Auto Trans Slips like crazy when cold, perfectly fine when warm

[Slider]

My dad has a 98 Malibu with around 60k miles on it. The ATF was changed at around 50k with filter, the mechanic said that the old fluid was burnt. It recently got cold out and this problem came in. The car will barely want to move when cold, the RPMs will just shoot up to like 4000 and the car will be creeping up very slowly. Now when the car warms up, it is perfectly fine, you can floor it and it won't slip at all. Anyone know what the problem is? And how much would it cost to fix?

By googling all I found is this info: http://www.cartrackers.com/For....html It seems to make sense (read the last post). But I still don't know a fix for it and the cost.

Thanks

[gibbo80]

i am not possitive because it has been a while but i was always told by my friends with malibus and by the dealers when i was looking at them that malibus had sealed transmissions and you cant have the fluid changed. When the transmission was bad it was bad. But if i am wrong anyways sounds like a bad transmission to me

[themadscientist]

clutch packs getting thin? Cold they don't grab, warm up a bit they expand a bit and grab better? Just a theory, autos are a whole branch of mechanics in themselves man, serious stuff.

[navysnail]

thats what i was thinking, clutch packs or somthing, but im no expert on AT's either

[PalmerWMD]

Its on its way out regardless as it seems your pump isnt able to maintain the proper pressure due to weak seals or some other reason.

everytime the transmission slips it gets damaged some more.

There is rarely a happy ending to these stories, save up for a new transmission if you can.

Fred..

[MinisterofDOOM]

Sorry to hear that man. Auto transmission problems are a real bummer.Sounds like you're probably going to be out of a trans soon, though, so be ready for some costly fun with mechanics.

Word of advice if things go bad: stay away from Tip Top Transmissions. You'll have your car in their shop for months, just like me.

[Jesda]

i am not possitive because it has been a while but i was always told by my friends with malibus and by the dealers when i was looking at them that malibus had sealed transmissions and you cant have the fluid changed. When the transmission was bad it was bad. But if i am wrong anyways sounds like a bad transmission to me

On the Malibu you can indeed remove the pan and change the fluid and filter. There's also a filler hole. There's no dipstick, but there's an oil level screw somewhere on the bottom.

When you get the transmission replaced/remanned, be sure to install an external cooler.

[Slider]

Yup, It doesn't sound good at all. Thanks for the help guys. I got this email back from a transmission guy:

This sounds like the rubber in the trans getting hard from either heat or high miles. More than likely heat being that the car only has 60K on it. Unfortunatly the only cure for this is to install a new paper rubber kit. Which is basicly overhauling the trans. If you are going to pay for the expense of installing a paper rubber kit you might as well overhaul the whole trans since you have to totally disassemble the whole trans to do this. If you want to buy some time let the ccar warm up completly befor trying to move it. Revving the motor to force it to move is not good for the clutches. Cost on an overhaul for this trans should be around 1600 - 2000 in my area anyway

Altough I don't know how the transmission got to this heat problem. It's not like my dad races the engine, and these were mostly highway miles. The car was a rental or lease for the first 15k miles, so I'm thinking that may have a bit to do with it.

One of the reasons I drive a 5spd . Thinking of just selling it when it gets warmer out, could probably get $2.5k-4k out of it, if the transmission is running well. Also I've been suggested of adding Lucas Transmission Fix to it. You think that this might help the seals and get a little more life out of the dieing transmission?

Thanks everyone

[themadscientist]

probably a design error on GMs part.

[Mr1der]

I'm gonna have to go with TMS....

tell him to get a Crown Vic or something...

or you know...an Altima

[Jesda]

Lots of trannies with heating problems. The Q, the Nissan transmission used in many Mazdas, many 90s Chryslers, and numerous others. I guess it depends on the climate. Having grown up there, I know Illinois is hell in the summer.

[Slider]

I'm gonna have to go with TMS....

tell him to get a Crown Vic or something...

or you know...an Altima

I actually suggested him selling it when it warms up and getting a Maxima. Probably 4th gen since we wouldn't get much money for the Malibu. Everything else is fine it's just that stupid transmission. The engine should be going strong since it's the same thing chevy used in their cars for a while (3.1 v6). Might just rebuilt it for $1500 and keep it.

I'm not sure if the car comes with a transmission cooler or not. But how would I go about installing one? and is it a hard task?

Thanks for the replies everyone

[Mr1der]

meh...I'd get rid of it personally...

don't listen to me though...I despise all Chevy V6's...and FWD cars (chevy mind you)

the newest Max is ugly anyway

[Jesda]

I actually suggested him selling it when it warms up and getting a Maxima. Probably 4th gen since we wouldn't get much money for the Malibu. Everything else is fine it's just that stupid transmission. The engine should be going strong since it's the same thing chevy used in their cars for a while (3.1 v6). Might just rebuilt it for $1500 and keep it.

I'm not sure if the car comes with a transmission cooler or not. But how would I go about installing one? and is it a hard task?

Thanks for the replies everyone

Do some NICO searches. The parts are about $30-$60 and theyre quite easy to install. You can even go over the top and get one with its own cooling fan. You just take the fluid lines and attach them to a cooler located behind the radiator.

Wes did a great writeup on how to do it on the Q:http://www.q45.org/trannycooler.htmlPaying a shop for the install shouldnt cost more than an hour and a half for labor.

The Malibu is a decent, comfortable daily driver. It just has a weak points that hurt the resale value: transmission cooling, brakes. Not all Malibus have the excessive brake wear problem, which I think was resolved by 2000 or 2001.

[MinisterofDOOM]

the newest Max is ugly anyway

HEY! I didn't like it that much at first, but it grew on me. But it doesn't look that good in anything other than black. The red, silver, and while I see all over are not nearly as sexy as my dad's black one. Besides, it makes the looks on the ricers faces all the more pleasing when they get wasted by a curvaceous lux-mobile with FOUR DOORS (gasp!). (I've noticed that most ricers (that I've met) seem to thing that additional doors (beyond two) make a car automatically crappy and slow...)I'm not the biggest fan of the headlights, but the bumper echoes the Z32, and the car is one, big, gorgeous curve that never ends...

[Jesda]

I love the look of the new Maxima. I just cant stand driving and fighting with it. Perhaps if I bought one I could work on my biceps and triceps.

[MinisterofDOOM]

The torque steer isn't THAT bad. I've never had any difficulty keeping the car--or steering wheel--pointed exactly where I want it. The auto Max doesn't have an LSD, and I believe the 6m/t does, so maybe that makes a difference (my dad's is auto--I know...but my mother can't drive a stick) I'm not sure...