2G Is it time to swap in a New Automatic Transmission?

[NerDRaGe]

Hello everyone!
Recently bought a 1997 GST Spyder for 1000 thought was a good deal. Anyhow the car has Automatic Transmission and doesn't work on forward and reverse. Before I pull it off is there any trouble shooting i should do to see what the issue is with the transmission?
I have a transmission i got from my friend that's from a 1996 GST that he totaled and his tranny was working fine but would rather fix the current one if i dont have to be pull it off. If I do the swap what should i do to prep the new one..new transaxil seals..filter..anything else since the other transmission is out from my friends car? Oh my car has 124k and the donor transmission has 119k
Any help and suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[biowolf]

Check the fluid level and look at its color if changing the atf doesn't do anything I would say your reverse gear and possibly first gears are warped

 

[GDNF2ET]

Is it leaking any tranny fluid ? If there's a leak, it might be low on fluid...Let the car warm up, manually shift it in all the gears while sitting still, put it in neutral, pull the parking brake, and check the fluid..Check it at least 3 times to get an accurate reading..
If that doesn't work, unplug the tcu and try to drive the car..A car with no tcu will still have 3rd gear and reverse....This will eliminate a bad tcu as the problem..

 

[NerDRaGe]

Thx Biowolf & GDNF2ET for the advice will check that later today when i get home..crosses my fingers hope its going to be that easyif its a TCU issue if its a warp 1st n reverse time to swap in the donor....

 

[NerDRaGe]

Ok Finally got time today to look into the Transmission and check the Fluid Levels... Looks ok and no signs of leakage. Now to Check the TCU ... Ummmm Where is it located at on my car (Feeling Stupid) and how does it look like? (1997 GST Spyder) ;/

 

[jwilhelm]

It should be behind the radio on the firewall you have to tke off the drivers side kick board

 

[SupremeDsm]

It should be behind the radio on the firewall you have to tke off the drivers side kick board

Dont give bad information. Its not on the firewall. Its directly behind the radio on the same metal support that holds the radio.