Transmission problems need HELP

[stealth0524]

I own an automatic 91 Dodge Stealth R/T. My overdrive switch stop working a little while ago. When the car is in reverse it moves fine but as soon as I put the car in drive it doesn't move sometimes. When I'm driving it feels like the gears are slipping. I don't know if I should get the transmiision rebuilt or drop in a new rebuilt transmission. I have no idea which ones going to cost more and where I could purchase a rebuilt transmission. Any information anyone can give me will be a greaqt help. THANKS

[Tool Man]

Ok, silly questions first. Have you checked the fluid?

[DiamondStealth]

Your car sounds exactly like what mine is doing almost (91 Stealth RT). My overdrive switch also went out recently (don't know if it is related or not) and the car runs high RPMs and in reverse it still sounds ok, but in Drive it has to work harder and blows white smoke somtimes. In Drive I can sometimes push on the pedal and the engine will make noise, but the wheels won't turn or move at all. My car is going in to Mistu tomorrow morning (Thurs) if you want I will post what they say incase it might help you since they sound like they are having similar probs.

[DiamondStealth]

Got in from Mitsu today and they said it can be 4 things. One is the overdrive switch is gone bad and second is the TCM can be bad and I forget the other 2. In my case it was the TCM.

[JRC]

Looks like you found the problem. I just read this now and don't know much about the internals of the ATX trannies, but I was going to suggest the Transmission Control Module. That I know about and have experienced similar problems in a SL I had on the lot when I had my car business.
On rebuilts, I do know Tallahassee Mitsu has them and I believe they are around $1,200 if you ever do need a rebuilt.

[steve]

I should go pull the TCU in the Stealth and check it. From what I've read the caps go bad on these too. If that's the case I might start repairing them along with the ECU's I do now.

Did you wind up getting a new one? I'd be interested in seeing how it failed if you got to keep the bad one.

Steve

[DiamondStealth]

I don't have the money to replace it right now so the car has to sit for a little while. They recommended that it not be driven while it was having problems, bec it could cause tranny probs if it went on too long. For a new one at Mitsu in Springfield, IL, it is a little over $500. $755.oo for part and install together. I was going to check www.foreignecurepair.com first though since I got my ECU/ECM from them and it was cheaper and came with a 1 1/2 yr warentee.

[steve]

For a new one at Mitsu in Springfield, IL, it is a little over $500. $755.oo for part and install together.They're going to charge you $255 just to replace it? There must be some other stuff included like a filter and fluid change because it couldn't take more than 15 mins to swap the TCU out.

Steve

[JRC]

Wow, that's an unheard of price for a new automatic tranny. That sounds closer to a replacement operating one from a junk yard. You sure you were quoted new? Or was that just for the TCM?

[stealth0524]

I took the car to a Transmission shop today. He said that the gears are slippng and that I need to get the tranny rebuilt. He said it's going to cost me anywhere from $1000 to $1500. Or maybe even more. Is this price right for a tranny rebuild or is he trying to rip me off. I don't know what to do he said i should get rid of it but I love my car.Is there anything else I can do.

[DiamondStealth]

I love my car and wouldn't get rid of it either. I would ask another tranny shop to look at it, but don't tell them you have taken it somewhere else or what they said it was, that way you can see if they both say it is the same thing. I don't know about the price, I would imagine that it is correct, but I have never looked into it.

The +$500.00 was just for the TCM. The parts from Mitsu will break me along with the $80 an hr they charge to look and work on it. Foreign Auto told me today that if I send them my old one they can rebuild it and get it back to me within a day or two for $200.00 and it would have a 1 1/2 yr warentee. Does the TCM have to be reset when it is new or reinstalled? Or do you just plug it in and drive off?

[steve]

I took the car to a Transmission shop today. He said that the gears are slippng and that I need to get the tranny rebuilt. He said it's going to cost me anywhere from $1000 to $1500. Or maybe even more. Is this price right for a tranny rebuild or is he trying to rip me off.
If your feeling adventurous you can rebuild it yourself. I believe the ATX is pretty much the same trans as in the AT DSMs. Take a look at the AT section on http://www.plymouthlaser.com/ and see if you think your up to it.

IPT in NJ sells parts and is an expert on our ATX. http://www.importperformancetrans.com/mitsubishiauto.shtml

[JRC]

I took the car to a Transmission shop today. He said that the gears are slippng and that I need to get the tranny rebuilt. He said it's going to cost me anywhere from $1000 to $1500. Or maybe even more. Is this price right for a tranny rebuild or is he trying to rip me off. I don't know what to do he said i should get rid of it but I love my car.Is there anything else I can do.


I would go with the people that say it's the TCM. If the gears were slipping, you would hear noise. What is happening is in the hydraulics (torque converter) to cause a slip and the hydraulic valves are controlled by the TCM. The gears themselves rarely slip, so yes I believe he is bsing you to make some money.

[steve]

Foreign Auto told me today that if I send them my old one they can rebuild it and get it back to me within a day or two for $200.00 and it would have a 1 1/2 yr warentee. Does the TCM have to be reset when it is new or reinstalled? Or do you just plug it in and drive off?
The TCU will be reset simply because it's been powered off. $200 for potentially changing the caps seems like a good deal for them. Offering a 18 month coverage is pretty much no risk. If you do a good job it should last as long as it did the first time.
Do yourself a favor and pull the TCU, open it up and check to see if the caps leaked, if they did you can get it fixed for less than $200.

Steve