Need help about the 1989 Oldmobile 98!

[Lowerd1]

One of my local speed members just bought a oldsmobile 98 and is haveing some Tranny problems. Here is a quote from him. Got any help?

Well since my SVO decided to spontaneaously combust, I had to find a new car. I managed to get an Oldsmobile 98. Which out of my catergories of wanting 1) rwd, 2) carbed, 3) v-8 powered, and 4) cheap/realiable, meets only 1...but for $300 I cant complain too much. Atleast its American made...seemed kind of weird to get a foriegn car over 4th of July weekend. Wont be the fastest thing in the world, but for a "grandma car" it can move. The only issue I have with it, is that it doesnt want to shift if its floored. It'll run right up to the shift point, then "bounce" a couple of times until you let off the gas and let it shift. My guess is the tranny fluid needs to be changed. Is this a good guess or am I looking at having to buy a new tranny in the next month or two?

[achievasc92]

I had the same problem with my 3300, ended up, I had a bad spark plug wire and the DRLS fuse was blown.

[TurboGTU]

Check the TV cable and the vacume modulater...its the canister looking thing in front of the transmisson with a vacume hose coneected to it. Also it is a good idea to change oil or just have it flushed with new oil.

[brcSVO]

tranny

Hey guys, Im the guy with the burnt up car, that my friend was quoting in the first post.

Anyways, I've checked the vacuum line to the canister and found it was disconnected, I reconnected it, and no change what so ever. I also just recently had the fluid flushed, and the filter and gasket changed. Didnt really seem to help at all.

A little more info. 1) it wont shift if the car is floored...but if I let off at the shift point, it'll usually shift. 2) If Im cruising at around 50% throttle from a stop, it slips a lot until it'll shift into 2nd. 3) If Im taking a corner, like through an intersection or a sharp corner, the tranny will slip in the middle of the corner until I either give it lots of gas or get a chance to straighten the wheels out. Any other ideas before I take it to a tranny shop?

[RednBlack]

If it slips at all, you have problems. Could have started with a bad modulator, but either way, if you slip an A/T, it will soon be on the breakfast table. As toast. Smell the fluid.

[TurboGTU]

Amen. As a last resort...you could also buy a new modulator. You'll have to anyway with a rebuild.

[sharkey]

its done man. smell the oil now, it will smell burnt, or at leats "smokey". if it slips at all, you have internal problems. you could put a band-aid on it and throw new clutches in it, but go for a complete rebuild. itll be worth it in the long run if you keep the car.

if you just intend to fix it up and sell it, you could throw a used tranny in it. just make sure if you do that, you get it from a place with a good warrenty (like 3-4 months). also when you get it, pull the pan and change the filter and inspect it for excessive metal. if its toast, send it back. (this is being you put it in yourself).

[brcSVO]

How much should I expect to pay for a rebuild?

[sharkey]

depends on the damage. it can cost anywere between $100-$3000 for a complete rebuild (canadian funds). now if you do the re and re yourself, you can save a bunch of cash, but some shops may not give you warrenty if you do it yourself.