Truth (was: Hi, I'm new...

[Roy J. Tellason]

On Wednesday 09 August 2006 06:25 pm, Tony Duell wrote:
<...>
> > > Do you have any docs at all? The workshop manual shold at least give
> > > pinouts of the control modules, from which you can deduce the signals,
> > > etc.
> >
> > I have a really awful Chilton's book for it which covers way too many
> > years to
>
> Can you not get the factory manual (be warned, it'll be expensive, but
> IMHO worth it). I've never had any use for the 3rd party manuals.

Can't afford to pursue that at this point in time...

> > > > I have a van sitting out back which has a real problem in that
> > > > regard, you put it in gear and nothing whatsoever happens as far as
> > > > any motion is concerned.  And it's new enough to have one of those
> > > > electronic transmissions which I believe got seriously overheated at
> > > > some point. I'm sure that the fluid that I checked is not supposed to
> > > > be as black as motor oil turns out to be at times.  And either
> > > > getting that one fixed or even getting one from a
> > >
> > > Ouch!. My guess is that you have a major mechancial problem with the
> > > transmission (burnt clutch plates?), and that the electronics might
> > > well be fine.
> >
> > I'm still quoted $1100 to fix it,  so it's been sitting since December or
> > so.
>
> If it were mine, I'd find some way to get the transmission out (which is
> a pain if it's rear wheel drive, agreed), and strip it down myself. It's
> not _that_ complicated after all...

I'm really not sure that's a job I'd want to tackle.

> > > At least the manual for our car does document taking the mechancial
> > > side of the transmission apart, right down to clutch plates and thrust
> > > washers, etc. I don't fancy doing it, but I would if necessary.
> >
> > I've changed one out so far,  in a car that I had,  and swore at that
> > point
>
> I've removed sevaeral (manual) gearboxes to replace the clutch, etc. Not
> an easy job, but not hard either. So far I've never had to strip one
> down, but you know me. I don't replace entire modules in classic
> computers if they can be repaired, and the same applies to a car. If the
> transmission ever fails, you can bet I'll be taking it to bits.

My way of dealing with that is going to be either get it repaired somewhere or 
get another one and swap it out.  If I can find one.

-- 
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space,  a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed.  --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
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Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James 
M Dakin