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Joined: Aug 2003
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Help! According to the garage here in Los Alamos, NM, my 1997 4-cyl contour with 59k miles on it needs a new automatic transmission, at $2800 including labor. The only thing I can think of that may have caused the transmission to wear out is my habit of shifting down to second when I drive the very steep hills down from Los Alamos to Santa Fe. The overdrive is usually on when I do this. Could that have caused the transmission to wear out??
Thanks!
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 96
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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did you keep the trans. fluid changed it??  dont feel bad i am on my 3ed trans
98 SVT, clutch masters flywheel, spec stage2 clutch, quaife ,y pipe. and only MOBIL-1 oil.
gansta a$$ 2000 Honda Civic on dope("nnnaaawwwzz").
ricers suck
KING OF ROAD RAGE
i need a center console and cup holder!!!!!1
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Joined: Mar 2003
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2003
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Originally posted by Karin:
Help! According to the garage here in Los Alamos, NM, my 1997 4-cyl contour with 59k miles on it needs a new automatic transmission, at $2800 including labor. The only thing I can think of that may have caused the transmission to wear out is my habit of shifting down to second when I drive the very steep hills down from Los Alamos to Santa Fe. The overdrive is usually on when I do this. Could that have caused the transmission to wear out??
Thanks!
In most other cars this is not a problem. The Contour tranny has a tendency to maintain very high pressures - especially at high engine RPMs. Early CD4E transmissions had an internal filter screen that prevented proper fluid flow to the clutch packs at high speeds, which could cause premature transmission failure. I do not know if this was the case for you.
I do suggest you shop around for a better price on the transmission replacement and have the shops include an additional transmission cooler. That will add about $100 to the price (if they don't throw it in for free), and will help to prevent any future problems.
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 403
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 403 |
Why are you (or the garage) under the impression that the trans needs replacement? What symptoms are you experiencing? Did the shop pull any OBD codes out of the PCM? If so, what are they?
Don't do anyting till you try to get help from this form.
96 Sport 2.0L - 190,XXX miles
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Scourge of the Master Debaters
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Scourge of the Master Debaters
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My ATX also went last year, at about the same mileage. Mostly what causes the problem is a lack of preventative maintenance. The CD4E requires regular fluid changes to keep it fresh and prevent oxidation since it overheats fairly easily. Some people have gone so far as to install additional ATX oil coolers to bring the internal temperature down. You live in a very warm climate, so that combined with aggresive driving (are you guilty of lots of hard accleration, frequent downshifts?) and original fluid, and you've got a cooked tranny. It could be something small like a sensor, too. What are the symptoms?
If the ATX is dying and a replacement is in order, $2800 seems a little steep. I paid $2200 for mine a year ago and I consider that to maybe be a little high. For that kind of money, I would definitely recommend getting a second or even third opinion. And if you do get a new tranny, make sure to check the level and quality of the fluid, and have the fluid flushed every 15k-20k miles or so. ATF should be pinkish in color and have a subtle smell to it. If the fluid is brown or smells pungent then its starting to break down.
Beer is my Gatorade.
Hooray Beer.
'98 "Sport" Pacific Green
'98 E0 SVT Silver Frost
Pictures
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Joined: Aug 2003
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Newbie
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OP
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Hi: The garage says the front pump is shot and the "fluid is burnt". I've ALWAYS had it serviced every 3k miles and done all the preventative maintenance so this is very puzzling. The last time I had an oil change they said they check the transmission fluid and everything was ok, so maybe they just lied! The garage said I could maybe get away with having just the front pump replaced but he thought it would still give me more trouble soon after that.
What happened is this: Drove 9 miles to visit my friends, and noticed that there was a slight whining noise (not like a belt) every time I nudged the accelerator and when I turned the overdrive off the light that tells you it's off started flashing. When going home, it started up fine but the engine seemed to be racing. 2 miles later I couldn't get it over 30 mph (in a 50 mph zone) even though the engine sounded like I was doing 100, so I dribbled over to the side of the road. Let it rest (didn't turn the engine off) then hit the accelerator again; engine reved but the car didn't even move.
Thanks!
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 403
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Ask the garage where you took the vehicle for the codes that were in the PCM. Write them down, and post here.
96 Sport 2.0L - 190,XXX miles
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
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Hi:
There were 5 codes; trans slip 1st gear and the same code for all the other gears, plus a TCC error.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 233
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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That does sound bad. If fluid level is fine, then I guess you really DO have a tranny problem...
Just a plain jane '96 LX V-6 here...
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Where is RoadRunner when you need him? He's the ATX guru in this forum & he will likely be able to give you some sound words of wisdom on these issues.
Heeeelllloooooo! RoadRunner!
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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