Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting dead auto tranny (?) 98 contour 2.0

This post is for a friend with a 98 contour. ~150k miles. Has been having trouble lately slipping out of gear, including reverse. Fluid recently flushed and is still red and not burnt to the best of knowledge. Just today, it pretty much died. Reverse, drive, all pretty much won't engage at all. Currently in a laundromat parking lot. With car off, fluid reads beyond high in dipstick. On starting car, still reading high (level terrain). Was normal levels earlier today before it died.

Any ideas? Seek junkyard for pulled tranny? How much estimate for labor for garage mechanic to replace?

Also, on car-part.com, it lists several different specs for the 2.0 AT for the 98 year. Are they the same tranny and any will pair up or will need specific one?

Thanks for any input!

This is in Ithaca, NY if anyone can help locally

edit: Also, before it completely stopped engaging, the car made a whining sound on higher revs >2k rpm that sounded almost like an alternator going out but it was coming from the tranny area.

Sounds like the fluid drained out of your torque converter and thats why the fluid was very high. Also, when you check the fluid the car should be running and at operating tempature.

Right, I understand that. A friend mentioned that if you check it when it's off, it should read high, but when you turn the car on, it should go down to normal since the tranny pump is drawing in fluid but that if it stays the same level that it means it's not pulling it in, which is what it looks like.

It also sounds like the fluid pump doesnt work anymore and the trans burned up in the process. I would call some local trans shop (not ammoco or cottmans) to see how much it would cost to get that rebuilt. If you get one from a junkyard, it most likely will happen again.

Hmm, how easy would the tranny pump be to replace? Maybe I'd give that a shot first and see if there's any life left to the tranny, although I doubt it given the way it's behaving now. But I guess it's a start.

Replacement of the pump means the tranny has to be pulled.

Really, you're looking at a rebuild.

Steve

I agree. If fluid does not drop when car is running, pump is shot or you had pump bushing/gasket blowout. It is rebuild time.

Bob

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