got the car back today

[89 Firebird]

Plus a bill for $269.79. I also had the oil changed and got a new wiper blade. As for what they did for the sputtering and I'm quoting from the bill "Diag circuit test found no stored trouble codes. ECM data check found slow oxygen sensor response and high idle air control counts. Vehicle runs better after reaching normal operating temp. Clean induction system with top engine cleaner. Test drive several times after procedure, operation normal data readings normal."
They also recommended once we make sure this problem is corrected the following service: trans fluid is discolored and smells burnt@ $149.00 plus tax, and slight play in idler arm@ $134,00 plus tax. I guess labor is not included in this. Is it worth it to put this much more money into this car? They also said allot of the problems come from non use. I need to use it more, but since I've been teaching my son to drive we've been using his car most of the time ( don't have the courage to let him drive mine). Do I keep it or continue putting money into it? Is the transmission job and the idle arm a great deal of labor?

[tkoforpresident]

Re: got the car back today

pretty sure you can change the tranny fluid yourself.

[Rob Bell]

Re: got the car back today

If the trans fluid is so bad it's smelling burnt, you may want to totally flush it out. However, if the trans has a ton of miles on it and has never had a fluid change, doing anything may be asking for trouble.

[89 Firebird]

Re: got the car back today

There's only 42,000 original miles on the car and I would have to go back and look at all the work that's ever been done on the car to see if it was ever changed before. I just don't remember.

[whitdog54]

Re: got the car back today

tranny fluid that bad with 42k? seems odd

[tkoforpresident]

Re: got the car back today

if it's original fluid or his tranny is on the way out maybe it isn't odd.

[Rob Bell]

Re: got the car back today

At 42K I'd change it. Mine had 40K when I changed it and it looked like new.... but that doesn't mean it wasn't degraded, because it certainly does degrade, even though it looks and smells perfectly fine.

[jola]

Re: got the car back today

$150 for a transmission FLUSH is not unreasonable. I was quoted anywhere from $90 to $150 for flushes. If they are just dropping the pan and draining the fluid they are ripping you off.

I changed the fluid on my 95 with a 4L60e at 130,000 miles and it shifts stronger than before, though some say there is risk involved when you change it that high. You drop the pan ( a huge pain because there is no drain plug), let it drain, scrape the gasket, then throw a new gasket and filter on. You will get about half the fluid out this way. When I did it the filter seal was a pain to get out and if it looks fine on yours I would just leave it in.

[89 Firebird]

Re: got the car back today

Had the car out today, ran like a charm. Checked with the garage about the $149.00 charge for the transmission cleaning and it includes labor, a new gasket, something else I can't remember and new fluid so I guess the fee is OK. Now if it can run like this all the time I will be happy.

[cam98aro]

Re: got the car back today

Had the car out today, ran like a charm. Checked with the garage about the $149.00 charge for the transmission cleaning and it includes labor, a new gasket, something else I can't remember and new fluid so I guess the fee is OK. Now if it can run like this all the time I will be happy.

you could do that yourself for about $25

[96firebird311]

Re: got the car back today

I changed my own tranny fluid. Easy. Half a click more difficult than an oil change. I had a lift though...

[tkoforpresident]

Re: got the car back today

I changed my own tranny fluid. Easy. Half a click more difficult than an oil change. I had a lift though...

you had a LIFT... exactly.


if you do it like i did with the car on stands only raised just far enough to crawl under there you'll have a whale of a time dropping the pan without pooring tranny fluid all over your body and hair.

those were fun times. :banana:

[89 Firebird]

Re: got the car back today

I really don't think I could do something like this myself. Not into mechanics at all, neither is anyone else in the family. So I guess I'm stuck with the bills.
Thanks for all the info.

[cam98aro]

Re: got the car back today

you had a LIFT... exactly.


if you do it like i did with the car on stands only raised just far enough to crawl under there you'll have a whale of a time dropping the pan without pooring tranny fluid all over your body and hair.

those were fun times. :banana:

its not that bad

i have done it many times.. and yes it sucks having no room and having the pan full of fluid fall on the ground because you couldnt hold it good enough

try removing the transmission and changing the clutch in that SAME amount of space

i had to hold the car up with a jack just to slide the transmission out, i thought my car was going to flip over because it was tilted so much

[Rob Bell]

Re: got the car back today

you had a LIFT... exactly.


if you do it like i did with the car on stands only raised just far enough to crawl under there you'll have a whale of a time dropping the pan without pooring tranny fluid all over your body and hair.

those were fun times. :banana:

LOL yeah I have taken several baths in transmission fluid.