question about reliability after repairing transmission

pratz · Post by **pratz** » November 3rd, 2005, 9:42 pm

I am thinking of getting an auto mx3.problem is, the owner admitted that the auto transmission needs work, so he's going to lower the price. Now..how much will a new transmission cost?probably also installing the oil cooler or something?

i read around the site for a while and although i see that the auto is not really that reliable with the car, i am not really that comfortable with a manual, and feel its tiring.So I think auto is the way to go for me. Now..how reliable will an auto with the oil cooler be after i repaired and get everything going?how long do you think it will last me?

ariesdude · Post by **ariesdude** » November 3rd, 2005, 11:57 pm

If it is a 4 cyl DOHC then it might be difficult to find a reliable one. I was quoted $1100 at a local tranny place to rebuild it. I was told that a tranny cooler makes a lot of difference - that was one of the first things i did after i got the car. Before the cooler the tranny lines will be hotter than hell to touch even after a short drive - after the tranny cooler the return line is barely warm.

pratz · Post by **pratz** » November 4th, 2005, 2:51 am

yes it is a 4 cyl. is yours a 4cylinder?which one do you recommend?i dont see many 6cyl auto in autotrader actually.will the 6cyl auto be easier and cheaper to replace?how much was the cost of your oil cooler?

sorry i have so many question.i am new to cars.thanks for your answers..

Andrew_Pakula · Post by **Andrew_Pakula** » November 4th, 2005, 11:32 am

Actually the V6 Auto tranny is less reliable then the 4cyl one, it more commonly breaks down.

Prices for both tranmissions to rebuild can range anywhere from $1000-$2000 depending on where you go.

Tranny coolers cost $60-$100, well worth it to put in if you are getting it rebuilt, it will help prolong its life.

ariesdude · Post by **ariesdude** » November 4th, 2005, 12:22 pm

pratz wrote:yes it is a 4 cyl. is yours a 4cylinder?which one do you recommend?i dont see many 6cyl auto in autotrader actually.will the 6cyl auto be easier and cheaper to replace?how much was the cost of your oil cooler?

sorry i have so many question.i am new to cars.thanks for your answers..

Yes mine is a 4 cyl - my transmission is holding up pretty well so far but there is a lot of vibration and rpm drop when i shift from P to D or R. And i can feel/hear some clunking in the engine sometimes. I took it to the tranny specialist and he told me to get it rebuilt. I didnt have that much money to burn so i got a second opinion - turned out the motor/tranny mounts are bad. I just replaced 2 of them and it is somewhat better. I have the other 2 mounts - just have to find a place that would put them in for cheap.
I dont know about 6 cyl ATX - but the general agreement is that mx-3 ATX are bad.
My oil cooler kit cost around $30 - The kit had the tubes, mounting hardware and clamps etc. Its not a plate and fin type although that would be the best one. And it was a 30 minute job to put in - even for me.

pratz · Post by **pratz** » November 4th, 2005, 1:25 pm

ok..thanks for the suggestion.but i am not really ready to get a manual.As i often visit san francisco, the ocassional uphill stops made me think twice.

but is it better to get an mx-3 with a good tranny, after checking that they are alrite with the methods in the board; or should i get the one with a bad tranny that i would replace so I can be sure that it will last a while?btw, with those 1000, will i get a new tranny or used ones?or are there new trannies?

how long ago did you have your tranny replaced aries?how much are the mounts?

ariesdude · Post by **ariesdude** » November 4th, 2005, 4:34 pm

I didnt actually replace - the trannies are hard to find. The mechanic told me that he can "rebuild" it for a $1100. I didnt do it either because i dont have that kinda cash. I just added a cooler and i got a really good deal on the mounts from http://stopshopanddrive.com - they were like $20 a piece i think. My tranny is still doing ok. I hate stick shift especially because i have been using stick all my life up to this point (I actually learned to drive on a stick shift). There are things i dont like about the ATX and i would agree with most of the arguments here - but i have enough stress already in life being a student and conducting research etc that i dont want to deal with the MTX when stopped on an incline traffic light. Here in Ann Arbor - flat terrain traffic lights are the exception - almost every damn light in my usual drive is incline. and just for the record stock mx-3 sucks big time going uphill.

Koolguy33 · Post by **Koolguy33** » November 29th, 2005, 3:57 pm

I've got a V6 im going to have rebuilt unless i can soon find a replacement, doesnt look good though, get paid next week and will probably just sink $1000 into the tranny, get it rebuilt, and i hear the best place to go from there is the tranny cooler... everyone seems to get into that, and its not all that pricy either...

Anyone know where to get a used tranny? cash is definitely an issue, but i just cant go without my car