Transmission is about to die...what to do?
 

My transmission is pretty much shot. It constantly slips on all gears now, it's terrible in the city. Fine on the highway once you get it into gear, usually has to rev up to 5k at least once.

So now what do I do? Car runs great, exhaust is needing to replaced soon but has new tires, decent brakes, no serious body damage. Typical amount of rust for a 98.

But....Transmission rebuild is at least 900 plus parts.

Used transmission shipped with 150k miles is $250

Junkyard transmission is going to be at least $400 plus core

Just labor to put the transmission in is going to be around $500.

So it'll likely be at least 1000 to fix this car....but the car only cost $1600.

I don't have the money to buy a new car either, and this car is basically only worth like 500-800, maybe.

What do I do?

Is the OBD2 interface showing any codes? You might get lucky and find that it is a bad sensor.

My ford mini van started showing a p0720 code. After resetting it twice it quit doing it and is behaving for past month. It is in similar shape. 161000 miles probably worthless as a trade in.

No codes. Transmission has been getting progressively worse since 115k so then we flushed it and changed the fluid then.

Just had it in for new tires, trans was 3 quarts low. Leaking apparently.

...sounds like the "flush" contained something that 'shrunk' the seals, hence causing the 'leaking.'

...in the "old" days, a quart of TRANS-X™ would often solve the problem, by introducing a chemical (benzene?) that caused the seals to "swell."

...of course, once used, you have to continue using the TRANS-X™ or the seals would 'shrink' back from their swelled condition and leak even WORSE than before

...don't ask *how* I know about this.

might be a good time to swap for a manual? If there is one available for your car. I would pick up a transmission repair book and do it yourself. They are not that complicated once you see inside.

Well, I always wanted to swap to a manual.

But I live in an apartment, 4 hours south of "home". So working on a car or having tools is not possible. Plus it's winter and I have no garage at home either.

The flush may have started the leak, but it's shot now. And actually, I put lucas transmission treatment in it to help stop the leak/slip. Helped for about 2 weeks ha.

Look around for a good shop or home mechanic. If you are going to have someone install a new tranny anyway, you might as well have them install a manual right? :rolleyes: I think a manual is cheaper anyway. It would probably come out the same, dollar wise, as a new automatic. Look around and get some quotes.

I'm not one for luxuries, but I would say a semi-heated workspace is a requirement for a manual swap (or a stretch of nice weather if outdoors). And even then it will take some planning/resourcefulness and some basic tools. I've done maybe 3 full fledged auto to manual conversions and removed plenty of transmissions.

The simplest approach is to get a parts/salvage car with a stick from a compatible year, and commandeer a two car garage. You want a new clutch disk and throwout bearing while it is apart, but the rest of the parts you need (including clutch pedal and narrower brake pedal and computer) should be swappable from the parts car. There will probably be some other parts that are in better shape that you want to swap over as well. Maybe it has cruise control, or just a non-cracked windshield or a working jack or new tires or something.

Ebay has a parts car category and the right search on craigslist can also be fruitful. My last swap cost me $400 ($300 parts car plus new clutch and etc) and it has paid for itself probably 7 times over in the last 3 years (including gains from manual techniques).

But for a car (especially a cheap one) to be cost effective, you really have to figure out how to do the work yourself, or have some barter arrangement with a friend who has the space/time/skills/tools to help.

A tarp shelter also works well. I have roped up tarps on multiple occasions and it can be fairly warm even at -30. If you can find a donor car the rest is easy. Maybe there is a tool handy member nearby. I would love to come and help, but I live in NW WI. Do you know someone with a garage? It need not have heat, as a mr heater will do in most climates.

Looks like I'm just going to buy another ZX2, found one with 71k auto for 4k.

Swap out the new tires I just put on mine. Whatever other parts. Then sell my old one off. Can probably get about 500.

well you could also get a stick shift 98 accent from Anderson Indiana for $1200 buy it now

Hyundai : Accent - eBay (item 160517861794 end time Dec-17-10 17:22:59 PST)


or a 96 passat tdi stick for $3000 from Columbus indiana buy it now
Volkswagen : Passat - eBay (item 350422834828 end time Dec-21-10 08:31:42 PST)

There is a cute little stick miata in kokamo with a $3250 bid
Mazda : MX-5 Miata - eBay (item 250743520900 end time Dec-22-10 18:05:16 PST) , but that will probably go up significantly.

and here might be a decent donor car for a tranny swap, asking $500 in Marion:
Ford : Escort - eBay (item 170579702613 end time Dec-21-10 19:07:01 PST)

Well, if I'm going to have to buy a new car, I'm definitely looking for something year 2000+

Seriously considering a Focus, really looking at a ZX5 with 75k asking 3600.

It'd have about twice the space as my Zx2, and only take about a 5mpg hit on the highway, city is about the same.

The tranny swap would be half that price!!!!! :eek:

I'd get the donor car and hire a mechanic. If your tranny started going at 115k, what is the point of getting one with 75k? I don't mean to sound hard on you, but it makes more sense to put a reliable tranny in the car the first time. Manual transmissions are very reliable and let you squeeze every last drop out of a car.

EDIT:

ALSO if you got the donor car you would have TONS of spare parts.
headlights, wheel bearings, brake parts, body panels,glass, seats, wheels, tires, doors, etc...:thumbup:

My zx2 is already a rebuilt title with an exhaust going out. Plus the engine already has 142k and the cams are burned. It's just not worth putting money into the car at this point. I only paid 1600 exactly 3 years ago. It's more than paid for itself at this point and it's just going to be a money pit.

My dad is really trying to convince me to get another Zx2 just because at this point (he also owns one) we know pretty much everything about these cars. And my car can be a parts car and then sold since it still runs.

I'm fine with that except that if I'm going to spend a decent amount of money on a new car, shouldn't I get something that I think is going to be a little bit nicer...Plus would be more useful and practical to own if I could actually have some room to move stuff in.

ok, have fun. I don't know what your priorities are, let alone your dads. You know what I would do. You gotta start somewhere with learning how to do major repairs.

We did not know that until now....start looking!:thumbup:

I put on a transmission cooler on my ford mini van with 100 thousand miles on it. At 161k it is still going. I would recommend one if you have an automatic.

I learned a long time ago that considering a car an investment is a big waste of money. I try and get the best car for the least money.

Yeah, had I known now what I know about my car

If I ever got another ZX2, I would switch to synthetic and install a transmission cooler.

Actually, I'm going to do that to my ZX5 as well. (or whatever car I get)

I have a Focus, it has a gotten a best of 32mpg on the highway. I'm not too enthusiastic about Ecomodding it, the ZX2 started out way better than that. However the Focus is a nicer car. It all depends on your priorities. The ZX2 MTX swap is the cheapest route, if you got a swap car, then you might as well put the whole motor and trans into yours. With the Focus, you get a nicer car with a strong aftermarket, but it has plenty of it's own problems, I'd say it has more issues than the ZX2! The ZX2 really only has a few issues, and they are easily resolved.
You know I'm a ZX2 enthusist though, so I'm biased :)

Good luck on your decision Zach!

Got a 2001 ZX3...

And yes. Already found issues. I didn't notice that the cooling fans weren't turning on before I bought it.

So hopefully replacing the super corroded resistor will fix it.