Transmission warning light - 92Q

[jmatas]

Quick question for those in the know. My dad has a '92 Q that he doesn't really maintain, with somewhere north of 180K miles on it. Yesterday his Transmission Warning light came on. I think he said it said "Transmission Malfunction". He said it came on after the car powered up, then went off when he put it in gear. Does this necessarily mean that the transmission is going kaput, or could this be a fluid warning?Thanks in advance.

[Q45tech]

There is no ATF level sensor in the transmission so probably something else.Everyone is allowed to not maintain their cars or their bodies.If it has 180k on oem transmission it is probably close to dying anyway.....2.6 times the warranty.........that is a long time for any transmission even one maintained well.

[jmatas]

Unfortunately I assumed that would be the case. I think it will be a week or so before he can get it in to T3, so thanks for the heads up. Might be selling a parts car soon

[Q451990]

You can check codes on the transmission without a special tool. Check out the AT section of the service manual - it'll walk you through the steps. It's probably a sensor... I had the front revolution sensor start crapping out and it did the same thing. Drove it for a year or so before having the sensor replaced with no adverse effects to my knowledge...

Heath

[Jeff Williams]

I had that same warning, when I killed the motor, running about 80 MPH (Fuel problem - see "Engine Vibration" thread) I let the car coast, then started the car, while in neutral, and traveling about 65 MPH. I thought it was the computer, being confused by my actions.

I would follow Heath's instructions, and "wait & see" 180,000 miles is a long time for the original transmission.

[forecast]

the tranmission computer monitors a number of sensors (engine speed, toque convertor speed, throtle position, vehicle speed, gear selector position), talks to the engine computer, as well operates a number of solenoids in the transmission, it measures the current flowing through the solenoids to enusure that at least electrically they are functioning correctly.

The transmission computer flashes the malfunction notice when one of the sensors produces a value that doens't computer or when a solenoid's ohm reading goes out of normal (shorted or open)

There is a simple one minute method to ask the transmission computer what it's complaning about. Use the service manual bible that came with the car. If you can't find it, report back and I'll type you through it.