86 GM won't go over 35 mph?

[86VickyLX]

do me a favor and look at the throttle body. Look at the linkage on the throttle body. There's the accelerator pedal linkage that's closer to the drivers side, and then over to the passenger side, is another cable, that's your TV cable. All you should see is the end of it. Open the throttle, by pushing the accelerator linkage towards the back of the car, and then let it come back slowly. If you see cable, then you've found your problem.

Also, check the color of the fluid.

[jmy2469]

Sure will, thanks for the help

[86VickyLX]

You're welcome, just get back to us with what you find.

[jmy2469]

Ok, just ran outside to check. oil level was fine in the car. Trans fluid was not. Checked under the car, pan for trans is wet and it is leaking.I'm going to have to have this thing checked out,can't drive it like this.

[MattsLincoln]

your tranny pan gasket sounds like it failed. time for a new trans filter kit.

[gadget73]

top up the fluid before you take it anywhere. Driving with the fluid level low enough to neutral the trans is a really good way to buy a trans rebuild.

[1987cp]

if you lost gears, yes, you will need a new trans. i dont know what the trans market is like in the states but, here you can get your trans rebuilt for around 1800. thats with removal and install.

Could be had for $1000 in Indiana in '04, possibly less. And the installer even did me the courtesy of adjusting the TV cable improperly, not telling me what converter he put in, and failing to heed my explicit request for a 5000rpm governor. Seriously, people ...


But yeah, any suspicion of transmission trouble the FIRST things to check are fluid level and TV cable (well, you should already know that your TV cable is attached and how it's adjusted, but that's another matter). If it's possible to find out whether it really is leaking just from the pan gasket, then you know you can take care of the problem at home for probably $15, maybe $25, plus ATF. Consider cleaning the pan and what you can reach of the case very thoroughly, top it off, take it for a quick drive and check for drips.

[jmy2469]

Don't have any tools here. What am I looking at to take this somewhere to get this done? For the pan gasket and fluid?
Anyone know any good shops in NJ where I can go?

[gadget73]

pan gasket and fluid change is just a basic transmission service. Anyplace should be able to handle that.

[87gtVIC]

Simple starters socket set would get the job done for you. Just a matter or removing the pan bolts (leave two in at opposite end though so you can control any amount that is left and direct it into a catch pan), then two or three bolts holding the filter in place on the valve body. Remove all residual gasket material from valve body and transmission case and pan itself. Dont be alarmed if you see a whitish/yellowish bobber looking thing in the pan once it is removed...that just means the transmission was never serviced or someone was worried and just threw the dipstick bung back into the pan. lol Reinstall filter with gasket then reinstall pan. Start car up have someone cycle slowly through the gears while fluid is added. Like gadget said any place should be able to handle a job like that.

[sly]

the only issue may be needing to flatten the pan at the bolt holes to insure a good seal on the new gasket. The place I go to does this. never a problem with their gaskets (seals are another story - but leaky seals get replaced for free if they installed them).

[1987cp]

Simple starters socket set would get the job done for you.

I've noticed the free rental program at AutoZone includes socket sets, so purchasing tools up front isn't even mandatory anymore.

Though if you're on a seriously tight budget and have a H-F in the area, look into their made-in-India socket set that's frequently on sale as cheap as $5.

[johnunit]

How badly is it leaking? It's not good long-term or environmentally, but if you leave some cardboard or something under the tranny for a few hours and it's just a bit damp, no pooling fluid or total soakage, you could probably top the tranny fluid up and run it like that.

A bad tranny gasket in and of itself won't hurt anything on the car, unless you let the level get low as a result. If it's leaking slowly enough that you can top the fluid up and keep in showing ok on the dipstick with a weekly or even daily check, there's no reason you can't run it like that.