Yet another auto trans problem...

[VP-Matty]

Hi all,

I have searched and cannot find this particular issue, but please direct me to a thread if one already exists.

Up until yesterday morning my auto trans has been fine. (VSII V6)

Heading off to work yesterday morning I noticed that my car held 1st for way longer than usual before hitting 2nd with a jolt. 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th were held a bit longer too (4th only engaged when I fully backed off the accelerator).

Went via Macca's and when my window was down I could hear an unusual whirring noise. Not really grinding, just a whirr. The whirr was relative to the revs but exponential (a small increase in revs making my way around the drive-thru resulted in a much higher pitched whirr).

Pulled out onto the highway and again the changes were late but when it hit 4th it felt and sounded OK @ 90kmh. Went up a long hill and the car kicked back to 3rd (as it usually does there) but once at the top of the hill and I backed off it refused to go into 4th. Slowing to a 60kmh zone she stayed in 3rd even though I slowed to about 25kmh at one point. Pulled into the servo there (didn't move from 3rd) and checked my trans fluid - it was full and pink. Thought I'd crawl to work in 3rd and look into it on my lunch break so I went to head off but had no Reverse so couldn't back out of my parking spot.

I rang my mechanic (who I trust to be an OK bloke) and I think he might have said it sounds like a torque converter. Got it towed to him and now he might have said it sounds like the front pump is gone (cant remember exactly) and he is trying to price a 2nd hand box. I have read some other threads and agree that a 2nd hand unit is a risky purchase. I also can't justify spending $1500-2000 on a reconditioned gearbox.

The posting on the s10 forum has some similar suggestions, but nothing is 100%. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on this one? Thanks heaps for any replies.

Cheers, Matt.

[The1]

could be broken sunshell, wont have 2,4,reverse. Was it still engaging 1st in the carpark? Being hydraulic if the pump isn't working you will have nothing.

[hako]

As The1 says, busted sunshell...has to be.

[VP-Matty]

Hi guys,

Thanks heaps for the replies.

Didn't think to try other gears - only knew that Reverse was gone. Car had rolled into wheels stops so there was no instinctive need to try to go forward!

Sounds like #7 on the s10 forum list...

Bugger.

[VP-Matty]

Sounds like #7 on the s10 forum list...

So, what breaks a sunshell?

[The1]

heat, thrashing, like anything else metal.

[VP-Matty]

Thanks The1.

Must have been a previous owner. Gone are the days of me flogging the guts out of a car - I go for comfort these days! (Geez I must be getting old!)

[VP-Matty]

Hi all,

My mechanic told me that my trans has a 13 pin plug. He had it down off the hoist by the time he rang me so couldn't tell me if it was a 6HDD or 7HDD. My car is a Dec 96 build of a MY97 VSII so I am not sure which box it will be.

If I find a replacement 7HDD and mine was a 6HDD will it be a major drama? How about if I find a 6HDD and mine was a 7HDD?

Cheers,
Matt.

[The1]

yeh same box's from memory, the only thing i recall is the oil cooler lines has a different size bolt on the box so might want to get the pipes with the new one.

[VP-Matty]

Thanks The1.

Cheers, Matt.