Transmission Grind

[NYGarageQueen]

Okay so I went out to 7-11 today, and on my way back, (short 5 minute trip, less then a mile) I had to slow down for a bus that was letting kids out. While I was decelerating, I felt a grind and a vibration. It went away and I drove off.

On my way to class, at low RPM keeping with traffic around 30 MPH I felt and heard it again several times. I took the car out of OD and still had the same issue. Sooo I was already basically at class (again less then a 10 minute drive, maybe 2 miles) got there and parked. After class, when the car cooled down, I drove home and nothing.

A side note to all of this is I am having trouble getting into reverse. It takes about 5 seconds, sometimes longer for the whole car (including reverse lights and my "backup" camera) to engage into reverse.

I am thinking that the shifting linkage needs to be adjusted, could this be the issue with the grinding as well? This seems to only happen when the car is fully warmed up.

I did check the tranny fluid, all is fine, used Mercon V (sp?) and it does not smell burnt, nor do I have any leaks.

What do you guys think?

Thanks! :burnout:

[RF Overlord]

That's the bad part about troubleshooting on the interweb...you say "a grind and a vibration"...that could be SO many things.

Impending transmission doom...bad u-joint(s)...parking brake disintegrating (if you know how it's put together, you'll know why this is a possibility)...

[NYGarageQueen]

Yea it is pretty hard to diagnosis that's the problem. The u-joints were replace a couple of years ago and the e-brake has been bad for years, it is something to check.

It is hard to describe the feel of it, but the best I can say is it felt like I ran over something at first.

Should I drop the pan to check for any metal shavings or chunks of metal?

[RF Overlord]

If you have metal shavings or chunks of metal in the pan, your transmission is already croaked. Best to have someone with drivetrain experience ride with you and let them hear/feel it.

[NYGarageQueen]

I have a buddy who does transmissions I am going to have him take a look. I still do want drop the pan though and change the fluid, check for anything. Also do the alignment of the shifting linkage as well.

[babbage]

I still do want drop the pan though and change the fluid


Good idea, clean the magnet too.

[NYGarageQueen]

Will do!

Add that to the list of stuff I have to do this weekend including a u-joint on my 4x4, this will be fun.

[NYGarageQueen]

Dropped the pan today. Fluid looked clean, not burnt. I cleaned the magnet, very small amount of metal shavings on it. Replaced the filter as well. With it all being done, took it for a ride around the block. Maybe the combo of dropping the pan and also doing the alignment of the linkage helped, the tranny seemed better, was smoother. Will have to find out when I take her for a test drive when she is warmed up.

Got my tranny temp gauge in as well.