As I said in my previous post, the tranny won't shift. It also is leakiing from somewhere, and the fluid is BLACK!!! But, it runs well without slippage. I have 'tested' the soleniods w/ a meter, the SL reads 14 Ohms (normal) but S1 and S2 are Open. I can get a tranny for $100, told it works. I guess I need the 2 solenoids; replacement seems straightforward. Considereing there is a leak SOMEWHERE, would it be better to patch this one up, or take a chance with a used one? I don't know where the leak is; it seems from where the juice was it's from the front and the middle, or perhaps the pan gasket is shot out. It does drive very well...
Compunding that is the fact that the speedo is not working; the cable appears shot out, so the speed sensor is not getting a reading (it does work, I tested that too.
I have the dash about 1/3 apart. Do I need to have it disassembled to replace the cable?
The gas tank leaks...Oh Boy...
The only REAL troubling thing was, after driving it for a while, I decided it needed a bath before putting it's 'jammies' on (I can't park it inside with a leaky tank, so I bought a cover. There is a gap in the roof gasket and it leaks...slowly, but it leaks...). When I cleaned the driver's side wheel, when the water hit the rotor I could hear it sizzling!!! I am assuming the caliper is not 'relaxing' properly and heating the rotor. I could smell something, but not bad, and it didn't seem to be dragging. The only other thing associated with this was when I stepped on the brake hard or at speed the car shuddered, but there was no pulsing in the pedal! I would assume from the shudder the rotor(s) need replacing; they don't LOOK bad but I don't know when the last brake job was. Usually when I buy a used car i do the brakes right away anyway; that way I know.
One other thing: the car has sat in the garage since October or November and has only been started 2x since. Obviously need an oil change, but, when I first started it it smoked for about 5 minutes. After that the smoking went away; every start after that was trouble free. (It was blue-gray smoke...). Since this is basically a larger version of the Yamaha engine in my Corolla GTS, I am assuming this is valve seals. I am also wondering if one of those High-Mileage oils might reduce this somewhat. I am estimating it has 170,000 miles on it but with the speedo blown???? (the car in Canadian hence in kM, showing 246K) That and the Oil Pressure guage at idle after completely warm measured about 1 g/cm2 (or, the first mark from the bottom...) Running pressure was 2.