transmission problems

[ali]

I have a 95 station wagon which i love. A few weeks ago the light came on on the dash and i took it to a mechanic and he put it onto a machine and told me that that the senser in the gear box was playing up and needed fixing but it would cost me over $1000.00. Which to me sounded excessive ?? He told me that it would be Ok to drive. Today my car has stopped going into drive and seems to be stuck in 3rd gear. It is sluggish on taking off and seems to be stuck in 3rd gear. Can anyone help me with this as i am a older woman and seem to get ripped of every time i got to the mechanics and thought someone maybe able to tell me what i may need to fix it and what it should cost.

My son is in SA and he could have fixed it but alas too far away....

[the_boozer]

The mechanic isnt trying to rip you off its a lot of work to fix it.
Why do old women never spend money on cars and only take it to the mechanic when its broken. Why it costs alot when it breaks.
Because you are an older women it doesn't make your car any quicker to fix.

[Brett_jjj]

You are better off getting a few different quotes from different places, then deciding on which one to take it to. You can pick up perfectly good second hand auto transmissions from a wreckers for half the price youve been quoted just to repair yours.. Take no notice of this clown above having a go at you, not everyone is mechanically minded. Theres lots of people who wouldnt even know theres a problem with their car until it breaks down.

[ali]

Just for you information i have my car serviced regularly and have spent heaps on this old girl keeping her running well so you assumsion that we older women never spennd money on cars is not correct. This car has cost me more money than i care to think about but i love her and want to keep her . And i didnot imply that cause im an older woman that i expected it to be fixed any quicker its just that i am not a mechanic and needed advise and thanks for yours !!!!!
All i wanted was some information on what may be the problem and is the quote within what i should expect to pay... Thanks you

[ali]

Brett,
thank you my son has a auto in SA that he will get over to me if i need it.... I have kept this girl serviced and reguarly maintained and look after her very well as my son would be not happy with me as he is a holden man.....
I did take her to a mechanic when i saw the light come on and he put it on a machine and told me it maybe the sensor or the solinoid?? spelling maybe wrong lol. But did not want to fix it and told me that it was ok to drive. I will take her now to an auto specalist to see what they say and then decide if it is worth fixing or replacing the auto. Thanks for trying to help me and yes as on oldie i am not mechanically minded and my hands are painted on when it comes to these sorts of problems.....Ali

[The1]

if reverse and third gear are working then both shift solenoids are working, First Gear has both solenoids turned ON same as reverse. Then in Third there both turned off.

Id suggest checking fault codes so we can see what's coming up and also testing manual gears 1,2,3.

Check this link for howto check codes
Checking error codes VR/VS (Revised)

[9C1pack]

Ali, I see you are from Bendigo.
I had my trans repaired by North Central Transmissions in Wellsford Dr Bendigo (check the yellow pages) in 2006.
I had an issue with it afterwards and the the owner David was more than helpful, and got me to return the car so it could be rectified. (which I think is sign of a good businessman). These transmissions are controlled by the engine management computer and often a problem is not the trans mechanicals but some other electrical component, (in your case an electrical solenoid).
My trans repair ended up much cheaper than if I had taken it to fluiddrive, as they just seem to want to sell you a reco at a cost of $2000+++
As suggested by a previous post, a used trans may be an option, but there is always a chance it will be a dud and you will still have to pay for the intall.
At the age and value of these cars now, often it can be cheaper to just buy a another car.

[ali]

9CIpack,

Thanks for that well this is my option and thanks for the tip on where to go. I will check them out this week amd see what happens.....