My 88 9000s has over 190,000 miles but runs great. I'm just worried about the transmission. When I shift from park, reverse, or neutral into drive it slams into gear making the entire car jerk forward. Also when I'm slowing down it downshifts really hard , too. It feel like I'm running over a curb when it downshifts. Its doesn't do it all the time, but most of the time. It upshifts fine and doesn't slip at all. It has the ZF 4HP18 4 speed in it. Is it time to start looking for a tranny or should I sell the car to some unlucky sap? Will changing the 30 dollar tranny filter and fluid help?
JSaabomb
Yeah, ummm...............you have the shittiest of all the ZF auto's in the 9000 line. No way about it bud. All first gen 9k autoboxes sucked balls. Your probably gonna be looking for a rebuild soon. Good excuse for a stick swap. Tranny fluid change might help but will only be a band aid.
Go until it breaks, in the mean time start looking for a 5 speed to hold on to. Sometimes the shops can make stuff like that go away, but it's not too much to just convert it to a real gearbox.
well maybe not super close. my 5spd was completely fucked and lasted a good 7+ months driving like that... just dont push it to hard and you should be fine for the time it will take you to collect 5spd parts! 
I never asked for an auto , it just showed up ...I'd prefer a manual all day long. I lost my license for a second offense OWI and I needed a car because I wrecked my last car. A good friend of mine owns a car lot and got this 9000 for 50 dollars over what he paid for it wholesale. I like the car but scared of the trans.
I had an 88 9k that did the same thing for about 10k miles till one day it didn't engage reverse....had to push it back in the driveway.
The reason for slamming into drive has to do with the valve body. You probably don't need an total rebuild at this point...but if you keep letting it slam you will break something and need a total rebuild.
The valve body has a series of springs in it, they probably need to be replaced.
The valve body has a series of springs in it, they probably need to be replaced.
If you look in any Car forum from BMW to Land Rover with models that have ZF transmissions. The old ZF reliability gets a hammering.
JK9000s advice on the valve body is a typical ZF 4HP18 issue.
Also the governor seals can perish.
The valve body accumulator springs & governor seals are reasonably cheap & easy DIY "transmission in car" fixes.
I would change fluid and filter. Also add lubeguard red or Lucas transmission fix.
This site has an excellent write up on the 3- ATF change process.
http://www.mintoff.co.uk/atf oil change.htm
JK9000s advice on the valve body is a typical ZF 4HP18 issue.
Also the governor seals can perish.
The valve body accumulator springs & governor seals are reasonably cheap & easy DIY "transmission in car" fixes.
I would change fluid and filter. Also add lubeguard red or Lucas transmission fix.
This site has an excellent write up on the 3- ATF change process.
http://www.mintoff.co.uk/atf oil change.htm
These valve body springs and governor seals...are they easy to get at? Where exactly on the tranny are they? I replaced my tranny filter and fluid a little while ago and that didn't help at all. This is the first auto tranny that I've ever worked on that didn't have a traditional "pan". The filter was under a small circular plate that was attached by 3 bolts
This interests me. Is it possible to build a really beefed up automatic using these ZF tranny parts? We all know automatics are best for 1/4 mile racing, like the hydramatic and such. They really get up.
Ok looking at the tranny from above the engine the valve body is the very top part of the transmission. To get to the governor seals you have to remove the left front wheel, endplate of the auto box, pinion shaft and then your right at the governor basically. I'll see if I can find the write up to the governor seal procedure.
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