Thread: An Unwilling Mechanic...

Here I go.....

My 83 yr/old Father needed another car.

My 74yr/old Mother started working part-time again. She's been a Licensed RN for 50+ years, and will prolly die at work, but still finish her shift. One of Those. Did I mention the family car is a '00 LaSabre moosh mobile??

He (herein referred to as "The Culprit") for some reason (Alzheimer's) purchased a loaded 98 Bright Red GTP Coupe. Just what every half-stooped over retired machinist needs, right? Just not what he needs. Good shape, In and Out, except the normal tail/headlights... and the drive train... Looks stock, except for a Decal on the Engine Cover. $3900, 112k mi. SES on. Doh.

I'm just all day with why The Culprit bought it. He gave me no time to save him. On the lot at 2, home with the Beast at 5. I got there at 5:30 to go car shopping with him, and asked him who's SC Grand Prix was sitting in front of the house. His response was "Supercharged? It has a Turbo? I didn't know it had a Turbo.."

After the initial Shock wore off, and some of my senses returned, I managed to convey "Turbo no. Gear...Belt...Nose...Blower...."
Are Ya feeling me yet? I then trudged out to see what The Culprit had gotten me into.

1) SES ----> AZone---> MAF. SES reset.
2) 30 miles pass. Tranny Bucks. SES back on.
3) 2 codes, one was 1811, and another referred to "Long Shift" Cleared 'em. Drove it home, praying for sediment.
4) Trans fluid tea colored. Earl Grey. Hot. Pan gasket and filter looked original. Filter and fluid swap. Filter Autopsy shows only 2 tiny silver specks, but 4-5 pieces of what appear to be valve body gasket fragments.
5)

6) Inside 100 miles, the trans starts banging under light acceleration when dropping out of OD at highway speed, and the car sometimes bucks like a mule during a 2-3 shift under any pedal pressure. No SES.

7) I test drive. Inconsistant slip then grab with 1/2 pedal in 1st. Power Piston? 2-3 slip out with engine rev, then thunk. Clutch pack? Then a horrifying, gonna-snap-a-crankshaft type OD dropout and bucking with light pedal at 45 mph. Nasty. So bad in fact, the SES popped back on, except this time I think it meant "Scared Engine Sh**less".

8) I am a Transmission Rebuilder, as of now, anyway. I'm gonna need help... My farthest incursion into transmissions till now was the TCC solenoid in my '89 Tech4 Gran Am....

Car purchased "as is". Dealer offered "At cost replacement" of Tranny....$2600.
Gonna go out to folks place tonight and talk to them about it.

Might get one of trannyman's rebuilds instead, if dealer won't take car back. Gonna chk Illinois law, still inside 30 days.