I'm thinking of buying a '96 Sunfire SE Coupe. It'd be a long distance purchase, and the guy (a family friend) doesn't know anything about cars other than where the steering wheel is, so he probably doesn't even know how many gears it has. It is an automatic...was the OD transmission an option on a '96 SE, or was the 3-speed the only choice?

Either way, are there any issues on these I should look out for? My first car was an '84 Cutlass, with the TH-200-C transmission. It was almost guaranteed that any given 200-C tranny out there would lose reverse between 80k-100k miles. Mine did at about 94k...had to have it rebuilt. Is there any issue like that with the J-body FWD transmissions?

I'm not afraid of FWD automatic transmissions. My other car has a 4T80-E in it and it's one of the best automatic trannies in the world I think.

Thanks for your thoughts.


Jason
North Carolina

1997 Cadillac SLS (147k miles)
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan (50k miles)

The 4t40-e is optional (the 4-speed) just look at the shifter if it goes 1 2 D then its 3 speed if it goes 1 2 3 D then its a 4 speed.

Thanks. I'll ask him to check. He should be able to tell me that.

Are these transmissions fairly reliable, especially for 2.2L daily driver commuter-style driving? That's all I'll use it for -- no performance ambitions here, not yet anyway.


Jason
North Carolina

1997 Cadillac SLS (147k miles)
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan (50k miles)

There is no 3T40-E. If it's a 3 speed, it's a 3T40. Not electronic

Lenko, John Lenko wrote:There is no 3T40-E. If it's a 3 speed, it's a 3T40. Not electronic

Ooh, didn't realize that. Thanks. So the 3T40 would be controlled by a TV cable off the throttle body?


Jason
North Carolina

1997 Cadillac SLS (147k miles)
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan (50k miles)

That's correct. At least it should be... I've never actually worked on a three speed