Possible transmission problem: serious?

[BobN]

Just today my 98 OB (219K miles) did two strange things that may be related:

1. When the car is first started, or when it is started warm, the AT Oil
Temp light flashes for about 10 seconds, then goes out.

2. In the last two tanks of gas (I drove 350 miles today), fuel consumption
has been terrible - as much as 5mpg worse than normal.

I checked the transmission dipstick and it showed fluid up to the full level
(measured hot) - a very thin coating of fluid, however. There is no sign of
rough shifting or slippage when driving.

I need to drive another 300 miles tomorrow - do I have a serious problem
here?

Thanks.

 

[Nicolas Dore]

Just today my 98 OB (219K miles) did two strange things that may be related:

1. When the car is first started, or when it is started warm, the AT Oil
Temp light flashes for about 10 seconds, then goes out.

2. In the last two tanks of gas (I drove 350 miles today), fuel consumption
has been terrible - as much as 5mpg worse than normal.

I checked the transmission dipstick and it showed fluid up to the full level
(measured hot) - a very thin coating of fluid, however. There is no sign of
rough shifting or slippage when driving.

I need to drive another 300 miles tomorrow - do I have a serious problem
here?

Thanks.

Looking at my 2000 service manual, the way the light flashes should
tell you the code of the error, a little like morse code: long "on" =
10, short "on" = 1, long "off" = new code or repeated code. So
"short-short-long off-long-long-long-short-short-short" is 11 and
33...

The list of codes for my transmission is as follows:

11 Engine speed signal
27 ATF temperature sensor
31 Throttle position sensor
33 Vehicle speed sensor 2 (Front)
36 Torque converter turbine speed sensor
38 Torque control signal Detects open or shorted input signal circuit.
<Ref. to 3-2 [T8H0].>
45 Intake manifold pressure signal
71 Shift solenoid 1
72 Shift solenoid 2
73 Low clutch timing solenoid
74 2-4 brake timing solenoid
75 Line pressure duty solenoid
76 2-4 brake duty solenoid
77 Lock-up duty solenoid
79 Transfer duty solenoid
93 Vehicle speed sensor 1 (Rear)

Not sure how much of this applies to 1998s but if you can read the
code post it and I can look for info on it...

Nicolas

http://www3.sympatico.ca/nicojulie/

 

[BobN]

"Nicolas Dore" wrote

Looking at my 2000 service manual, the way the light flashes should
tell you the code of the error, a little like morse code: long "on" =
10, short "on" = 1, long "off" = new code or repeated code. So
"short-short-long off-long-long-long-short-short-short" is 11 and
33...

The list of codes for my transmission is as follows:

11 Engine speed signal
27 ATF temperature sensor
31 Throttle position sensor
33 Vehicle speed sensor 2 (Front)
36 Torque converter turbine speed sensor
38 Torque control signal Detects open or shorted input signal circuit.
<Ref. to 3-2 [T8H0].>
45 Intake manifold pressure signal
71 Shift solenoid 1
72 Shift solenoid 2
73 Low clutch timing solenoid
74 2-4 brake timing solenoid
75 Line pressure duty solenoid
76 2-4 brake duty solenoid
77 Lock-up duty solenoid
79 Transfer duty solenoid
93 Vehicle speed sensor 1 (Rear)

Not sure how much of this applies to 1998s but if you can read the
code post it and I can look for info on it...

Nicolas,

Thanks for the response. The light goes on for one long and then flashes
short 16 times with no pauses.

 

[Nicolas Dore]

"Nicolas Dore" wrote
Thanks for the response. The light goes on for one long and then flashes
short 16 times with no pauses.

Doesn't match my manual: 10+16x1 = 26 but it would have been
2x10+6x1... BTW, the long ones are 1.2 seconds and the short ones .2
seconds with the pause between digits .3 seconds and between codes 1.5
seconds, so I guess it is pretty easy to spot long/short ones.

The only thing I found that looked a little like what you describe is
a code that tells of a problem in the diagnostic system itself and
which displays the light for 2 seconds and then blinks but does not
stop blinking until the key is turner to off...

We might be running into differences between 1998 and 2000 models...
Maybe someone has the 1998 service manual.

Nicolas

http://www3.sympatico.ca/nicojulie/