Saab Automatic Transmission --ZERO output

[island911]

So who knows something about Automatic Transmissions?

My wifes Saab 9k tranny stopped working while driving at freeway speed. It's as if it's in neutral, regardless of gear selected. (though the idle does bump-up when not in Park or Neutral)

I've never dug into one of these AT's. . .All I have is a very general, understading of how these things work. . . .zero understanding of how they fail. .. Tho' i'm fairly certain it's NOT GW Bush's fault.

So, any thoughts on what happened internally? . . A control issue, or likely something more catastrophic? . . or?

[RickM]

From the limited knowledge I have the internals depend on the proper distribution of ATF. When a valve or subsystem fails other parts will suffer from starvation...then the domino effect takes place. The clutch packs often "explode" leaving one with the total loss of the related gear(s).

See how little I know?

BTW, I know of one of the best Euro AT rebuilders. Did my BMW 740 AT at a very fair price. He'll send a truck to pick up your trans free of charge and do the rebuild in a few days. He also uses a trans dyno to do real world exercising before sending back. If you want his number to discuss let me know.

It's all about trust.

[B D]

I don't know jack about AT, but I know it's all hydraulics so if fluid is low things don't work as there supposed to. Good luck I just had to have my 300ZX trans rebuilt and it was not cheap.

[B D]

Rick beat me to the punch, also new fluid loosens crud in the trans and may clog systems or create new leaks I have heard.

[RickM]

If you drop the pan you may determine quite a bit. Chunks of metal and plastic are not usually a good thing.

[304065]

Is there a trans fluid dipstick, or is it one of the new "sealed" trans?

If there's a dipstick, remove it, inspect the fluid quanity and appearance. Now, put your nostrils in proximity to the dipstick tube. Inhale. Bouquet of ATF, or Stank of burned clutch pack?

Good luck!

[RickM]

Seems 9000s use a ZF transmission which is dependent on the radiator for cooling. Prone to failure and expensive to fix......

This is not pretty

http://www.saabclub.co.uk/forums/ninethousand/messages/10769.shtml

http://www.quasimotors.com/autotrans_warn.htm


Here's the contact info for the resident AT expert on the Roadfly forums:

Full Name: Kirt Koeller
Company: Auto Sports Unlimited

Business: (800) 624-3876 ex 5735
Business 2: (616) 748-5735
http://www.autosportsunlimited.com/trans.html

E-mail: europetransman@hotmail.com

Kurt is honest, very approachable and will even walk you through any number of procedures to help out.


BMW ZF trans rebuild experience: http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e32/forum.php?postid=1892975&page=1

[island911]

This board ROCKS! . . .but we all already knew this.

I put this question up on the biggest Saab board I could find and got ZERO replies.

Well no Bouquet/Stank of burned clutch pack. . . Fluid looks normal; so no overheat.

Sounds like maybe an "explode" clutch pack. (?) (ya'd think they would have a pop-off valve on that )

I'll drop the pan/filter and check for chunks.

Thanks for the excellent replies!

[Jay Auskin]

Does your 9000 even have a pan?? My wife's 9-3 (same as NG900), only has a drain plug. But even draining fluid might reveal something. Plus, check the mechanical linkage on the transmission that would connect to your gear selector. Something might have broke there. Likely, there's an electronic signal on the gear selector you operate (causing the idle change), but the trans itself uses a mechanical linkage to engage "drive".

[RickM]

Any chunks?