Automatic Transmission Woes

[bitcore]

This is more of an advanced mechanic question than anything else.
Last friday I drove my car around like a madman for 3 hours inbetween classes, the transmission was really warm because my plastic shifter cover was very warm to the touch. That afternoon after my 1 hour and 30 min break, I drove 60 miles somewhere on the highway and it felt like it was slipping gears on me... it would go thun thun a couple times and be fine for 20 minutes again. It did this about 3 seperate times and would go thunk thunk 2-4 times each.

I'm curious if this was the torque converter's locking mechanism malfunctioning due to the heat or if my gears are really Fed... I suspect my gears since I have been rather mean to them although the torque converter felt the pain too I really dont know.

I am probably going to flush the transmission to get all the chunks of metal out, if any sometime this week, anyone think this is a good idea or if it's worth it? If I'm lucky, I can maybe get a manual tranny installed for a christmas present so I probably just need to nurse it until then, but who knows.


Any advice?

[TMac325is]

when you first start the car and pull it out of the driveway, and you right when you put it into reverse, is there any type of pause or delay between the time you shifted and when it gets into gear? i test drove a 325i that took a full 3-4 seconds before it got into reverse, and turns out there was serious problems with the tranny because the tran fluid was NEVER changed

the mechanic showed me the fluid there was a hole and it was seeping out black! AHH.. so my suggestion would be to definately look at the transmission fluid

[bitcore]

No there is no delay in shifting, just seems like it was slipping a tooth or two when driving. It could have been the torque converter but I really dont know. I hope it was just heat related since it was pritty damn hot (I can feel the heat coming from the shifter when I touch the rod underneith the gear selector handle, and that has a round plastic thing covering it too)
It hasn't done it since, and I've been going really easy with the gas, although I have taken it to about 115 today. It took about a minute and a half to get that fast since I didn't want to really torque anything but I did hit it and it seemed fine the whole time.

I've never changed my fluid it before and I know someone who will help me. I think I'll do that soon...

[DeefNDorf]

Hmm..I though the trany fluid never needed to be changed..?..

[xsperf]

maybe ur car just had a headache, a few aspirins would do.

[Bear]

If your fluid and filter have over 30,00 miles on them then I would do a fluid and filter change.

[bitcore]

I just read the pelican parts tech article about changing the tranny fluid and it seems like it'd take about a freaking hour or so.
Oh well. As long as I get to be under the car doing it with someone it'll be fun as hell.

[BlackTape]

the auto transmissions on BMW are weak. also dont use the "manual" mode button cause that will fry your tranny

[bitcore]

Originally posted by BlackTape@Nov 8 2004, 11:16 PM
the auto transmissions on BMW are weak. also dont use the "manual" mode button cause that will fry your tranny

[snapback]227109[/snapback]

Why the s**t did they put a manual button on there anyways? I can see if you get stuck but having an open differential in the back as stuck kinda renders it pointless anyways...

Damnit I want a 6 speed with a nice tight LSD.