My automatic trans is starting to slip going from first to second gear. The car has about 92k on it. I'm unsure if the previous owner had the fluid changed or not. I don't recall seeing anything in the service records when I looked at them.

Would it be recommended that I get the trans fluid and filter changed?
I've heard somewhere that if it's not changed beyond a certain mileage, it is actually bad to change it. But can't say if that's true or not.

I'm also burning something. Don't know where it is or what it is. Sometimes smells like coolant, sometimes smells like rubber, sometimes smells like oil. Nothing is showing up on the drive either. But I did see some light vapors exiting the engine bay one night.

 

are you sure you're not losing transmission fluid?

 

It was leaking trans fluid a while ago, but it was very minor, as in a drip here a drip there. And it never left anything on the driveway. I mentioned it to the service techs when I took it in for an oil change, and they tightened up the drain plug or something. Said it was a bit loose, but not horrible. Havnt seen any kind of leaking last time I was under the car myself. They also said fluid level was good . . . But that was a while ago.

I have not seen any dash alarms for the transmission pop up yet either.

 

Got my oil leak fixed today: Leaking oil pressure switch. Therefore the burning oil smell and the vapors/smoke exiting the engine bay. Also found out that one of my axle seals is seeping transmission fluid, therefore the slipping. Got everything topped off, so I should be good for a while there. I decided to leave the trans leak alone as it's hardly letting any fluid out at all at the moment, and its a $400 job.

And since then, my front right wheel is beginning to hum. I think my wheel bearing is starting to go. I've noticed it grinding before when turning, but thats gone now, and I just have the humming. That's a $400 part. I think I can do that one on my own unless the assembly is a press fit.

 

You can do it on your own even if it's a press fit... look up the wheel bearing tool on ebay...

 

I bought the part for $29 and had a mechanic do it for 55 bucks..the gators were playing.

 

Well . . . (sigh), even after the trans fluid has been topped off, the transmission is still slipping. The day of the top off it continued to slip. I do not think the fluid has ever been changed based on VIN service records.

And to top things off, I got a CEL today. This one is on 100% so it's nothing "serious" but it's a major concern to me as I will be driving the car nearly 500-600 miles on a weekend in a couple weeks and only have 3 days this week to get some of this junk fixed.

I'm almost certain this has to do with the thermostat, as the temp gauge dropped like a rock and then the CEL came on right when that happened. Sometimes the needle pops up, but it's generally lower than center, and then goes to center when stopped and idleing for a few minutes. And I've had a couple instances when the needle wouldn't budge at all from a cold start to an hours worth of driving, but never got a CEL then. . . . could be just a loose connector . . .

In either case, it is not going to the dealership this time around. I found a Saab specialist about an hour from me, and the parts/labor is not as pocket pounding as a dealership.

As far as doing the work myself, I do not have a heated garage, and 20 F degree temps don't make things any easier. If it were springtime and warmer weather was around, I would jump at the opportunity. But these are things that I cannot afford to wait around for to fix.

 

Thermostat replaced, axle nut was loose causing the wheel-bearing noises. That was tightened, and trans fluid flushed and replaced. So far no issues with the exception that they didn't top off coolant. My SID just informed me that it's low. So I'm either leaking (didn't see anything) or it's just low from the thermostat job.