Alright, history first....

94, lumina Z34, has only 89k miles. never ever EVER had an issue with the car. have done ALL preventative maintenance. driven normally, only show off occasionally when that rice burner just has to be shown up... it has never given me a single problem before, not a thing.

now, as i was leaving my house, i get a few hundred feet, hit about 35 mph and all of a sudden, i lose the trans and the engine revs up. i LOST the trans altogether. pull over, try reverse, nothing, but, put it back into drive, and it will go until it hits 20, lose the trans, revs up, let it drop back down, and it will shudder/jolt and eventually re-engage. but, will not leave first. and, i remind you, i take care of this care as if it were my child. i keep up on all maintenance and drive her nicely. like i said, i RARELY push her. and she jas never ever been pushed ot her limits be me. and, before this, no indication WHATSOEVER! no noise, missed shifts, slipping, juloting, shuddering, NOTHING! just outta the blue, i have a transmission issue.

I NEED YOUR INPUT! I am NOT car illiterate, this has just got me stumped, and, i just cant think of exactly what it could be.

basically, im looking for someone with EXPERIENCE with this issue, either have had this happen to them(and if so, i feel sorry for you) or have had to fix it or known someone that has.

so, PLEASE, give me your advice.

Automatic? or Getrag 5 speed tranny?

If automatic then its a 4T60 trans, and those are problem-matic

sorry, kinda forgot that vital piece of information.... its the 4t60 auto

warm the Z up a little bit, turn her off take out the dipstick for the tranny and smell it. if it smells burnt you have a trans problem for sure. best bet would be to get yourself a Salvage Tranny and bolt it up and see how it drives with that. you can get salvaged trannys for about $100 around here (hayward CA). E & J has some good parts for cheap. otherwise im not sure what else it could be. take care and good luck

well, i KNOW its trans issue. its quite obvious. also, i went out, put it in reverse and listened real close to the trans. and can hear the WORST possible sound i can imagine. I can hear something occasionally knock around.... yea, its quite obviously transmission. im trying to figure out if maybe its one of the bands/clutchs or a gear actually got outta place, etc etc...

well, i KNOW its trans issue. its quite obvious. also, i went out, put it in reverse and listened real close to the trans. and can hear the WORST possible sound i can imagine. I can hear something occasionally knock around.... yea, its quite obviously transmission. im trying to figure out if maybe its one of the bands/clutchs or a gear actually got outta place, etc etc...

I don't really know the specifics on the newer transaxles, but the old Hydromatics used the same clutchpack for the 1-2 shift as they used for reverse engagement. Sounds likely that pack fragged if these are set up similarly.

Well the getrags are expensive to repair if done at the shop. i guess you have to ship it out somewhere back east, i remember hearing something about that on the Z34 forums.

yea, i have definantely been suspecting the clutch pack. i didnt know that lil bit about it using the same plutchpack though.... kinda interesting. and, the getrags are expensive to repair, therefor, im glad i dont have one, and the fact that im going to do it myself...