Help! My Transmission Just Froze?!!!

[Mist3r Spool]

Ok, today the worst and oddest thing happened to me and I'm screwed. I'm hoping someone can help me out. Today, while leaving work, my car started spuddering like it was badly misfiring and then suddenly the loudest grinding noise happened and the car literally stopped itself, like the gears in the transmission just binded. It felt like something was dragging on the ground, it was horrible. This all happened at around 40mph. I looked under the car and transmission fluid was POURING out. I managed to push it about 1.5 miles (down a busy street, dodging cars) and made it back to my parking lot at work. I don't know what the heck happened, but it's toast. I can free rev the car with no problem and the engine seems fine but I know I must need a new tranny. I could smell it as it broke down on me. I need a tranny ASAP since I live 50 miles from work. If anyone has any suggestions on where to go or just how to fix this thing, I'd really appreciate it.

What a way to spend my 1st anniversary weekend with my wife...fixing my stupid transmission.

 

[sonicnofadz]

Sounds like something pretty serious happened. I doubt you'll be fixing the transmission. If transmission fluid was indeed pouring out, this means that something cracked on the aluminum casing, and you will be replacing the transmission not "fixing". Are you sure the the fluid was transmission fluid, and not engine oil? Look at the transmission, can you see where the fluid is leaking from? Are any cracks visibile?

 

[Mist3r Spool]

Sounds like something pretty serious happened. I doubt you'll be fixing the transmission. If transmission fluid was indeed pouring out, this means that something cracked on the aluminum casing, and you will be replacing the transmission not "fixing". Are you sure the the fluid was transmission fluid, and not engine oil? Look at the transmission, can you see where the fluid is leaking from? Are any cracks visibile?

You're right, I meant REPLACE. It was coming out where the transmission meets the engine, so I'm assuming that it cracked internally and poured out in the small crack between the tranny & the engine, as it's the only possible place fluid can escape. It's definitely transmission fluid. Like I said before, the engine idles and revs perfectly, until it's in gear.

 

[sonicnofadz]

I can't tell you what may of happened to your tranny, but your only option here is to remove the tranny and inspect the damage. Maybe you were low on tranny fluid and your gears overheated? Who knows. Strange that a fwd tranny would die like this, usually it is the AWD trannies you hear about exploding all the time All I can say is, I hope this car isn't your daily ride. Good luck dude.

 

[gsx-box]

Most likely you blew your dif gears through the side of the case. Did you drop your clutch right before it happended? I have done this before with a Dodge Shelby Charger. Pull the trans and wled the case if possible. If not then replace.

 

[Mist3r Spool]

Most likely you blew your dif gears through the side of the case. Did you drop your clutch right before it happended? I have done this before with a Dodge Shelby Charger. Pull the trans and wled the case if possible. If not then replace.

Yeah, It's my daily driver and I just got a new job...basically, I'm jacked. I was concerned because it's been sounding like an angry elephant lately after I did a fluid swap w/some GM Synchromesh but it can't be that because thats good fluid for these cars, right?

 

[98eclipseRS]

Yeah, It's my daily driver and I just got a new job...basically, I'm jacked. I was concerned because it's been sounding like an angry elephant lately after I did a fluid swap w/some GM Synchromesh but it can't be that because thats good fluid for these cars, right?

Correct gm synchromesh works wonderfully in our cars.

 

[Mist3r Spool]

Correct gm synchromesh works wonderfully in our cars.

Cool, but my tranny still gave me the finger. I used the stuff in the AC Delco bottle, that's the same stuff right?


OK, I've been searching around Craig's List and found a BUNCH of 1G trannys, I'm doing a search right now to see what I need to get this working properly on a 2G (if I even can) but could anyone tell me what type of mods/work/parts are required for this?

 

[98eclipseRS]

Cool, but my tranny still gave me the finger. I used the stuff in the AC Delco bottle, that's the same stuff right?


OK, I've been searching around Craig's List and found a BUNCH of 1G trannys, I'm doing a search right now to see what I need to get this working properly on a 2G (if I even can) but could anyone tell me what type of mods/work/parts are required for this?

Nothing is required to bolt up a tranny from a 1g to a 2g. You WILL need all the bolts + mounts from your current tranny for it to work. On a 2g three of the motor mounts are actually tranny mounts where as on a 1g I think its 2 and 2(motor/tranny). Other than that its a bolt on operation.

 

[Ultimatedsm]

Similar problem happend do me, check your CV shafts and check the seal. I was driving along when the bolts that hold the long CV shaft snapped and the shaft started to bind made a ton of noise and when I looked under, a puddle of oil. Other then that only thing that can cause a lock up is your transfercase.

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

Usually it's the input bearing that is the culprit. It goes and takes the seal with it. And if you look, it was going for a long time and usually takes the gear cluster.

It's almost always best to replace the trans. I always replace the input bearing when I put a "new" trans in an Eclipse. That along with the seal. It can be a bit of a struggle to get it off, but it will come off with some diligence.

Good Luck

 

[Mist3r Spool]

Input bearing? Is that a part of the tranny or the engine? Sorry for the newbness, I'm soo upset right now my mind insn't tickin' like usual.

 

[Ultimatedsm]

I think hes talking about the input shaft bearing. You know the long stick that comes out of the transmission where the Throw up bearing I mean throw out bearing retainer and throw out bearings goes.

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

You got it. The input bearing to the transmission is on the input shaft. This is the shaft that your clutch rides on. Failure rate is great compared to other components. However when it goes, it usually creates collateral damage inside the trans.

Good Luck

 

[FORMONTOYA]

What a way to spend my 1st anniversary weekend with my wife...fixing my stupid transmission.

That sucks, but don't feel to bad, My wife and I spent our 3rd anniversary in jail. Damned long hair in a small one horse town.

Jim

 

[Mist3r Spool]

That sucks, but don't feel to bad, My wife and I spent our 3rd anniversary in jail. Damned long hair in a small one horse town.

Jim

That's interesting...I guess my sito isn't soo bad WTF

I've decided to garage the thing and go with another car...sad, but I just don't feel like spending any more time & money on this thing until I get a nice house for my Wife and I.

 

[airmail96]

awe :-(

 

[Ultimatedsm]

Don't worry brother, you will get through it. If it costs a little too much, just get a TRE or shepard tranny. I noticed they are almost the same price as an OEM brand new one.

 

[Mist3r Spool]

Don't worry brother, you will get through it. If it costs a little too much, just get a TRE or shepard tranny. I noticed they are almost the same price as an OEM brand new one.

Yeah, my Wife and I are in the final process of buying a house right now, don't want to spend $1500 on a used one (and then spend $1500 or so in upgrades, sending it to TRE + downtime) and also don't want to spend almost $4K on a nice new one. I went out and bought a '91 240SX (or 180SX in JDM terms) and it only had 42K original miles on it!!! Picked it up for $1250 and this thing is in immaculate condition...didn't believe it until I saw & drove it myself. Three of my buddies are ex-DSMers and went with the Sylvia S13, S14, & S15/SR20DET route and are having a lot of fun drifting plus have extra engines.... I'll be back with a new & improved GS-T this summer...unless I get carried away with this new Nissan stuff...but I doubt it, I still love my Eclipse, no matter what.