87 Auto, No gear engaged when shifting.

[robsE30]

Hey fellas,

Did not get a chance to introduce myself but been watching this site for the past few months.

I've searched the forum and most talk about gear slipping or rev before engaging. So my issue may be a first?

This is my Mothers car. Long story short. Half way driving to the store she suddenly lost her gears while stopping at an intersection. She is unable to shif to any gears. Car starts and off fine. After towing her car back I notice when the shifter is on Reverse I can faintly hear what sounded like a gear grind or gear trying to engage. This happends when cold or warm. On Drive it doesnt engage at all. It has exactly 105K miles and I changed fliuds, Mobile ATF Synthetic, around 98K but filter not changed yet.

Any clues, hints, checks I need to do before getting my hands dirty or worse a transmission replacment?

I did talk to my buddy who thinks it may be the touque coverter or governer valve. If so, how does that affect the gear shifter and how hard is it to change?

-Rob

[Disaster Inc]

If it was mine I would just resign to the fact that the trans needs to be replaced.

I would post in the parts wanted section for one, I gotta believe it would be easy to grab one way cheap in your area.

If you were in New England I'd give you one for next to nothing, I have 2 autos sitting in my garage.

Good luck with it.

[ZM Blue Devil]

What about the cable?

[robsE30]

If it was mine I would just resign to the fact that the trans needs to be replaced.

I would post in the parts wanted section for one, I gotta believe it would be easy to grab one way cheap in your area.

If you were in New England I'd give you one for next to nothing, I have 2 autos sitting in my garage.

Good luck with it.

Thanks for the quick reply. Just FYI I got some instresting info on a reply from Bimmerforums .com

Lots of us have had this problem, and there are three solutions... Put a stick in, which you ruled out, put a used auto in and remember exactly how you did it because it won't be the last time, or get it rebuilt the proper way. That and a new torque converter and it should be good for 250k.

http://www.disgruntledgoat.com/content/vehicles/dakar/ZF4HP22.php

You have ZF automatic hopefully the four speed which is the 4HP22. If you don't want to do it yourself send this link with the tranny, good luck.

I will certainly attempt this. I mean, really, worst thing I will have to take it to a transmission shop. I will post my results of the repair! Stay tunned!

What about the cable?

The link posted by GasGasRider suggest it is most likely be the seals. We'll see.

-Rob