1993 Dodge Shadow torque converter?

aquashado93 · Posted at Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:02 pm

Transmission problem
1993 Dodge Shadow 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 116548 miles

Hi. I have a 93 Shadow. 116,000 + miles, mostly original equipment. Two years ago it was in an accident. I have finally gotten the body fixed and gotten it inspected and back on the road. This Friday, I had new tires put on it, and I discovered that it was hesitating when I went to pull out into traffic. It was bucking until it shifted. It also started making a noise when you shift from N into D. This problem does not happen all the time. Only if I step hard on the acellerator. Once the car has shifted into second, it is fine. It shifts smoothly, and runs well. I do not feel it slipping at highway speeds. The tire place said it was the torque converter. The guy also felt the need to show me the difference between the engine and the tranny. (pu-leese!). Before I take my car to a mechanic, do you have any thoughts on this? Could something have shifted when it was t-boned? I am extremely wary of mechanics after I had one try to charge me 800+ for brakes and rotors on my Subaru Outback. Do you have any knowledge to dive me so I am not getting ripped off? The Shadow has a great sentimental value to me, and I really want to get it fixed. Thanks!

ch112063 · Posted at Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:51 pm

Hello. I also own a 1993 Shadow with 100,000 miles on it. I am a auto technician, fully certified and in 1993 was working for a Dodge dealer and I guess I was pretty happy because my Shadow was 7 years old when I bought it and I was still working for Chrysler but now I have my own small shop. All my customers are my friends and I do bench work for local trans, engine, and other repair shops that I have grown to meet and like. I do not do any lay on the ground service because of the loss of my leg to disease(not so bad though) I would tell you to bring it to a dealer that sells Chrysler stuff, look for somebody a little older and make sure it is a salary shop. With ASE trained mechanics. They'll drive it with the little computer hooked up and use their experience and info. to give you an estimate. It would be worth the hour or so labor cause then you can sit back and decide what to do. Take your time. It could be the converter, but get another opinion. Sometimes the lockup solenoid comes on or does not release correctly if you have one, and maybe that is what the mechanic who put the tires on might have suspected. You know all 4 rotors and pads on a Subaru, depending on the area you live is not real "go for the jugular" if you know what I mean. The Subaru parts aren't too cheap. I'm not going to guess so good luck, at least you have found a decent, honest website to meld minds or whatever. Bye for now.

aquashado93 · Posted at Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 am

Thanks for the advice ch112063. I think the dealership that I bugut it from 16 years ago is still in business. I will start there.

ch112063 · Posted at Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:25 pm

Yeah, it is best to keep trying till you find a good mechanic who knows your car.
I had a problem, went to any doctor and whoa, Now I am studying medicine on wikepedia. Good luck, anytime. Joe