transmission woes update

[cactus52]

Hi All:

I have a 97 960 wagon, and today I put it in reverse and it was slow to grab to go backwards. Then when I put it into drive it took almost 5000 rpm to start moving forward and all was fine. When I came to my first stop, it would never go again and so it sits on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck to bring it home. This all happend so fast, is this a serious problem or can this be fixed simply? I know I probably need a rebuild and are kits readily available for this type?

UPDATE: I went ot this morning and I check the level of the fluid and it was non existant on the stick. I added a quart and then re-tried no movement. The engine revs fine but no movement in any gear. I checked the stick and it was on the bottom so I added another quart same response. The stick is showing full so I guess It needed fluid but that is not the problem. I hate to buy a new transmission so is there anything else I can check??? Thanks for the replies!!

Cactus52

[Kmaniac in California USA]

Clearly you have driven the car for a prolonged period with low transmission fluid level. This may have caused you to burn up the clutches. I have one last suggestion before taking it to a transmission shop. Drain the transmission and drop the transmission oil pan. Either clean or replace the transmission filter, clean out the oil pan, put it back together, refill the transmission and try again. If it works now, great. If not, its time for an rebuild.

When you drop a transmission oil pan, it is typical to find an a small accumulation of spent friction material and maybe some small metal shavings. But if you find a lot of mud in the pan and possible a severely clogged filter, you probably wiped out the clutches from low fluid operation.

Good luck and let us know what you find.