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heinzfuchs9

Renault Spider Transmission Slipping

I'm having a head-scratcher with my 1998 Renault Spider, gasoline engine, which has 176436 km on the clock. The check engine light and transmission indicator light are both on. The gearbox feels like it's slipping, shifts are unclean, and there's a grinding noise when it changes gears. I plugged in an OBD2 scanner and it's throwing codes related to the automatic transmission. My gut feeling points towards a defective torque converter lock-up clutch. Anyone wrestled with this before? It feels like the engine is surging too. Any advice before I start tearing things apart?

4 comment(s)

tobiasbauer13

Sounds rough. I had a similar issue with my old Saab 9-5. Check engine light, slipping transmission. For me, it was the torque converter. Think of it like a slipping clutch in a manual, but filled with fluid. Before you go ripping things apart, have you checked the transmission fluid level and condition? Is it burnt or low? That could be a simpler place to start.

heinzfuchs9 (Author)

Good shout on the fluid check. I did check it briefly, but didn't pay close attention to its state. It seemed okay, but I'll double-check more carefully this time. When you say "acting up", what exactly was it doing? Was it throwing similar symptoms – grinding, slipping, etc.? Trying to gauge if we're dealing with the same issue.

tobiasbauer13

Yeah, pretty much the same symptoms. Grinding, slipping, and the shifts felt like they were happening in slow motion. The car would also shudder at certain speeds. Ultimately, I ended up taking it to a reputable shop. They confirmed it was the torque converter on its way out. I saved myself a lot of headache and potential damage by letting them handle it. Unless you've got experience rebuilding transmissions, I'd suggest getting a professional diagnosis.

heinzfuchs9 (Author)

Thanks for confirming my fears. I was hoping it was something simple, but I had a feeling it was the torque converter. I re-checked the fluid as you suggested and I see some metal particles there. Off to the workshop it goes. They quoted me around 2120€ for the repair, so wish me luck. Thanks for your help!

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