Hey all, Im buying a 2000 Olds Intrigue tomorrow for cheap because the dealer says it might need a new transmission. The symptoms are under hard acceleration it will revv up to about 4000 RPM's before shifting, but under normal operation it shifts fine. I pulled the dipstick and the transmission fluid was burnt and brown, of course needing a change. My question is, will a complete flush of the system fix it? TIA!
Could this car just need a fluid change?
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A complete flush may improve the symptoms but I would not expect a miracle.
It may need a complete rebuild or replacement but a fluid change will not hurt. Be prepared after the fluid change a "expert" mechanic to say that the fluid change caused the failure.
It may need a complete rebuild or replacement but a fluid change will not hurt. Be prepared after the fluid change a "expert" mechanic to say that the fluid change caused the failure.
sounds like the trans in my old, 87 olds 98. if i stood on it off the line (as a 19 yr old will) it would stay in "1st" too long, ie: wouldn't upshift unless i let off slightly. i did 1 dealer "fluid exchange" not a flush IIRC, and it did bupkis for the shift issue.
not sure what exactly it was, as a few months later the drive band snapped, and i had to have the trans rebuilt.(just a few months after the timing belt breaking leading to a reman engine...)
not sure what exactly it was, as a few months later the drive band snapped, and i had to have the trans rebuilt.(just a few months after the timing belt breaking leading to a reman engine...)
I once did the same thing with buying a cheap Taurus. In my case it turned out the pan was full of shavings and the trans grenaded soon after the fluid change.
Drop the pan and see if there is just dust or shavings. If it is just dust I would change the fluid and put in a quart of Lubegard Red (amazon sells it). If it is lots of metal shavings then I think the end is near.
Drop the pan and see if there is just dust or shavings. If it is just dust I would change the fluid and put in a quart of Lubegard Red (amazon sells it). If it is lots of metal shavings then I think the end is near.
How hard is "hard acceleration?" The trans is SUPPOSED to shift at higher rpms under hard acceleration.
Similar issue has been discussed recently by Trav, check it out..
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/buick-4t65e-hard-shift-long.138260/
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/buick-4t65e-hard-shift-long.138260/
Its a 13 year old vehicle. The dealer probably got it cheap and doesn't want to mess with putting anything into, not even a flush/change. If he can sell it to you cheap and break even, or even make a couple hundred on it, he is better off.
I would run Auto-Rx through the transmission, then do a flush. Never know. If it that fixes it cheap, great! You are not out much. If it doesn't, sell it or drop in a used or rebuilt transmission.
I would run Auto-Rx through the transmission, then do a flush. Never know. If it that fixes it cheap, great! You are not out much. If it doesn't, sell it or drop in a used or rebuilt transmission.
If your hoping its going to be a primary vehicle for cheap i would look elsewhere , but if its just another vehicle and you want to gamble on it lasting, or you can afford to replace the trans if it grenades then by all means take the gamble.
Just run some DEX 6 through it and see how she does. Pulling the pan would be a good idea, because if it is full of shavings you know its going to need a rebuild.
Just run some DEX 6 through it and see how she does. Pulling the pan would be a good idea, because if it is full of shavings you know its going to need a rebuild.
I hope your getting a deal, like less than $300 dollars, because anything more than that is way to much on a 13 year old car with a failing transmission.
You could also try the Lucus transmission mouse milk, 'bout the only thing they sell which seem to get more pluses than minus ratings. By all means change the fluid first.
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
I hope your getting a deal, like less than $300 dollars, because anything more than that is way to much on a 13 year old car with a failing transmission.
Depends on the condition of the rest of the car. It could be really beat up with tons of rust, or it could even be super clean garage maintained by an elderly person with just the oversight on proper transmission maintenance.
On the off change its a super clean car, it would be worth it to rebuild the transmission. Some of those Intrigues can be super clean.
I hope your getting a deal, like less than $300 dollars, because anything more than that is way to much on a 13 year old car with a failing transmission.
Depends on the condition of the rest of the car. It could be really beat up with tons of rust, or it could even be super clean garage maintained by an elderly person with just the oversight on proper transmission maintenance.
On the off change its a super clean car, it would be worth it to rebuild the transmission. Some of those Intrigues can be super clean.
I agree that doing a complete fluid exchange won't be the CAUSE of the transmission failing, but if the fluid is already oxidised who knows how long it was driven that way or how much wear or damage may have occurred. You may luck out and catch it before anything major has happened, or it could croak tomorrow.
"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
Haha, +1 , that's what it boils down to.
"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
Haha, +1 , that's what it boils down to.
As long as you know going into it the trans is most likely shot and fluid won't fix it unless you get very lucky, if you can afford to replace it, give it a shot. Assuming the vehicle can be bought CHEAP!
I would do the following if it were me. Have done it in similar situations and actually have had some success( about 30% of the time it works or so )...
1 - Add some some Seafoam trans treatment to the exisiting fluid. Just pour it in and drive it a little. It will act like a flush and loosen up any build up. I wouldn't drive it long however. Maybe 25-50 miles or about 20-30 minutes.
2 - Have the fluid flushed so all of the old fluid is out and replaced with new. If possible have them use a good high mileage transmission fluid like Maxlife.
3 - Drop the pan and replace the filter and top fluid back off( I do the flush 1st as it can result in [censored] in the pan if you do it after changing the filter ).
4 - I would throw some Lucas trans treatment in there after the service.
5 - PRAY!
I would do the following if it were me. Have done it in similar situations and actually have had some success( about 30% of the time it works or so )...
1 - Add some some Seafoam trans treatment to the exisiting fluid. Just pour it in and drive it a little. It will act like a flush and loosen up any build up. I wouldn't drive it long however. Maybe 25-50 miles or about 20-30 minutes.
2 - Have the fluid flushed so all of the old fluid is out and replaced with new. If possible have them use a good high mileage transmission fluid like Maxlife.
3 - Drop the pan and replace the filter and top fluid back off( I do the flush 1st as it can result in [censored] in the pan if you do it after changing the filter ).
4 - I would throw some Lucas trans treatment in there after the service.
5 - PRAY!
My BIL had a mid-size late 90s Olds that he picked up for short money. He drove it for a work car and loved the car until the transmission started slipping. So he sold it. Depending on the general condition of car, it is worth about 300$ in scrap. If you can pick up a good trans and put it in yourself, it is then worth maybe 2000$. But the car cant be sold in the shape it is and it isnt worth fixing because even if it runs OK,its still a 14 yr old orphan.
I went through this scenario with the 94 Ranger. A 600 $ truck, that I put 1200$ worth of parts into. a 20 yr old truck. Truck is worth 2K$ max
I went through this scenario with the 94 Ranger. A 600 $ truck, that I put 1200$ worth of parts into. a 20 yr old truck. Truck is worth 2K$ max
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Exactly what Andy said. These cars are only worth about $2000 in good condition, give or take. A transmission rebuild is going to run $1000-$1500 and needs to be factored into the purchase price. As described, it only has a scrap value of $300.
I would walk really far from this "deal"
Or another option, is telling the dealer that you will pay fair market value for the car if they rebuild the transmission first. Of course they wont do that.
I would walk really far from this "deal"
Or another option, is telling the dealer that you will pay fair market value for the car if they rebuild the transmission first. Of course they wont do that.
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