Transmission Trouble

TRUETOPOOL

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OLDSMOBILE

I'm thinking of buying a 93 olds cutlass supreme convertible with 3.4 liter engine. The car has 135,000 miles

the owner said that after you let it run a few minutes it will shift through the gears as smooth as silk.

Is this a possible clogged filter?

just want to get a heads up before I buy the car.

thanks in advance for any suggestions.

5 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Maybe. But I am more inclined to think the only difference would be temperature and viscosity changes. I doubt a plugged filter would react much different from temperature. What does the fluid color look like?
IS there any record of the filter being changed?

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Monday, October 8th, 2007 AT 7:22 PM

TRUETOPOOL

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Checked the Fluid today it looks a little brown with a redish tint in color. Could this just be a sign of old and burnt fluid?

Again thanks,
william simmons
Oxford, GA.

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Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 AT 8:47 PM

SERVICE WRITER

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After talking around, I have heard that the likley cause of this may be from a hardened lip input clutch seals, If this has been going on for a while the front pump may be damaged.

There is also a check valve that may be stuck open in the return cooler line that goes straight up into the bottom the the trans.

The filter and fluid should get changed as well.

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Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 AT 5:24 AM

TRUETOPOOL

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Thanks for your replies. They are greatly appreciated.

Amazing for someone who works on vehicles all day to come home and help other people diagnose problems with their cars or truck.

Dad and I are going to do as much cleaning and changing as we can possibly get our hands on. I was thinking of adding a fluid treatment to it a week before we break it down. Is this a good idea? If so do you have any recomendations on what to use?

I wish I could have given more of a donation but, my situation isn't all that great right now.

Thanks Again
William Simmons

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Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 AT 7:40 PM

SERVICE WRITER

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William, thanks for the donation, the amount is unimportant, your gratitude means a lot. Take value in the opportunity to be able to work with your Dad.

I'm not much of a believer in the additives. Especially in this case. I don't believe a fluid change is going to fix this, but I have certainly been wrong before.
If I was going to add anything I would use either lucas transmission additive or another one that NAPA sells. Just can't think of the name. Comes in a black bottle. See how much faith I have in them :)

I expecting you'll need to pull the tranny before too long to get to the input seal.