Transmission stopped working

[DadVibe]

About a week ago I got a PO741 code. Bad shift solenoid I guess. I checked the fluid (down about a quart) filled it and it ran fine. Then I was sitting at a light waiting to turn left and the car would not go anywhere. No reverse or forward gears. Fluid level is fine and no leaks. I did smell atf. Got it towed home and now I'm torn between cutting my losses or fixing. New (used) trans is around $4-600. I can do the swap. Car has 209k on it. Has anyone ever had this experience before? What would y'all suggest? Thanks

[joatmon]

That suck.

I don't remember anyone having an auto tranny just up and die. A couple of blown cv joints though.

There will come a time where a car isn't worth it to fix, or is so unreliable you can't trust it anymore. I don't know what else might be an issue in your Vibe (still the 08?) but if the tranny is the only problem, and you can fix it for $600, then I'd say go for it. You can't really find another car worth owning for that little.

[zbyers]

Agreed with Joatmon. If the transmission is the only issue you have, spending the little to swap it is worthwhile. But if it is rusty and needs other works, probably worth cutting your loses.

We have a 2006 AWD with 225k miles on it. I'm not exactly sure what the issue is, but it was ran dry of trans fluid (small leak, wasn't checked). It was driven about 100 miles this way, and now it doesn't go forward without revving up to like 4000rpm first. Reverse is fine, which is typical when having trans issues. We topped off the fluid and fixed the leak, but it still doesn't seem right. Could have just cooked the torque converter, but with the rust the vehicle has, it will be getting parted out.