Crankwalk(?) and A/T Transmission Issues VIDEO INSIDE!

['93Talon]

Ok guys, here is the story on my new (free) project car. The car has around 135K miles on it and was sitting for about 4 years before getting it started yesterday and driving it home.

At idle, it sounds like it has the classic dsm lifter tick, or possibly even crankwalk. Once the car is revved, the sound virtually goes away. The motor revs smoothly and seems to make the correct power. Before the next issue arose, it even drove decently.

Now, about a mile from my apt, the transmission began to act like it was in neutral...and this is an automatic. At first, it was going in and out of gear enough that I could drive it under light throttle. Then, it wouldnt stay in gear at all, forward, or reverse. Now, when I cut the car off and back on, I have a couple seconds where the car will drive before it slips right out of gear again. I am sure that if I went out now, I would not be able to get it to move, it would just free rev.

From what I understand, before it was parked, a ball joint popped out, and put the car in a field. In the process, the transmission housing was cracked and damaged. The PO (my gf/her grandfather) replaced the tranny with a used one, that was said to be good. Looking at the marking, it looks like it was pulled from a scrap yard of some kind, so the mileage on this tranny is unknown.

From doing a little reading, it would seem that the issue could be a clogged tranny filter, but it also looks like if that is the issue, the tranny could be junk if the pump went bad or something. There are accessory wires running all through this car...is there a chance a TCU or solenoid could be the issue? If so, what is the correct way to figure this out? What should I be looking for either way?

I would like to also note, that around the same time as the trans started acting up, the belt for the power steering got damaged and came off. Not sure if it is related, but yeah.

I do plan to drop both pans and take a look at the condition of things, since this car isnt driving anywhere on its own right now.

Here is the video of the car and the sounds I am experiencing right now.

Sounds of a Broken Ecplipse - YouTube

 

[Snot Rocket]

WOW!! That don't sound good at all.
It sounds like maybe the torque converter bolts are not tight. Or maybe not even put in at all. Check the trans fluid level on level ground running in neutral.
I also noticed the EGR valve is missing. Is it plugged off or just venting out?

 

['93Talon]

WOW!! That don't sound good at all.
It sounds like maybe the torque converter bolts are not tight. Or maybe not even put in at all. Check the trans fluid level on level ground running in neutral.
I also noticed the EGR valve is missing. Is it plugged off or just venting out?

There is enough fluid in there, and it is bright red. Am I supposed to be comparing the fluid level from park, to neutral or something? And the EGR valve is venting open right now...

That some bad lifter tick did you happen to change the oil in this car that was sitting for four years jw

Not yet, but I will after I drop the pan to look for any damage. If it looks ok, I will put fresh oil/filter in, and also add some lucas oil stabilizer.

 

[DSM1G90]

420A's are different that 4G63's .. you could have a lifter that died and the rocker follower has ate some of the lobe off the cam-Dodge motors are known for that. Thing don't quit ticking is when you pop off the cover and see what is going on underneath.

Flex plate that attaches the torque converter to the crank is prob kaput, or it wasn't installed correctly...(auto's having crankwalk when there is no
clutch..???)

If it was slipping that bad, you were prob 3 qts low of fluid in the tranny.

We use ATF+4 fluids .. no Dextron..but doe the check with motor idle and in NEUTRAL with park brake engages on level surface.

 

[Cmax907]

Sounds like a spun rod bearing or something had that issue with my 4g63
when you rev engine does noise get louder?

 

[Spanky_DSM]

Anyone know what ATF to use on a 95tsi AWD?
4??

 

[delta448]

Crankwalk... no.
Even less likely given that it's an auto 420a, and with the rarity of actual confirmed CW cases on 4G63 DSMs that aren't just some DSM hater's hype.

Little or no trans fluid, possibly.
Bad torque converter, possibly.

I can't say exactly what it is, but I'm fairly confident it's not the engine. Check the fluid.

 

[DSM1G90]

Anyone know what ATF to use on a 95tsi AWD?
4??

Any ATF+4, SPII, or even AMSOIL Universal Transmission Fluid.

Just no DEXTRON ... put that stuff in and plan on a new tranny real quick.

 

[BogusSVO]

Well.. after sitting for 4 years it can be about anything.

I had a Thunderbird that did about the same thing, afyer it sat for years.

I got it fired up, drove it around the block a few times, parked it for about an hour or so, went to move it, backed up, then put it in drive... no go.

I dropped the trans pan and found chunks of the clutch pack linings in the pan.
I talked to a trusted trans man, he told me there was moisture in the fluid that turned to steam, that in turn melted the glue on the clutch packs, so they just fell off when the pressure was released.

 

[Turbotsiawd]

There is enough fluid in there, and it is bright red. Am I supposed to be comparing the fluid level from park, to neutral or something? And the EGR valve is venting open right now...



Not yet, but I will after I drop the pan to look for any damage. If it looks ok, I will put fresh oil/filter in, and also add some lucas oil stabilizer.

I guess I'm just a little ####y with oil but I cringed when you said that nut that's just me . How far did you drive it.
And did you check the fluid level yet?