I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's, Olds 98 91-96, Buick Lesabres and Park Avenue 91-96. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
Post Reply
tar6569
SE Member
SE Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:34 am
Year and Trim: 1993 SSEi
Location: Hebron, ME

I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by tar6569 »

Hi members,

We'll I lost first gear today on the SSEI. Car only has 130K miles. It came as a surprise. There were no warning signs. I looked up the trans on car-part.com. I live in Maine so the closest one is in Mass, about a 4-5 hours drive. I could do it. The car has traction control and of course the supercharger.

It looks like it is a one year only trans that fits my car. Would it be possible to install a trans from a plain Bonneville SE (I don't care about the traction control) or is the final drive ratio different? :dontknow:

Would a trans work from a 93 with Supercharger but no traction control?

Anyone close to maine got a trans that will fit this? LOL

Warren
Last edited by tar6569 on Wed May 25, 2011 5:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Warren
User avatar
willwren
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 65489
Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 11:07 pm
Year and Trim: .
93 SSEi
95 SLE (SC)
97 Buick LeSabre
Location: Oregon WCBF'04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11 Survivor
Contact:

Re: I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by willwren »

Driver ratio is different, and it's a weaker trans. The car won't run right and it'll break sooner.

Off to the tranny shop.......
Image
Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers
tar6569
SE Member
SE Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:34 am
Year and Trim: 1993 SSEi
Location: Hebron, ME

Re: I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by tar6569 »

Thanks
So it's either finding a trans from a 93 with Supercharger and traction control or taking it to the shop....

Warren
Warren
01bonneSC
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 4938
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm
Year and Trim: 05 Chevy 'Hoe
1997 'maro (3.8L M5)
89 SkiDoo
Location: Sycamore, IL

Re: I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by 01bonneSC »

Yup.

Out of curiosity, what does your fluid look like?
Image
00Beast wrote:Less off-topic than Lane's Heated Steering wheel, but yeah, back to the topic.
tar6569
SE Member
SE Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:34 am
Year and Trim: 1993 SSEi
Location: Hebron, ME

Re: I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by tar6569 »

It seemed to be the right color. Had a few bubbles on the end of the dipstick when I pulled it out. I check the fluid weekly.
Warren
tar6569
SE Member
SE Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:34 am
Year and Trim: 1993 SSEi
Location: Hebron, ME

Re: I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by tar6569 »

I have an update:

I took the car out later this evening after the car had cooled off and the trans shifted ok. I just took it up the road (hill) and back. I originally noticed the problem this afternoon when I would pull up to a stop sign and the car would struggle to get going until I revved it to about 2,500 RPM's, pushing the pedal and getting no (immediate) acceleration. Almost like it wasn't releasing into first gear?

This is really confusing. I can get the trans but would like to rule out anything else so I don't end up replacing the trans if it is not needed.

Anything else I should check? Or any tests I should try?
Last edited by tar6569 on Wed May 25, 2011 8:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Warren
User avatar
willwren
Retired Admin
Retired Admin
Posts: 65489
Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 11:07 pm
Year and Trim: .
93 SSEi
95 SLE (SC)
97 Buick LeSabre
Location: Oregon WCBF'04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11 Survivor
Contact:

Re: I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by willwren »

Traction control has nothing to do with your transmission, but all SSEi's came with it, so the point is moot.

Don't 'get a trans'. Take it to a transmission shop for a diagnosis. It's free. Take it to two shops, and tell both shops that you are.
Image
Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers
00Beast
Retired Site Developer
Retired Site Developer
Posts: 20960
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 10:30 pm
Year and Trim: '17 Silverado 1500
Location: MN/IA
Contact:

Re: I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by 00Beast »

willwren wrote:Traction control has nothing to do with your transmission, but all SSEi's came with it, so the point is moot.

Don't 'get a trans'. Take it to a transmission shop for a diagnosis. It's free. Take it to two shops, and tell both shops that you are.
Then post here with what they said and the price quote.
Bye Bye:
Image
RIP sandrock
Sirius wrote:Think about it. You’re tooling down the road in your Prius, knowing full-well that this thing being green is as big a sham as federally mandated ethanol-enriched gas, Russia pulling out of Ukraine, and Obamacare.
tar6569
SE Member
SE Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:34 am
Year and Trim: 1993 SSEi
Location: Hebron, ME

Re: I've lost 1st gear on my 93 SSEI. What are my options?

Post by tar6569 »

Will do. I took it to work today and it was fine. Checked the dipstick when I got there and there was no foam/bubbles on the end of it. Fluid was fine. I still hear a faint whirring noise that could be related to the trans.
Warren
Post Reply