1999 Astro 4.3L Automatic 140, 00+ miles

I think your transmission is toast. When they get to the point of doing this I think they are gone. You could try a fluid and filter change, but I think you are toast. Sorry, but just experience talking.[/Quote:f890aa90b8]

Thanks techman.I did the fluid and filter change and drove the van for a few miles today. Shifted much better than before and no bumps. That's not to say it won't in a day or so. If it does. What do you suggest. Cheers.

I think your transmission is toast. When they get to the point of doing this I think they are gone. You could try a fluid and filter change, but I think you are toast. Sorry, but just experience talking.[/Quote:80206bcc2f]

Thanks techman.I did the fluid and filter change and drove the van for a few miles today. Shifted much better than before and no bumps. That's not to say it won't in a day or so. If it does. What do you suggest. Cheers.[/Quote:80206bcc2f]

I have had a chance to sleep on your problem and digest it. I'm a pretty major backyard mechanic. First of all, this is an electronically shifted transmission. I would probably climb underneath it an pull all of the plugs and check them for corrosion on the connecting pins and hose them with WD40 while I was at it. This would probably not gain you any benefit, but it might. If you want to keep the van and think it is worth $1000 in repair, I would call 15 junkyards and find a transmission with under 70,000 miles. Some of these will sell it cheap if you take it out, but they will flip the van on it's side which makes things relatively easy to remove. I'm guessing one could be had for $350 to $550. Next, if you cannot change this yourself, I would check the newspaper service adds and find a guy who does automotive repair at a garage at his house. You could probably find someone to change the transmission for around $200 to $400. The bottom line is to replace the transmission for around $1,000 or less. If you bother to go to this trouble, for sure spend another $50 and replace the engine rear main seal, the transmission front seal, (all of about $5 and with the mileage I would replace the universal joints at both ends of the drive shaft. Backyard mechanics that advertise in the paper may take 2 weeks to get to it and need it for a week (while they work another full time job), but they work reasonably cheap.

Good luck,

Ken[/quote:80206bcc2f]

By the way, for future reference. If you are not in the habit of changing transmission fluid and filter around at least every 70,000 to 80,000 miles, car dealers now offer a service to backflush your system with conditioners and cleaners, clean the filter without removing the pan, and refill the system for around $110. I had this done to my Astro. I got the first early morning 8am appointment on a Saturday and was on my way home at 9:15.[/Quote:80206bcc2f]

Ken. What do you think is wrong? Thanks PAUL