97 gsx tranny toast....or is it?

[68442]

Bought my car knowing the tranny was gone. Guy said it didn't move at all, never had it looked at. When I got it home I almost got a hernia pushing it off the transport. Then the driveway was the next challenge. I decided to give it a try and start it and throw it in gear. Put it in low/1st and it actually moved into the garage. SO, I guess I should try a fluid and filter change before I buy a new transmission?

[Mikael SS]

check the fluid level and see how it drives. if it drives ok do a flush. a fluid flush will make an improvement in an auto trans, but i've never had one that was slipping or not shifting get fixed from a flush. had about a dozen go bad

[68442]

I drained the fluid and took off the pan. The fluid is pretty burned, really brown. Someone at some time stuck magnets into the pan, so I guess those caught all the metal. There wasn't a whole lot like I was expecting.

Its going to be a pain to change the tranny and also find one. Maybe I should buy some cheap atf and 2 filters, do a change, drive it and change again.

[eclipsh]

Be sure to check the T-case seal and oil level while you are under there. If that locks up it can seem like the transmission is bad. It happened to me. Soon as the car rolled backwards it freed up and could roll again.