Need automatic transmission help

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  • riverdale21
    Mod Crazy
    • Mar 2004
    • 786

    #1

    Need automatic transmission help

    Lets start by saying: I'M NOT DOING A 5 SPEED SWAP. DONT SUGGEST IT.

    I have a 1986 325e automatic. I don't have too much money to spare on the car right now and need to get it back on the road. My transmission wont go into any gear. Reverse or drive. The transmission was working fine for a few hours before it started shifting rough then not at all. While attempting to overtake a truck the car shifted hard then the engine revved freely. With the car in gear it will just rev when the gas is pressed. No forward or reverse motion.

    Here is some info:
    1. With the engine on and then shifted into drive the engine slows as if it's meeting resistance. When the gas pedal is pressed the car doesn't move.
    2. There is a metallic groaning noise coming from the bellhousing when the car is first turned off. Almost sounds like a winding down noise.
    3. The fluid and filter have already been changed. The magnets in the transmission pan had a fair amount of debris on them. No large chunks, just mainly black or dark transmission fluid.
    4. With the car elevated off the tires and the car in gear the wheels will not spin on their own. If you spin the rear wheel clockwise only one wheel will turn and the engine will sound as if it's under load. When spun counter clockwise both wheels spin and the engine sounds normal.
    5. Shifter rod has been verified as connected and working. Checked the action of the shifter with the transmission pan off the car.
    6. ECU was reset. Not sure if that does much, it's worked on friend's non-E30s before.
    7. All sensors that are visible appear connected.
    8. There is some unknown wiring splices in the console by the shifter. It looked like someone had hacked into the wiring harness in there before. All splices have been verified as able to pass a current.
    9. Car will start only in Park or Neutral

    If I try more things or think of more things I will post them here.

    I don't know too much about automatics. Can a torque converter go bad? What the hell is wrong with my transmission?
  • AdamF 88iS
    R3VLimited
    • Oct 2003
    • 2051

    #2
    When torque converters go bad they just make noise. It sounds like you have absolutly no line pressure inside the tranny. If you're sure the fluid level is up (between the lines on the dipstick while the engine is running) then you have an internal failure. BTW, your tranny doesn't have any electronic control. There's no ECU to reset for it. How many miles are on it?
    Adam Fogg- '88 M3

    Common sense- It's the new 'gifted'

    Comment

    • riverdale21
      Mod Crazy
      • Mar 2004
      • 786

      #3
      I had reset the cars ECU by unplugging the battery and stepping on the brake pedal.

      I'm unsure of the mileage but the broken ODO reads about 170k.

      Comment

      • 86325e
        Wrencher
        • Oct 2003
        • 228

        #4
        Are you anywhere close to Dallas? I got an automatic out of my 85 sitting in my garage taking up space. Can be yours for cheap, I don't want to crate it up or ship it though. It was rebuilt ~70K miles ago. Removed it cause I did a M50/manual transmission swap.
        Eric
        85 325e M50 and auto to manual transmission conversion...

        Comment

        • riverdale21
          Mod Crazy
          • Mar 2004
          • 786

          #5
          Originally posted by 86325e
          Are you anywhere close to Dallas? I got an automatic out of my 85 sitting in my garage taking up space. Can be yours for cheap, I don't want to crate it up or ship it though. It was rebuilt ~70K miles ago. Removed it cause I did a M50/manual transmission swap.
          I'm in Atlanta, Georgia.

          Comment

          • RobertK
            Kicked cancer's ASS.
            • Jun 2005
            • 5864

            #6
            Sounds like your typical Torque Converter failure or there is not any fluid in the converter. Check the fluid if all is good try replacing the converter.

            Though for the time and trouble you have to go through just to fix it, and I know you don't want to hear this, but it would be an idea time to swap to a 5 speed if you ever planned on doing it.

            Comment

            • riverdale21
              Mod Crazy
              • Mar 2004
              • 786

              #7
              Originally posted by Ritalin Kid
              Sounds like your typical Torque Converter failure or there is not any fluid in the converter. Check the fluid if all is good try replacing the converter.

              Though for the time and trouble you have to go through just to fix it, and I know you don't want to hear this, but it would be an idea time to swap to a 5 speed if you ever planned on doing it.
              I would do a 5speed swap but my time/money contraints aren't allowing me for at least 6 or so months.

              I know there is actual fluid in the transmission. How do I check/get fluid into the torque converter?

              Comment

              • AdamF 88iS
                R3VLimited
                • Oct 2003
                • 2051

                #8
                Originally posted by riverdale21
                I would do a 5speed swap but my time/money contraints aren't allowing me for at least 6 or so months.

                I know there is actual fluid in the transmission. How do I check/get fluid into the torque converter?
                You can't check or fill the converter by itself. Just fill up the tranny fluid and the converter gets filled off of that.
                Adam Fogg- '88 M3

                Common sense- It's the new 'gifted'

                Comment

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