My Slushbox just bit the dust!

[Mortigi Tempo]

Trasmission just randomly stopped working for me today. I got to college (25 minuet drive) fine today. When I got out about 4 hours later, I started it up, and pulled out to the light, and stopped, when the light turned green, I would push down on the throttle and it would just free rev. I thought that I just accedently slipped in into neutral... nope, it was in drive.

Luckly a gas station turn in was like 10 feet behind me, and there was someone chilling there kind enough to help me get it in there. Well, I start it up after 10 minuets, stick it in drive, and it engages. I start driving away, and not even 1/4 of a mile on the road, it starts slipping and then it totally disengages. My friend came by and looked at it, hes telling me eather the filter is uber dirty (*pshaw* As if I had that kind of luck...), or the more likely cause is that my torque converter is blown.

So now Its sitting outside of a trasmission shop, waiting for them to open tomorrow so we can get a quote on the torque converter replacement. I hope like hell they don't have a core charge for just removing the trasmission, because I would hate to be forced to take it out myself. I've heard its a pain in the *** to take off and get back on.

Anyways, if they want way too much for just getting the trasmission fixed, I may just go with a eather a 5-Speed swap, or just an Sr20/Rb25 swap. Any thoughts/previous experience with problems like this?

Modified by Mortigi Tempo at 7:59 PM 10/23/2006
Modified by Mortigi Tempo at 9:52 PM 10/23/2006

[hobbit]

wow thats funny, same thing happened to mine about 2 weeks ago. no sign of any problems then all the sudden no worky, just revd freely. i replaced it with a 5 speed and glad it went out in a way because I love my 5 speed.

[Mortigi Tempo]

Do you recall exactly what failed on your auto transmission? Just interested to know if my problem is semi-common, or if I'm just getting screwed over by the powers at be.

[Mortigi Tempo]

Good News: Torque Converter was not the problem...Bad News: The planataries were... and its going to cost me $1500 to get it rebuilt, and this is from a trasmission shop where I know the owner. I know you all are going to say "Find a 5 speed!", but the truth is I've looked around, it would cost more to get one and get it professionally installed, and then I have no idea of the condition of the transmission. Least this way I know what I'm dealing with, and they have a warrenty on the transmission.

But all in all, I'm kinda screwed.

[honeybus]

Mortigi, I wanted to ask you where you got your hood. That is out of sight.

On your trans problem, I have a similar event with my '94. it is not as sudden as yours; mine comes after about 16 miles of easy driving. Then it gets impossible at 20 miles. When I let it cool overnight, it is the same thing. Since I work only 13 miles from home, I cannot say when I first got this problem. I don't usually drive he 240SX.

I took it to a transmission shop and they said they could rebuild it.

HOWEVER, they did not guarrantee that this would fix my problem.

Remember the old saying: when the only tool you only have is a hammer, you view every problem as a nail.

I had another transmission put in (my third) and it did not fix my problem.

Initial latest guess was the TPS, but I replaced that last night to no avail.

I am getting a '94 ECU and '94 ATCU from an ebay vendor, and I will try those this weekend (if they come by then). I also have an ECU and a ATCU from a '92, but the vendor told me that there was something different about the '94 240SX ECU, something specific to that year, so I am waiting for the items to come in.

I may know better next Monday.

[Florida240sx]

There is many 5 speed swap that can be had for under 800. If you pick it up then it would only be probably 500. Go 5 speed.... H3ll you coudl even buy an rb20det motorset and have some boost and be 5 spd.

[Mortigi Tempo]

Yeah, I've been looking into the RB and 5-speed swaps, but luckly my parents have agreed to pay for the transmission rebuild, so its basically up to my father on what to do. And if anything, I want to get a RB25DET professionally swapped in, nothing less. Me and my father agreed that we would rather spend money on rebuilding the KA before putting a 2.0 in my car.

Honeybus: The hood is a Vader style VIS. Light and hasn't browned at all over the year and a half I've had it on my car. Got it off of eBay for a steal.

Also, they did find what failed on my transmission though, the transmission cooler apparently got clogged and the planataries overheated and without a better word, failed. So a transmission rebuild should fix the problem, but I will keep your ECU/ATCU problems in mind.

[94_240sx]

Did you hear unusual whining noise right before it happened? I had exact same experience f\after I hear the noise. Some shady shop rebuilt it for $1200, but it's been working okay. 5-speed swap is a good fix, but yeah... you have to take your time, collect parts and do it. That's what I'm trying to do. Sooner or later, if you still have auto trans, it will act funky and give you a headahe. I maintained it very well, but it still went bad. A shop put a trans oil cooler in front of a/c condensor. If your transmission cooler was the culprit, I think people better buy a cooler and install it. Cooler lines go to the bottom of the radiator, so you just pop them out and reconnect to the new cooler. But you have to replace with longer hoses.

[Eikon]

Man... I would strongly recommend NOT paying to rebuild a KA24 transmission.

You should be able to find a used automatic transmission in great working order for less than $200. Keep your eyes on the classifieds section. You'll find something pretty easily. Gosh... for $1500 you buy an RB20det engine/trans, etc...

Just find a used trans and swap it in. With everyone doing 5 spd swaps.. you should be able to find a used one cheap!!!

BTW.. my little brother's 'vert had the same transmission thing happen. When cold, it would engage and drive forward a bit.. but once it warmed up it would start to slip and go nowhere.

So.. he collected parts and we just got done with the 5 spd swap. It's a huge improvement in this car. Really make it so much more drivable and enjoyable. I strongly recommend it!

[hobbit]

I still have the transmission at my shop. never had the time to check what happened to it. I WOULD NOT PUT ANOTHER AUTO IT. atleast not at that price. it had the same whining as others described, but only after it stopped working.