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YACT: What's wrong with my car?

J

JonTheBaller

Golden Member
I have a 98 Ford Contour (automatic transmission). I was driving today and all of a sudden I realized that my car was revving hard in drive, and I was losing speed. I shifted to 2 and drove to a parking lot to try to figure out what was wrong. A couple things I noticed... 1) the shifter felt a bit loose, and the button on the shifter gave no resistance when I pushed it and 2) when my car was in gas and I put on the gas from standing, the engine would just rev and the car wouldn't move. Later on I tried out going from high revs in 2 and changing to drive, and it seemed that I was getting better speed. I don't know much about cars, but maybe my 1st gear is broken? Any idea what is going on? Thanks!
 
Its a Ford and your tranny broke😛 Ok, really, I know nothing since I know squat about auto trannys except that I don't like 'em.
 
Originally posted by: johnnytightlips
I'm taking it into the shop tomorrow... is this going to be real expensive and will I be without my car for a while?
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Most likely. Tranny rebuilds aren't generally cheap. You might be able to find more reliable transportation for as much as it would cost for a new or rebuilt automatic transmission.

As for how long your car will be out.. Probably depends on how busy the place you took it to is. Probably a couple of days.
 
Originally posted by: johnnytightlips
yes, honda or toyota next time for me
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that sucks man 🙁 yeah, honda is gonna be my next choice as well... either honda or nissan (and maybe Subaru)....

i hope it doesnt cost you too much to get it fixed.
 
Originally posted by: johnnytightlips
yes, honda or toyota next time for me
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Yeah, if this thing is going to cost more than $1k, forget it. You can get an early 90's Honda/Toyota for that much.
 
If the whole tranny is dead look to pay $1k-2k depending upon which route you take (rebuilt or new or salvage or whatever). Dead trannies suck. Goodluck.

Also in the future for what it's worth might I recommend a standard transmission? Much cheaper to replace if they go out on you, and one of the big reasons I like them (in addition to the superior power and lower cost of initial purchase).
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
If the whole tranny is dead look to pay $1k-2k depending upon which route you take (rebuilt or new or salvage or whatever). Dead trannies suck. Goodluck.

Also in the future for what it's worth might I recommend a standard transmission? Much cheaper to replace if they go out on you, and one of the big reasons I like them (in addition to the superior power and lower cost of initial purchase).
Click to expand...

Actually, I was just thinking about that. In most cases, there are a lot more auto trannys available for most cars since auto outsell manuals by a wide margin. So really, for replacement, the auto market is more saturated me thinks. Then, who am I to talk since I have an extra manual tranny😛
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
If the whole tranny is dead look to pay $1k-2k depending upon which route you take (rebuilt or new or salvage or whatever). Dead trannies suck. Goodluck.

Also in the future for what it's worth might I recommend a standard transmission? Much cheaper to replace if they go out on you, and one of the big reasons I like them (in addition to the superior power and lower cost of initial purchase).
Click to expand...

skoorb, what do you mean by suggesting standard transmission? do you mean manual? do manuals have less tendency to fail?
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: Skoorb
If the whole tranny is dead look to pay $1k-2k depending upon which route you take (rebuilt or new or salvage or whatever). Dead trannies suck. Goodluck.

Also in the future for what it's worth might I recommend a standard transmission? Much cheaper to replace if they go out on you, and one of the big reasons I like them (in addition to the superior power and lower cost of initial purchase).
Click to expand...

Actually, I was just thinking about that. In most cases, there are a lot more auto trannys available for most cars since auto outsell manuals by a wide margin. So really, for replacement, the auto market is more saturated me thinks. Then, who am I to talk since I have an extra manual tranny😛
Click to expand...
But you have to wonder - if most cars are autos, it also means a lot more people are going to need to buy the autos. As long as the ratio is fairly consistent and doesn't fluctuate hugely there is no reason I can think of that autos would be cheaper, simply because they are more numerous.

 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: Skoorb
If the whole tranny is dead look to pay $1k-2k depending upon which route you take (rebuilt or new or salvage or whatever). Dead trannies suck. Goodluck.

Also in the future for what it's worth might I recommend a standard transmission? Much cheaper to replace if they go out on you, and one of the big reasons I like them (in addition to the superior power and lower cost of initial purchase).
Click to expand...

Actually, I was just thinking about that. In most cases, there are a lot more auto trannys available for most cars since auto outsell manuals by a wide margin. So really, for replacement, the auto market is more saturated me thinks. Then, who am I to talk since I have an extra manual tranny😛
Click to expand...
But you have to wonder - if most cars are autos, it also means a lot more people are going to need to buy the autos. As long as the ratio is fairly consistent and doesn't fluctuate hugely there is no reason I can think of that autos would be cheaper, simply because they are more numerous.
Click to expand...

Good point. However, I don't think auto trannys really die as often as it seems. I mean, if you take care of them they go a long time. And then most auto trannys are rebuilt, not replaced IMHO. So then you would have more trannys available from wrecked cars and what not.
 
Originally posted by: OS
screw you guys, I like my slick new 5 speed auto. 😛
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Nobody said honda trannys were unreliable. Just change the fluid like the manual says. I wonder if they finally put filter in them.
 
Originally posted by: Xiety
Originally posted by: Skoorb
If the whole tranny is dead look to pay $1k-2k depending upon which route you take (rebuilt or new or salvage or whatever). Dead trannies suck. Goodluck.

Also in the future for what it's worth might I recommend a standard transmission? Much cheaper to replace if they go out on you, and one of the big reasons I like them (in addition to the superior power and lower cost of initial purchase).
Click to expand...

skoorb, what do you mean by suggesting standard transmission? do you mean manual? do manuals have less tendency to fail?
Click to expand...

Generally manuals fail less often than automatics. There's so many more parts in an automatic transmission that there's just more things to go wrong. There's tons of vavles and check balls and now electronics.
 
Despite all the Ford bashing, lets cover the basics.

1) Did you check your fluid level?
2) Does the transmission shift into reverse?
3) Does the transmission slips on all gears or just one?
 
Btw, looking back, I don't think it is a transmission failure because gears 1 and 2 obviously work, and it seems that 3 and higher work at times. I think something is loose that is linking the shifter with the transmission.
 
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