If it ain't one thing.... back to the tranny
So - I got my '91 DX a few weeks ago. Shifting was wonky but it turned out to be electrical connections on the automatic. Fixed that and all was joyous. Minor work getting it nicer - even got the AC working. Going to work last week - pfft... died. Timing belt change (and water pump, and idler tensioner - I DO pay attention to the good advice) and I'm on the road again.
Went down to Coulee Dam and back this weekend - 180 mile round trip. No problems, although I noticed on the way back the car smelled like burning ATF. The fluid is grey, and toasty. It also seemed to be over-full. It was starting to stall when coming to a stop. Still shifted fine, but it acted like it would not "slip" at idle.
Up on the ramps, drained out the fluid (phew - stinky). I'm curious if it even WAS the right stuff - it almost looked like thin motor oil (but smelled a little like burnt tranny fluid). Probably a bit less than a gallon - because I poured the contents of the catch bucket into the empty container the new stuff came in. I know this is not ALL the tranny fluid. I took it for a little drive - still shifts fine, goes through all the gears - but stalls out when you put it into drive or reverse or come to a stop without popping it into neutral.
So - any ideas? I'll go do another drain - see what color it is now (how pink it has gotten). The tranny was replaced by a previous owner not too long ago - but the more I work on this little car the more I think that the previous owner needs all her tools taken away from her until she learns to use them correctly.
Yes, I know. Start thinking 5 speed. Perhaps. In about three months the car will get parked and I'll be driving an AMC Eagle - the snow car - and the Protege can get some more love applied to it without having to keep it ready to go in the morning so I can get to work.
In the meantime - I understand automatics slipping too much - but grabbing too much?
Went down to Coulee Dam and back this weekend - 180 mile round trip. No problems, although I noticed on the way back the car smelled like burning ATF. The fluid is grey, and toasty. It also seemed to be over-full. It was starting to stall when coming to a stop. Still shifted fine, but it acted like it would not "slip" at idle.
Up on the ramps, drained out the fluid (phew - stinky). I'm curious if it even WAS the right stuff - it almost looked like thin motor oil (but smelled a little like burnt tranny fluid). Probably a bit less than a gallon - because I poured the contents of the catch bucket into the empty container the new stuff came in. I know this is not ALL the tranny fluid. I took it for a little drive - still shifts fine, goes through all the gears - but stalls out when you put it into drive or reverse or come to a stop without popping it into neutral.
So - any ideas? I'll go do another drain - see what color it is now (how pink it has gotten). The tranny was replaced by a previous owner not too long ago - but the more I work on this little car the more I think that the previous owner needs all her tools taken away from her until she learns to use them correctly.
Yes, I know. Start thinking 5 speed. Perhaps. In about three months the car will get parked and I'll be driving an AMC Eagle - the snow car - and the Protege can get some more love applied to it without having to keep it ready to go in the morning so I can get to work.
In the meantime - I understand automatics slipping too much - but grabbing too much?
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