Before I found out the real problem with my transmission (first one-way clutch), I went through changing the accumulator spring and governor seals at about 130K. The accumulator spring broke in my hand when I tried to flex it, but it was working ok when I removed it. The governor seals were in great shape, but of course I replaced them while I was there.

Of the two, the accumulator spring is probably the weakest link because it is fabricated from a very lightweight alloy. When I cleaned up the pieces, it was possible to see the alloy crystallite facets on the spring's surface, indicating the choice of very poor metallurgy for the application. Since it is constantly flexing, it has a high probablity of failure.

I understand wanting to spare yourself and your dad potential downtime by preemptive maintenance, but unfortunately those aren't the only things that are prone to break in the 4HP-18 (the turbine shaft seals are another particularly weak point that you really can't do anything about). It really depends on the time you want to spend on the project, but if you only project your dad will drive about 5K a year, I would not put a lot of effort into it until you have some performance characteristics to baseline the vehicle. If you wanted to be absolutely sure that you would not leave him stranded, in all honesty, because of its complexity and component failure rate, the 9K is the wrong car - but you already knew that.

Remember, I own three 9K's also...all with automatics.

SteveB



posted by 165.170.12...

• Any pre-emptive measures on auto transmission, BillJ, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 14:45:38
  • Re: Any pre-emptive measures on auto transmission, Gary, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 09:37:31
    • Keeping my fingers crossed..., BillJ, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 16:52:27
      • Not illegal, but not advised, SaabKen, Thu, 18 Jul 2002 15:04:20
      • I've got a question too. Re: Keeping my fingers crossed, davel, Thu, 18 Jul 2002 13:53:23
  • Thanks, chaps., BillJ, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 05:39:52
  • Re: Any pre-emptive measures on auto transmission, darcyt, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 02:30:31
  • change fluid and Keep It Cool,,,,, KeithR, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 00:14:00
  • pre-emptive measures on auto transmission, Andrew , Tue, 16 Jul 2002 19:54:57
    • I got similar tranny warranty too, SaabKen, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 12:26:02
  • Re: Any pre-emptive measures on auto transmission, tonyg, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:50:29
  • A couple thoughts, Robert Kaplan, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:07:25
    • Reducing the temperature in the trany is key to wear, Daren, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 22:16:29
      • MolySlip..., Aerogant, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 10:59:08
        • Re: MolySlip..., BillJ, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 16:57:11
          • Point well taken BillJ, and thanks! n/m, Aerogant, Thu, 18 Jul 2002 00:53:58
        • http://www.molyslip.com/AutoCat.html, Daren, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 14:46:16
    • Capacities..., SteveB, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:22:51
      • The handbook for the '96 says..., BillJ, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:27:50
        • But the reality is..., SteveB, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:42:06
          • Thumbing one's nose at the Gods, Robert Kaplan, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 17:00:05
            • We all have to take a stand somewhere :), BillJ, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 17:30:40
            • Never bought the SAAB kit - just speculation..., SteveB, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 17:20:32
  • Re: Any pre-emptive measures on auto transmission, Dick in Falls Church, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 15:37:14
    • Re: Any pre-emptive measures on auto transmission, BillJ, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:16:31
      • AMSOIL in UK, Dick in Falls Churchr, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 10:33:04
  • Re: Any pre-emptive measures on auto transmission, Dick in, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 15:32:49
  • Recommendations...FWIW..., SteveB, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 15:23:34
    • Re: Recommendations...FWIW..., BillJ, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 15:57:42
    • Re: Recommendations...FWIW..., BillJ, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 15:54:06
      • Impossible to tell..., SteveB, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:17:58 <-- Viewing This Message
        • I'm just a little paranoid about the auto, BillJ, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:41:35
  • Some swear by LUCAS ATF additive. I did not see it, Daren, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 14:54:36
  • Doh! Let me restate that bit..., BillJ, Tue, 16 Jul 2002 14:49:55

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