First vibe tranny scare

[vibe_guy]

I have been lucky and and only had one problem with a tranny it was a sensor I changed it and that was that. So this could all be nothing.First off this car is a repo. It's an 05 pretty much base model, has the1.8 lower compression motor, don't know what else to say that make a difference about the tranny. I did carfax checked everything out drove it the whole thing I know the motor is flat out awesome condition. I'm not sure about transmissions had a family member tell me what they thought about the fluid. it's got 71,xxx miles it was a little dark but still red looking they thought it looked fine for the miles it didn't smell new but they didn't think it smelled burnt either. I bought it.Don't drive it much we're saving it for trips our other two cars run fine but we really don't trust them and they're paid for. Went to walmart all the sudden at low speeds it was reving up to about 2 then it would catch ( it was slipping some) got nervous drove it home and parked it nothing wrong on the way home no slipping of any kind. Checked the fluid no red of any kind in the fluid. We're almost to 72,xxx not quite.Before this day at walmart I noticed mainly down hills when I let off the gas it idles down as it should then for a split second drops to 1k then back to normal. Is that normal? Also every now and again shifting into second seems kind rough. sometimes smooth sometimes rough sometime in between. Do I just need to change the fluid?(I'm so hoping so.) If so where do you guys get the pan gasket? Auto Zone and O' Reilly's doesn't have it they say dealer only. My biggest concern is that from what I have been told about tranny fluid when it's dark the clutch packs are going or gone or something but what ever it's bad. Any help would be great!

[northvibe]

welcome!check this out, this is how I did my tranny oil changehttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=28967I think the gasket is liquid and the filter inside is just metal so it can be cleaned and used again.

[tribalman]

i would recommend trying to change the fluid or at least checking it and adding more if it needs it. as for when you idle and the rpms drop then raise up, are you at about 25mph, 15mph, or other shift points? that might be the reason. it's idling down, then shifting down to a lower gear when the speed drops too. it does sound like it's shifting hard, i have the same problem when my fluid drops down a bit too much. i just add more and it starts shifting fine again.

[vibe_guy]

The fluid is full and there's no leaking. as far as rpm it's at any speed directly after I let off this gas no brakes applied. The second it idles down while coasting I guess I should say is when that happens. It doesn't down shift because then the rpm would raise quite a bit and you'd feel the motor slowing you down. It's as if I've left off the gas coasted a sec put it in neutral then back into drive.thanks for the link to the fluid change. It's going to take me a few days to get to it but I'll let you know if there's any change after.

[Petrucci914]

Welcome to the wonders that is this junky transmission.

[vibe_guy]

On many post I'm getting confused. People talk about working on many things and I can't tell when they say "oil pan" are they talking about the oil pan or the pan on the tranny. I'm not trying to be nit picking but I need to know if I need a new gasket or that silicone gasket stuff. Cause if I need a new gasket and I use the silicone gasket stuff it might work for a while and it might work forever. There are also places that's not to be used, and on somethings it would be like you go buy new fluid walk out of the store and just pour it on the ground. I'm just wanting to make sure cause I'm not wanting to be wrong about this.

[ToolGuy]

I would not use silicon from a tube for the pan gasket!The pan gasket is a material gasket it may be rubber, I forget but I bought mine from the dealer. I will only use what is supposed to be on the car. No glues or adhesives, or tube wonders, the original gasket is the way to go! Torqued to specs of course. Welcome to the site! I too would start with a fluid change by dropping the pan. Clean the filter screen and magnets too. This is the only way to fly and then you know where you are starting from. If that does not fix it and the condition of the fluid is not all burnt black and smells bad, then it may be an electronic issue.

[vibe_guy]

Hey northvibe!newcelica's post you quted herehttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=28967was he talking about a celia or a vibe? I know he say's that is the way it is on most vehicals. because I read your post quoting him and then I went and looked at the tranny. The only two lines at the top I see coming out of the tranny run into the radiator. So if I removed those coolant would come out not tranny fluid. So do I have the wrong lines or is this tranny not like most tranny's? I was really hoping somebody had a trick so I could do a flush not just a drain and fill. Has anyone really done a flush or do you really have to have that tool to flush it with?

[vibe_guy]

this is what my fluid looks like. I wiped it off with my fingers and rubbed it around. I felt some grit but nothing that really worried me (unless I should be) because clutches wear auto or manual so I'm thinking there should be some grit of some kind right? I'll be changing the fluid tomorrow this is just the first chance I've had to even look at it.

Attached files