I know this forum is more directed toward the older trannies, but I also know a number guys have newer Riv's here, so I'm hoping to get some advice or a pointer in the right direction. I have a '96 SC Riv that I bought with 99k on it. It now has 104k. In the last two weeks, there's been two incidences of severe slippage. My girlfriend told me she had a problem with it slipping and when I drove it the next day (and for the next few days) it was perfectly normal. Today I ran out to do some errands at lunch and after stopping at a stop sign, it suddenly started slipping like mad. Once I got it going it seemed to be ok, but every time from a stop, lots of slippage. It seemed that if I pulled it down into low and upshifted manually it was somewhat improved. Reverse is as normal, no change. I did check the fluid level after she reported the problem and the level is fine. The fluid isn't fresh pink, but it doesn't smell totally fried. As I bought the car at 99k I have no idea is it was ever serviced. It might very well be the factory fluid in there. I'm about to leave work and I'll post on whether or not it behaves normally on the way home. I would think that once it started to slip from wear, it would just keep on slipping. But as it slips one time, then acts perfectly fine for the next few days is it more likely I'm experienced some problem in the valve body where it's hanging up on a check valve or something intermittently?
Slipping again on the way home. Fluid smells worse today, so no more driving this car! On the highway setting the cruise the converter locked up fine and held a steady 1500 RPM's at 60 MPH. It's almost impossible to detect shifts and starting out in drive it flashes to at least 3,000 RPM's just to get it rolling! I just cross posted this on rivperformance.com also.
www.dynotechperformance.com , trans most likely needs to be freshened up and Eric from Dynotech is one of the best.
Ken i have a 98sc i would not drive it slipping you might burn it up bad.Maybe filter is shot if it was not changed.Have a shop dump the pan and look, good luck.
