keep it, but get it looked at ASAP.

Cheers

Mumbo

[Beny]

could be a bearing doing the grinding and maybe the friction heated it up so bad it boiled over but yea deff get it checked out

[rock]

I understand that it will cost over $2000 for an exchange transmission, or up to $1500 for a freshly kitted second-hand transmission.

For that kind of money, with 280000 km already on the clock, i might consider retiring the vehicle, or just driving it till it drops. However, if there's a chance of repairing the existing transmission for under $1000, then i'll get it fixed.

The moment i take it to a transmission specialist, the costs will start to accumulate. I'd like to have some idea about whether my transmission is salvageable before i commit myself to spending any money.

[Chris E]

Autos suck like that it happens rarely that the trans guys can just fix a few little parts and its good again...the normal go is if it stuffs up you get a reco one for something between 1500-2000$

[hako]

My guess is that initially the transmission overheated for whatever reason, fluid boiled and popped the dipstick - you nursed it, topped it up but then it acts funny all the time.
How long it will last is the same as asking how long is a bit of string.
The oil will be cooked/overheated so it needs changing - also when changed you will probably find bits of band friction facings/metal shards etc in the filter as a result of the overheating episode. In all probability this crap is also in the torque converter so you would need to fully flush the system to remove all the oil/crap. But even then you haven't fixed the problem! Then you need to decide:
1...do a oil/filter change and add a tin of "treatment" ($70 DIY)
2...go to a trans specialist for a reco ($2000)
3...go to wreckers and get a trans with 3 month warranty ($500 DIY)

Option 1 may see it last a few months if nursed.

You could go to a trans spec but any mech worth his salt will not bodgy up a trans plus removing and opening the trans will cost upwards of $800 plus whatever parts.
Hope this is of some help and Good Luck.