hold off transmission death

[Kowalski]

i have a 91 n/a l wagon with 4eat and my transmission is starting to die, but i need it to last me until winter so i can dick around in the snow. i've heard of a lot of different ways to extend a transmissions life under hard use... some people have told me to run it with a bottle of brake fluid mixed in, or drain all the fluid change the filter and run it on straight hydraulic fluid, or even dumping some seafoam in it, running it for a few miles, and changing it. will any of these methods work and do any of you guys have any of your own tricks?'

some of the problems i've been having is a loud pop coming from somewhere in the front of the car if accelerating from a stop in first, happening maybe once every 2 days, in 1st and second gear feeling little jolts as if somethings slipping or skipping a tooth or something...

and for my transmission related habits- i drive in manual mode pretty much all the time unless im smoking a cigarette or trying to save gas, and i do occasionally make the trans shift on its own at wot & redline. occasional gravel doughnuts and offroading also

[ericem]

What is wrong with D? shifting 1-3 manually isn't even responsive. Maybe its the torque converter?? Is the car still responsive AWD wise? Or is it FWD. Try changing the transmission fluid its very easy and works wonders, also make sure there is enough transmission fluid!! Takes dextron 3.

[Kowalski]

well, i like having a little more control, and with the manual button pressed the rear is engaged in 2nd and 3rd, and taking turns at ~3.5k in 2nd & WOT with the rear engaged is pretty damn fun..

also- the awd seems to be on its way out too... it works alright most of the time, except for some torque bind sometimes and it isnt as predictable or quick in engaging the rear wheels as i'd like.

1st in manual mode it doesn't seem to lock at all, i spun the fronts a few times accidentally coming from stoplights after some rain... one time i just let it do its thing and the rear didn't kick in at all, the fronts just spun untill the trans computer said wtf and put it in 2nd

[ericem]

Ya definitely try changing the fluid. To flush it out well just drain fluid. Refill. Till you see full cold on the dipstick, then turn on the car go through all gears(meaning just shift through them in your driveway). get out while the engine is still running check the dip stick refill untill its on the full on the cold side may look full though as the dip stick will pickup fluid from the side so letting hte car sit after filling makes it more acurate. Try it then see if it makes any difference.

Some like to flush it out by doing what I said but just by filling it shifting through all the gears stopped then draining again, and repeating 2 more times. No need to mess with the filter, or get a flush.

I for fact would just change the fluid once, then put some transmission seafoam in, drive till it feels perfect, then drain the fluid again.

[BXSS]

If the Tranny oil is clean then the above may help.

If your tranny fluid is very dirty - "black" changing it may make things worse as the dirty fluid has particles in it that help the clutches "grab".

Lucas Tranny treatment helps slipping if that is your problem.

(If Fluid is black just add a Lucas to your tranny, If not then you can change the fluid & add a Lucas @ that time)

[icrman]

The popping could be some bad CV joints.
If an automatic transmission is biting the dust, its usually a slipping while accelerating type of deal, or just not going into gear, or a constant noise etc. Anytime there is popping noises especially when turning it is usually the CV shafts.

[Kowalski]

well it does slip when coming from a stop sometimes if i forget to not beat the car, kinda jerks forward 3-4 times then rolls along as normal. the loud pop happens whenever i forget and power through a corner, usually a sharp uphill turn. when it happens it feels like the car hesitates for a second after the pop or it might just be me freaking out. i always kinda thought that might be my diff, but cv does make a lot of sense now that i think about it. with awd, if i lose a cv will the car still move? any way to make it move?

also: the trans slipping gets a hell of a lot worse on cold mornings, dunno what that signifies

[ericem]

Sticking valves?