so its been doing this for a loooong time. When the car has not been run for a while, the tranny will go into gear but not engage. it takes even longer the colder it gets. ive already changed the fluid and filter. I just dont know what to do from here. im new to the forum so please, anmy suggestiuons will greatly be appreciated

 

Codes, mileage, condition and color of old fluid?

 

no tranny error codes

about 208,000. beenm doing it since probably 160,000

and i changed fluid and filter a couiple months ago maybe

 

That's quite confusing...
When you put the shifter into a forward gear, or reverse, it does, or does not actually engage the gear? Does it take more than 3 seconds to actually engage the gear?
If it takes a while for it to actually go into gear, after moving the shifter into gear, how does it work after that? Will it shift thru all of the gears?
Once it does finally engage, will it engage properly after that until it sits for several hours, or overnight?

Or...is it just slipping really bad?

Sounds like it's time for an overhaul, anyway. Changing the fluid isn't gonna help, as you have seen. There are no adjustments for anything, either.

More info is needed...

 

well if you hit the gas and bring the rpms up sharply, it will engage quicker. its not like its slipping or low on fluid.

you feel a first click but not the *thunk* of it going into gear. i agree. but overhauled trannys all suck in the experience i have seen

 

Well, yeah.....having to pay for an overhaul ain't exactly one of life's finer pleasures, fer shure!
I'm assuming since this is a '93, it has the Northstar engine?
Also, once it does engage, does it work ok for the rest of the day? Does it have the same problem in reverse, or is it just forward?
Sounds like a classic case of hard/shrunken seals inside the trans. Unfortunately, the only real solution for that is an overhaul...

Sounds like you've had some bad experiences with tranny shops in the past. A lot of folks have, due to most shop owners/managers only being interested in getting the $$$$, and not really taking care of the customer. It's a sad state, no doubt, but....those of us in the "back room" aren't like that. We do the best we can to make sure our units work.
You best friend is information. The more you have, the less BS they'll be able to put over on you.